New Bern

New Bern (pop. 14,557), city in eastern North Carolina on the Trent and Neuse rivers; capital of colonial North Carolina. This city was founded by Swiss and German immigrants in 1710 and named after the Swiss city of Bern. Its location on the Neuse River, which empties into Pamlico Sound, inlet of the Atlantic, made it a major port. The need for harbors with deeper waters, coupled with the introduction of the railroad, diminished the commercial importance of this city.

See also: North Carolina.