7 Oldest Founded Towns To Visit In North Carolina

While not all scientists agree, which is not unusual, many consider the 320-mile-long New River which journeys from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina — as the second-oldest river on Earth. Boasting some of the most colorful histories in the country, North Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies — and was the first state to instruct its delegates to vote for independence from the British crown during the Continental Congress. Today, you can step back into North Carolina's decorated history by visiting the seven oldest towns we highlight below.

Bath

The oldest town in North Carolina is enticingly curled up on the Pamlico estuary about 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. While Bath was settled by the English in 1695, it would soon be incorporated ten years later— and before any other town in the Old North State. To a history buff, a visit to Bath is a surreal adventure, almost like stepping into a venerated shrine. Before exploring what the town has to offer, however, you should consider savoring some finely-prepared catfish — or any kind of seafood— at the OLD Town Kitchen, located at 436 Carteret Street. But you may also want to sample sweet potato fries in a state known to be the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the country. Sated, you will want to now go for a walking tour of the town and catch a glimpse of some of Bath's historic homes. This includes the Palmer-Marsh House, one of the state's most notable eighteenth-century homes— and St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the state's oldest existing church.

New Bern

Named for Bern, the storybook capital of Switzerland, it is not hard to figure out why this North Carolina gem was founded by Swiss immigrants in the early years of the 18th century. Home to about 31,000 residents, New Bern, sits right where the Neuse and Trent Rivers meet, about a two-hour drive from Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina. Once known as "the Athens of the South" because of its incredible beauty, New Bern was incorporated in 1723. The circumstances around its founding, however, may have precipitated the Tuscarora War, regarded as the most terrible Indian war that ever took place on North Carolina's soil. Today, first-time visitors can step back in time as they stroll through the Governor's mansion at Tryon Palace, visit the Firemen's Museum, or just wander through a downtown that is known to be among the most gorgeous historic downtowns in the South.

Edenton

Edenton holds the bragging rights as the first permanent settlement in colonial North Carolina. Curled up on Abermale Sound, a shallow coastal inlet of northeastern North Carolina, Edenton once served as the state's first colonial capital. However, the town was incorporated in 1722. Still, that was several years before the birth of the United States. Today, nearly all of the town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the town's hot draws is the Roanoke River Lighthouse, one of the last surviving screw-pile lighthouses in the country. These one-of-a-kind lighthouses stand on screw piles sunk into muddy or sandy bottoms. Then again, Penelope Barker House, where American women first staged an organized political activity, will be worth checking out. As to its sheer beauty, it should be enough that Smithsonian once included Edenton among the Best Small Towns To Visit in America.

Beaufort

Beaufort was incorporated in 1723. That means it is about exactly 300 years old to date and hence, the fourth-oldest town in North Carolina. Located in a quiet corner of North Carolina's Carteret County, Beaufort is home to about 4,700 residents. The easternmost town in the Crystal Coast region is hands-down among the state's fairest gems. BudgetTravel, for instance, in 2012 ranked Beaufort as the Coolest Small Town — not in North Carolina — but in the United States. Most first-time visitors find Beaufort cute and gentle and admire the town's beautiful historic buildings, some of which date back to the 17th century. Should you set foot in Beaufort on an empty stomach and have to pick one place to eat, you will rarely go wrong with the homey Beaufort Grocery, conveniently located in the town's Historic District. And if you want to roam with wild horses on the beach, Shackleford Banks, a few minutes from Beaufort, will be the place to lace up for.

Wilmington

Nestled on the Cape Fear River, the only river in the state known to have supported inland commercial navigation, Wilmington was incorporated in 1740. This makes it the fifth-oldest town in North Carolina. However, if the town's history is anything to go by, its founders did not want it to be regarded as old. Wilmington was first called New Carthage, then New Liverpool, then New Town. One of North Carolina's oldest towns, however, and the site of the first American armed resistance to the Stamp Act, eventually assumed its current name as a tribute to Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington. Spencer Compton served as U.K. Prime Minister between 1742 to 1743. Today, as a testament to the region's beauty, more than 180 movies have been filmed in the area. Also, Wilmington boasts that it is among the largest historic districts in the United States.

Enfield

Because Enfield was incorporated in 1740, and for lack of specific dates, it ties with Wilmington as the fifth-oldest town in North Carolina. Enfield is in Halifax Country, near the center of the state — about 73 miles northeast of North Carolina's capital Raleigh. One of the mysteries about Enfield is how it assumed its name. Among the most interesting versions is that two men were walking across a field. When they came to an end, one man observed, "We are at the 'end of the field.'" And just like that, the name Enfield was born. Among the town's claims to fame is that, at one time, it was among the world's largest raw peanut markets. Today, that heritage endures through the annual peanut festivals the town stages around September or October.

Hillsborough

About 10 miles northwest of Durham, this North Carolina charmer warms the hearts of residents and entices visitors along the Eno River, the initial tributary of North Carolina's Neuse River. Established in 1754, the same year Benjamin Franklin proposed his Albany Plan of Union, Hillsborough was first called Childsburgh before assuming its current name in 1766. What inspired this change of name was the desire to honor Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough, who was then secretary of state for the colonies. Hillsborough would later serve as North Carolina's state capital during the American Revolutionary War. Today, Hillsborough's downtown historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features more than 100 homes, some of which date to the 18th century.

The Takeaway

Dotted with massive mountains and gorgeous state parks, North Carolina, according to several eyes, is the most beautiful state on the East Coast. If in doubt, you should consider exploring the state, from beaches in the east to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west. Another cap to the state's feather, however, is its rich heritage and fascinating history. The twelfth state to join the Union is home to historic towns, some of which are among the oldest in America. From Bath to Beaufort, North Carolina's oldest-founded towns ooze charm and character.