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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about New Bern (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for New Bern. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for New Bern ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Other variations include: New Berne, New Burn, Newbern and Newburn.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named New Bern. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for New Bern.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

New Bern is located in Craven County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Craven County: Beaufort, Carteret, Jones, Lenoir, Pamlico & Pitt.

Below are the counties that are near New Bern. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to New Bern:

  • Craven County     (The home county of New Bern)
    • The following are listed by their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.
    • Bridgeton
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • James City
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • James City is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
    • Old Town Harbor
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Old Town Harbor is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town Harbor
    • Snug Harbor
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Snug Harbor is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snug Harbor
    • Trent Woods
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Trent Woods is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trent Woods
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,991 people
    • Brices Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Brices Creek is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brices Creek
    • Fairfield Harbour
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairfield Harbour is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Harbour
    • River Bend
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • River Bend is located in Craven County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Bend
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,006 people
    • Spring Hope
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Clark
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lima
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Riverdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Beaufort County
    • The following are listed by their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.
    • Blounts Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Blounts Creek is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blounts Creek
    • Edward
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Aurora
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • River Road
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • River Road is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
    • Chocowinity
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Whitepost
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Bath
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bath is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bath <1>
    • Pomouk Indian Village ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pomouk Indian Village is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomouk Indian Village
    • Washington Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Washington Park is located in Beaufort County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Park
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 429 people
    • Washington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Carteret County
    • The following are listed by their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.
    • Holly Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Holly Springs is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Kuhns
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Stella
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Conner Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Conner Village is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conner Village
    • Newport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Peletier
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Peletier is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peletier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 721 people
    • Sportsmans Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Sportsmans Village is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sportsmans Village
    • Broad Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Bogue
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Bogue is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 706 people
    • Cape Carteret
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Crab Point Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Crab Point Village is located in Carteret County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab Point Village
  • Jones County
  • Lenoir County
  • Onslow County
    • The following are listed by their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.
    • Hubert
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Pumpkin Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Pumpkin Center is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pumpkin Center
    • Swansboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Aragona Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Aragona Village is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aragona Village
    • Foxhorn Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Foxhorn Village is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foxhorn Village
    • Cardinal Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cardinal Village is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardinal Village
    • Half Moon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Half Moon is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Moon
    • Mill Pond Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Mill Pond Village is located in Onslow County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Pond Village
  • Pamlico County
    • The following are listed by their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.
    • Reelsboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Grantsboro
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Arapahoe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Alliance
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Minnesott Beach
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Minnesott Beach is located in Pamlico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnesott Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 423 people
    • Bayboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Bay City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Bay City is located in Pamlico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay City
    • Stonewall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Merritt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Oriental
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Vandemere
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Vandemere is located in Pamlico County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandemere
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
    • Mesic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Pitt County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to New Bern, see our County-by-County Page for New Bern.

Cemeteries Near New Bern ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of New Bern.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for New Bern - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for New Bern covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that New Bern had a population of 7,843 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, New Bern had a population of 29,940 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from New Bern, with the one closest to New Bern listed first.

  • James City
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • James City is located in Craven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
  • Thurman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Thurman is located in Craven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thurman
  • Olympia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Olympia is located in Pamlico County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olympia
  • Bellair
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellair is located in Craven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellair
  • Reelsboro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Clark
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Riverdale
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Lima
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Ernul
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Ernul is located in Craven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ernul
  • Croatan
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Croatan is located in Craven County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croatan
  • Tuscarora
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Grantsboro
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around New Bern. See our List of 1890's Communities around New Bern.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of New Bern ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 136 newspapers that have been published in the area around New Bern.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of New Bern. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of New Bern and those printed in the larger area surrounding New Bern.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4> of New Bern.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to New Bern:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about New Bern, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- New Bern) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.