New Bern, North Carolina

City with a population of 23,128 at the 2000 census. First settled by Europeans in 1710 and named for the city of Bern in Switzerland, as most of its settlers were of Swiss and German extraction. Christoph von Graffenried, leader of the settlers, ordered that the layout of the town was made into the shape of a cross, although the town is not in the shape today due to growth of the town and towns surrounding it.

Several efforts to establish a seat of government in North Carolina failed until 1766, when the town of New Bern was selected. Construction of Governor Tryon's Palace began in 1767 and was completed in 1771. This new structure served as the governor's residence and office, as well as a meeting place for the Upper House.

Following the American Revolutionary War, New Bern became the first state capital and served as such until the capital was moved to Fayetteville in 1789 after the capitol building burned down. Occupied by Union forces from 1862 until the end of the Civil War. Pepsi Cola was first made here in the 1890s by a local pharmacist.

www.newbern-nc.org