How a North Carolina town became a refuge and a hub for the enslaved

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: During the American Civil War, New Bern transformed from a plantation-based trade center into a sanctuary for thousands of freedom-seeking individuals. While the Union occupation brought social disruption, it also fostered a resilient community that redefined the city's demographic and economic future long after the conflict ended.

Founded in 1710 by Palatine and Swiss settlers, New Bern initially thrived on plantation agriculture and the trade of enslaved people. By the early 19th century, it had become the largest city in North Carolina, leveraging shipping routes to the Caribbean and New England. However, the American Civil War fundamentally altered this trajectory. When Union forces captured the town in 1862, it became a focal point for enslaved people seeking liberty. Nearly 10,000 individuals fled to the region, prompting the Union Army to establish the Trent River contraband camp to house and organize these refugees.

The influx of freedmen caused the city's population to swell to more than 20,000 by the end of the war, a dramatic increase from the 5,432 residents recorded in the 1860 census. Despite the challenges of military occupation, the city recovered relatively quickly. By the 1870s, freedmen had established independent communities, churches, and businesses, eventually leading to a majority-black population by 1877. This period also saw the rise of the lumber industry, which utilized the city's river access to become the primary economic engine by 1890.

The political landscape shifted significantly during the late 19th century, as the district elected four black representatives to the U.S. Congress. This progress was later systematically dismantled by the 1900 constitutional suffrage amendment, which disenfranchised black citizens through various restrictive devices. This exclusion persisted until the federal civil-rights legislation of the 1960s. Today, New Bern preserves its complex history through its historic districts, which protect the architecture that survived the economic booms and the social upheavals of the 19th and 20th centuries.

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