Abstract:
Encompassing 725 square miles, Craven County was first settled in 1710 by Baron de Graffenried and the German and Swiss colonists that pursued him. A region plagued by the Tuscarora War, Craven's image improved when the second oldest city in North Carolina, New Bern, was appointed the colonial state capital. Commerce throughout the region grew via the expansion of maritime industries, agriculture, and improvements in transportation. Cherry Point serves as the biggest modern contribution to Craven's economy, generating some 35% of all trade.