Editing Weldon, North Carolina (section)

==History==
[[File:North Carolina - Weldson - NARA - 68146512 (cropped).jpg|300px|thumb|left|Bridges crossing the Roanoke River 1932]]
In 1752, Daniel Weldon purchased 1,273 acres of land on the [[Roanoke River]]. His plantation became known as Weldon's Landing. As it was just below the [[Atlantic Seaboard fall line|fall line]], Weldon's Landing was the westernmost point of navigation along the Roanoke.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weldonnc.com/history.html|title=Weldon NC|website=www.weldonnc.com|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

The [[Roanoke Canal]] was built in 1823 to bypass the rapids and open up trade to Virginia. The [[Aqueduct (bridge)|aqueduct]] across Chockoyotte creek was built near Weldon's Landing, bringing an economic boom to the area. The canal is now dry, and is a hiking trail open to the public.

Weldon was the first [[Rail transport|railroad]] hub in the [[Southern United States|American South]]. The [[Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad]] terminated in Weldon. In 1841, the [[Wilmington and Weldon Railroad]] was completed, also terminating in Weldon. At the time, it was the longest railroad in the world. This led to the incorporation of the town in 1843.

The [[Petersburg Railroad|Petersburg and Roanoke Railroad]] in 1848 and the [[Raleigh and Gaston Railroad]] in 1853 both extended to terminate in Weldon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historicweldonnc.com/about-weldon-nc/68-the-first-railroad-hub-of-the-south-weldon-nc.html|title=The First Railroad Hub of the South - Weldon NC - Weldon, NC - Town of Weldon NC Official Website|website=www.historicweldonnc.com|language=en-GB|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], both railroad bridges over the Roanoke were burned. Only the Seaboard and Roanoke rebuilt their bridge.

[[Grace Episcopal Church (Weldon, North Carolina)|Grace Episcopal Church]] and the [[Weldon Historic District]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>