Editing Craven County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{redirect|Craven County|the former county in South Carolina|Craven County, South Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Craven County
 | state                = North Carolina
 | ex image             = Craven County Courthouse, New Bern.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Craven County Courthouse in New Bern
 | seal                 = Craven County Seal.jpg
 | founded              = 1712
 | named for            = [[William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697)|William, Earl of Craven]]
 | seat wl              = New Bern
 | largest city wl      = New Bern
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 773.28
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 706.57
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 66.71
 | area percentage      = 8.63
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 100720
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 102391 {{gain}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 142.55
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.12|-77.08|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = https://www.cravencountync.gov/
 | district             = 3rd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | flag                 = Craven County Flag.gif
}}

'''Craven County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the U.S. state of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 100,720.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[New Bern, North Carolina|New Bern]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was created in 1705 as Archdale Precinct from the now-extinct [[Bath County, North Carolina|Bath County]]. It was renamed Craven Precinct in 1712 and gained county status in 1739.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies|work=North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2009|access-date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115449/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CCNCpedia" /> It is named for [[William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697)|William, Earl of Craven]], who lived from 1606 to 1697. Craven County is part of the [[New Bern Metropolitan Statistical Area|New Bern, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area]].<ref name="2023OMB">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[United States Office of Management and Budget]]}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history===
On August 4, 1661, [[George Durant]] purchased land from Cisketando, king of the Yeopim Indian tribe. On March 13, 1662, a second purchase was made from Kilcocanen, another Yeopim. By 1662 Durant was living in Virginia on a tract of land along the [[Perquimans River]] which flows into [[Albemarle Sound]], which became part of the Carolina colony in 1665.<ref>[[#connor1|Connor, 1919, Vol. I]], pp. 26-27</ref>

===Creation===
The land eventually constituting Craven was first organized as a portion of [[Bath County, North Carolina|Bath County]]. On December 3, 1705, a portion of Bath was split off to form the new Archdale County. In about 1712 it was renamed Craven County. According to historian William S. Powell, it was most likely named in honor of William, Lord Craven a [[lord proprietor]] of the Carolina colony who died the previous year. Others state that the county was named for William's great uncle, [[William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697)|William, Earl of Craven]], who was one of the original eight lords proprietor of the colony, or the Lord Craven's son, also William, Lord Craven, who was actively serving as a lord proprietor at the time the county's name was changed.{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=12}} In 1722 a portion of Craven was split off to form [[Carteret County]].{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=74}} [[New Hanover County, North Carolina|New Hanover County]] and [[Johnston County, North Carolina|Johnston County]] were formed from Craven in 1729 and 1746, respectively.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=75}} Craven's borders were altered and redrawn several times between 1757 and 1852.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|pp=75–78}}

During the initial years of colonization, the population of Craven County was sparse and grew slowly. By 1740, however, the town of New Bern began growing rapidly and became the seat for the Governorship.<ref>[[#dill1946|dill, 1946]], p. 47</ref> John Carter served as the first sheriff of Craven County, but died in 1740 in the line of duty, when ambushed by an outlaw he was trying to apprehend. In 1746 an act was passed establishing New Bern as the capital of the province and, although the act was later repealed, the General Court met at New Bern in Craven County after 1747.<ref name=craven58>[[#craven1938a|The historical records of North Carolina]], Vol. I, p. 58</ref><ref>[[#craven1938b|The historical records of North Carolina]], Vol. II, p. 2</ref>

In 1749 [[James Davis (printer)|James Davis]], the colony's first printer, arrived at New Bern and became the official printer for the North Carolina Assembly.<ref>[[#wroth1938|Wroth, 1938]], p. 48</ref> In 1751, Davis established and began printing the ''[[North Carolina Gazette]]'', North Carolina's first newspaper.<ref>[[#thomas1874a|Thomas, 1874]], Vol. I, p. 338; Vol. II, p. 166</ref> In 1754, he was elected Sheriff of Craven County.<ref name=powell34-35>[[#powell2000|Powell, 2000]], pp. 34-35</ref>

===Antebellum period===
Craven developed an economy centered around agriculture, timber and turpentine, small manufacturing, and commerce emanating from the port of New Bern.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=247, 249}} Various fruits and vegetables were among the most popular crops, with cotton production declining in popularity after adverse weather conditions in 1821. Some cattle was also kept in the county.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=249}} Commercial fishing became more common in the late 1840s, while shipbuilding declined later in the Antebellum period.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=255–256}} Slaves served as a key labor force in the local economy, though unlike other eastern counties in the state, which had overwhelmingly rural slave populations, almost 40 percent of Craven's slaves were kept in New Bern.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=250}}

The [[Panic of 1819]] heavily impacted the county and triggered a two decade-long period of economic contraction.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=267}} Railroad service was introduced in the 1850s.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=289, 291}} The population rose from 13,394 in 1820 to 16,268 by 1860, though poverty remained a problem and many born in the country migrated elsewhere in search of better economic prospects.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=294}} Despite the difficulties, Craven remained a center of political and social activity in the state and New Bern remained one of the largest cities in North Carolina throughout the antebellum period.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=294–295}}

===Civil War===
Following North Carolina's secession from the United States and entrance into the [[American Civil War]] on the side of the [[Confederate States of America]] in 1861, New Bern became a center for Confederate political and military activity.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=369–370}} By March 1862, the white men of the county had formed nine permanent companies of troops and three temporary ones. Some of these forces served throughout the entire war's duration.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=371}} The [[Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries]] in August 1861 gave United States forces a foothold in eastern North Carolina and provoked the flight of women and children from New Bern.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=372}}

===Reconstruction===
The county's economy was heavily impacted by the Civil War with the depletion of livestock, damage of property, and the emancipation of slaves.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=442}} Most food crop production also suffered, though cotton, tobacco, and rice yields increased. Lumber and naval stores industries persisted, though somewhat weakened. The conclusion of the conflict led to regained confidence in economic activity. The shipping industry in New Bern grew and several new businesses, including a bank, were established.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=443}} Some black freedmen were assigned work by federal troops or enrolled into Freedmen's Bureau schools.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=447}} Most of the rest found unskilled work in the local farming, fishing, and turpentine industries. Those that entered skilled labor professions were faced with a rivalry from white contemporaries.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=447–448}}

The advent of [[Congressional Reconstruction]] in 1867 and 1868 led to profound political changes in Craven County.{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=431–433}} General [[Edward Canby]], the commander of the [[Second Military District]], replaced New Bern's municipal government and also chose the county's sheriff. Following registration efforts, black voters outnumbered whites in the county, and remained a majority of the electorate until the end of the century.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=432}} Together with local whites who had held 
Unionist sympathies before the war and recently arrived [[carpetbagger]]s, they constituted a strong base for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].{{sfn|Watson|1987|pp=431–432}} In the returns for the 1868 elections, Republicans' margin of victory was the second largest among the counties in the state.{{sfn|Watson|1987|p=436}} A portion of Craven was annexed to the new [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]] in 1872.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=78}}

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q529958|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Craven County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|773.28|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|706.57|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|66.71|sqmi}} (8.63%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is bordered by [[Pitt County, North Carolina|Pitt County]] and [[Beaufort County, North Carolina|Beaufort County]] to the north, [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]] to the east, [[Carteret County, North Carolina|Carteret County]] to the south, [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]] to the west, and [[Lenoir County, North Carolina|Lenoir County]] to the northwest.{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=126}} Craven County lies within the Neuse River Basin.<ref name="CCNCpedia">{{cite web| url = https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/craven| title = Craven County| last = Powell| first = William S.| date = 2006| website = NCPedia| publisher = North Carolina Government & Heritage Library| access-date = April 23, 2023}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Catfish Lake South Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Croatan National Forest]] (part)
* [[Pocosin Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Pond Pine Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Sheep Ridge Wilderness]]

===State and local protected areas/sites===
* [[Croatan Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Dover Bay Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Great Lake Recreation Site]] (part)
* [[New Bern Battlefield Site]]
* [[Neuse River Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Pine Cliff Recreation Area]]
* [[Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park]]
* [[Special Secondary Nursery Areas]]
* [[Tryon Palace]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Adams Creek (North Carolina)|Adams Creek]]
* [[Alligator Gut (North Carolina)|Alligator Gut]]
* [[Catfish Lake South Wilderness|Catfish Lake]]
* [[Clubfoot Creek (North Carolina)|Clubfoot Creek]]
* [[Ellis Simon Lake]]
* [[Hancock Creek (North Carolina)|Hancock Creek]]
* [[Intracoastal Waterway]]
* [[Little Lake (North Carolina)|Little Lake]]
* [[Long Lake (North Carolina)|Long Lake]]
* [[Neuse River]]
* [[Trent River (North Carolina)|Trent River]]
* [[Great Lake (North Carolina)|Great Lake]]
* [[Upper Broad Creek (North Carolina)|Upper Broad Creek]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I-Future|42}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|17}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|17|dab1=New Bern}} (New Bern)
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|17|dab1=Vanceboro}} (Vanceboro)
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|41}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|43}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|55}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|101}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|118}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|306}}
{{div col end}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Amtrak Thruway#East|Amtrak Thruway]] (New Bern and Havelock)
* [[North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division#Routes|Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach Ferry]] (to Pamlico County)
* [[Coastal Carolina Regional Airport]]
* [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point]], military airfield located in Havelock

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 10474
|1800= 10245
|1810= 12676
|1820= 13394
|1830= 13734
|1840= 13438
|1850= 14709
|1860= 16268
|1870= 20516
|1880= 19729
|1890= 20533
|1900= 24160
|1910= 25594
|1920= 29048
|1930= 30665
|1940= 31298
|1950= 48823
|1960= 58773
|1970= 62554
|1980= 71043
|1990= 81613
|2000= 91436
|2010= 103505
|2020= 100720
|estyear=2023
|estimate=102391
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37049.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728142453/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37049.html|archive-date=July 28, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cravencountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Craven County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Craven County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37049&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 24, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 64,933
| 64.47%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 19,903
| 19.76%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 318
| 0.32%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 3,059
| 3.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 150
| 0.15%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 5,162
| 5.13%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 7,195
| 7.14%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 100,720 people, 42,221 households, and 28,502 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 91,436 people, 34,582 households, and 25,071 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|129|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 38,150 housing units at an average density of {{convert|54|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 69.94% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 25.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.99% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.78% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.68% from two or more races. 4.02% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 34,582 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,966, and the median income for a family was $42,574. Males had a median income of $28,163 versus $21,412 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,423. About 9.90% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
===Government===
[[File:Craven County Administration Building 01.jpg|thumb|Craven County Administration Building in New Bern]]
Craven County is led by a seven-member board of commissioners, each of whom are elected to represent a district.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cravencountync.gov/1563/Board-of-Commissioners| title = Board of Commissioners| website = Craven County, North Carolina| publisher = Craven County Government| access-date = January 18, 2023}}</ref>

Craven County is a member of the [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Eastern Carolina Council of Governments]], a regional multi-county planning and economic coordination body.<ref>{{cite news| last = Clouser| first = Elise| title = Eastern Carolina Council board dismisses executive director| newspaper = Carteret County News-Times| date = August 2, 2021| url = https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_58d4015c-f3d5-11eb-8de9-d3f63398a0e3.html| access-date = January 19, 2023}}</ref> It is located in the [[North Carolina Senate]]'s [[North Carolina's 2nd Senate district|2nd district]] and the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]' [[North Carolina's 3rd House district|3rd district]], and [[North Carolina's 13th House district|13th district]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/CountyRepresentation/Craven| title = Craven County Representation : 2023-2024 Session| publisher = North Carolina General Assembly| access-date = January 19, 2023}}</ref>

Craven County lies within the bounds of the 4th Prosecutorial District, the 3B [[North Carolina Superior Court|Superior Court]] District, and the 3B [[North Carolina District Courts|District Court]] District.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county| title = Craven County| publisher = North Carolina Judicial Branch| access-date = January 12, 2023}}</ref>

=== Judicial system and law enforcement ===
Craven County lies within the bounds of North Carolina's 4th Prosecutorial District, the 4th [[North Carolina Superior Court|Superior Court]] District, and the 4th District Court District.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craven County {{!}} North Carolina Judicial Branch |url=https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/craven-county |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=www.nccourts.gov}}</ref> The Craven County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services for the county, as well as operating the Craven County Detention Center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jail Bureau {{!}} Craven County |url=https://www.cravencountync.gov/297/Jail-Bureau |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=www.cravencountync.gov}}</ref>

=== 2025 Craven County Jail escape ===
In January 2025, John Matthew Nigh, an inmate at the Craven County Jail, escaped from the facility. Nigh was being held in custody on multiple felony charges, including three counts of attempted murder on law enforcement officers in nearby Onslow County. Nigh was assisted in his escape by two cellmates, as they removed a ceiling grating and stuffed a mattress to make it appear to correctional officers that Nigh was sleeping in his cell. Nigh then exited the facility through a ventilation housing. Within 12 hours of the escape, he was detected absent from his cell, and a manhunt ensued. As of February 6, 2025, Nigh has not been located. Law enforcement agencies from the counties of Carteret, Craven, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, and Pitt are assisting in the search. The [[United States Marshals Service]] is also assisting in search efforts. All North Carolina law enforcement agencies have been notified of his escape.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=North Carolina inmate accused of attempted murder escapes via ventilation system |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/north-carolina-inmate-accused-attempted-murder-escapes-ventilation-sys-rcna189737 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=WCTI |date=2025-01-29 |title=Inmate considered armed and dangerous escapes from jail with help from cellmates |url=https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/inmate-considered-armed-and-dangerous-escapes-from-jail-with-help-from-cellmates-john-matthew-nigh-craven-county-jail-sunday-january-26-2025 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=KFOX |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Laster |first=Alaina |date=2025-01-31 |title=John Nigh remains at large after Craven County Jail escape |url=https://wcti12.com/news/local/john-nigh-remains-at-large-after-craven-county-jail-escape |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=WCTI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Greg |date=2025-01-29 |title=Escaped North Carolina inmate has history of trying to flee law enforcement |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/escaped-north-carolina-inmate-has-history-trying-flee-law-enforcement |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Manhunt for North Carolina inmate who escaped from jail through ventilation system: Sheriff's office |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/manhunt-north-carolina-inmate-escaped-jail-ventilation-system/story?id=118195147 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Craven County, North Carolina|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|33,477|22,011|685|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|31,032|21,148|885|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|27,731|17,630|1,640|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|26,928|18,763|479|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|24,901|19,352|345|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|23,575|14,019|162|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|19,494|12,213|278|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|13,264|10,317|1,610|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|11,575|9,998|3,714|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,057|7,313|47|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,893|7,186|55|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|8,554|7,781|448|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,881|7,553|109|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,372|2,384|147|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,991|4,240|6,509|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,691|7,422|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,680|7,158|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,956|6,317|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,822|6,092|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|745|5,039|494|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|826|4,872|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|626|4,916|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|453|5,543|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|466|4,375|19|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|2,237|2,494|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|325|2,942|44|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|731|3,413|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|542|1,780|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|79|1,819|190|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|449|1,399|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|268|1,555|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,502|2,028|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,921|1,810|97|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,648|1,305|311|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,618|1,359|6|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,539|1,330|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|2,809|1,180|82|North Carolina}}

Craven is a typical “[[Solid South]]” county in its presidential voting patterns. It was solidly Democratic until the 1960s: in five elections from 1932 to 1948 the Republican Party did not reach fifteen percent of the vote, and only in 1928 when a large anti-Catholic vote was cast against [[Al Smith]] did the GOP reach twenty percent between at least 1900 and 1948. The national Democratic party's support for the [[Civil Rights Movement]] caused its white electorate to defect to [[George Wallace]]’s American Independent campaign in 1968. Since that time, Craven has become a strongly Republican county. The last Democrat to carry Craven County was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=1976 Presidential General Election Results - North Carolina |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1976&fips=37&f=0&off=0&elect=0&minper=0 |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> As of March 2022, there were 70,286 registered voters in the county. Of those, 26,225 were registered Republican, 20,135 were registered Democrats, and 23,393 registered unaffiliated.<ref>{{cite news| last = Dunnell| first = Trevor| title = Could early voting play a role in who becomes Craven County's next elected officials?| newspaper = Sun Journal| date = April 25, 2022| url = https://www.newbernsj.com/story/news/2022/04/25/craven-county-early-voting-begins-thursday-what-know/7394063001/| access-date = January 17, 2023}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Craven County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Craven County with municipal and township labels]]

===Cities===
* [[Havelock, North Carolina|Havelock]]
* [[New Bern, North Carolina|New Bern]] (county seat and largest community)

===Towns===
* [[Bridgeton, North Carolina|Bridgeton]]
* [[Cove City, North Carolina|Cove City]]
* [[Dover, North Carolina|Dover]]
* [[River Bend, North Carolina|River Bend]]
* [[Trent Woods, North Carolina|Trent Woods]]
* [[Vanceboro, North Carolina|Vanceboro]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Brices Creek, North Carolina|Brices Creek]]
* [[Cherry Branch, North Carolina|Cherry Branch]]
* [[Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina|Fairfield Harbour]]
* [[James City, North Carolina|James City]]
* [[Neuse Forest, North Carolina|Neuse Forest]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* Adams Creek
* Askin
* Ernul
* [[Fort Barnwell, North Carolina|Fort Barnwell]]
* Harlowe
* Riverdale

===Townships===
By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, the county was divided into 8 townships which do not have names:

* Township 1
* Township 2
* Township 3
* Township 5
* Township 6
* Township 7
* Township 8
* Township 9

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Craven County, North Carolina]]
* [[PepsiCo]], former headquarters was located in New Bern, where the drink was first coined

==References==
<references />

==Works cited==
* {{cite book |last=Connor  |first=Robert Digges Wimberly |title=History of North Carolina |volume=I |authorlink=Robert Digges Wimberly Connor |publisher=Chicago : New York : Lewis Publishing Co. |year=1919 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofnorthca01conn  |ref=connor1}}
* {{cite book| last = Corbitt| first = David Leroy| title = The formation of the North Carolina counties, 1663-1943| publisher = North Carolina Division of Archives and History | edition = reprint| date = 2000| location = Raleigh| url = https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll9/id/289743| oclc= 46398241}}
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* {{cite book |last= |first= |editor1=Crittenden, Charles christopher |editor2=Lacy, Dan |title=The historical records of North Carolina : the county records |volume=I |publisher=Raleigh : The North Carolina Historical Commission |year=1938 |url=https://archive.org/details/historicalrecord01hist |ref=craven1938a }}
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* {{cite book |last= |first= |editor1=Crittenden, Charles christopher |editor2=Lacy, Dan |title=The historical records of North Carolina : the county records |volume=II |publisher=Raleigh : The North Carolina Historical Commission |year=1938 |url=https://archive.org/details/historicalrecord02hist |ref=craven1938b }}
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* {{cite journal |last=Dill |first=Alonzo Thomas Jr. |title=Eighteenth Century New Bern |journal=Dill, Eighteenth-Century New Bern |pages=47–48 |publisher=North Carolina Office of Archives and History |volume=23 |issue=1 |date=January 1946  |jstor=23515401  |doi=  |ref=dill1946}}
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* {{cite book| last = Powell| first = William S.| title = The North Carolina Gazetteer: A Dictionary of Tar Heel Places| publisher = The University of North Carolina Press| date = 1976| location = Chapel Hill| isbn = 9780807812471}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Powell |editor-first=William S. |title=Dictionary of North Carolina biography |volume= |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8078-67013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BdAGnn0SZX0C&q=%22james+davis%22 |ref=powell2000}} - [https://books.google.com/books?id=BdAGnn0SZX0C&q=%22james+davis%22 link to Davis biography]
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* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Isaiah |title=The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers |volume=I |publisher=New York, B. Franklin |year=1874 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofprintin01thom |ref=thomas1874a}}
<!-- -->
* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Isaiah |title=The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers |volume=II |publisher=New York, B. Franklin |year=1874 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofprintin02thom/page/n5/mode/2up |author-mask=2 |ref=thomas1874b}}
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* {{cite book| last = Watson| first = Alan D.| title = A History of New Bern and Craven County| publisher = Tryon Palace Commission| date = 1987| location = New Bern| oclc = 17398679}}
* {{cite book |last=Wroth |first=Lawrence C. |title=The Colonial Printer |author-link=Lawrence C. Wroth |publisher=Portland, Me., The Southworth-Anthoensen press |year=1938 |url=https://archive.org/details/colonialprinter00wrot |ref=wroth1938}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation |title=Branson's North Carolina Business Directory...1867-68 |publisher=Branson & Jones |location=Raleigh, NC |chapter-url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101065143529&seq=70&view=2up |page= 33 |chapter= Craven County |via= [[hathitrust.org]] }}
* {{citation |title=Branson's North Carolina Business Directory, 1896 |publisher=Levi Branson |location=Raleigh, NC |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/bransonsnorthcar1896bran/page/204/mode/2up |page= 204 |chapter= Craven County |via= [[archive.org]] }}
* {{citation |chapter-url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nc01.ark:/13960/t2r49km5g&seq=192&view=2up |chapter= Craven County |title=North Carolina Year Book and Business Directory, 1916 |publisher=News and Observer Publishing Company |location= Raleigh, N.C. |via= hathitrust.org }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Todd |editor-first=Vincent H. |date=1920 |title=Christoph von Graffenried's Account of the Founding of New Bern |url=https://archive.org/details/christophvongraf00graf |series=Publications of the North Carolina Historical Commission |location=Raleigh |publisher=Edwards & Broughton Printing Co. |lccn=21027196 |oclc=1107613 |ol=OL6640211M |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* Farmer, Vina Hutchinson. ''New Bern'' (Arcadia Publishing, 2007).
* Browning, Judkin. ''Shifting Loyalties: The Union Occupation of Eastern North Carolina'' (Univ of North Carolina Press, 2011). focus on Craven County
* Kinsey, Marissa N. "Beyond the Vale: Visualizing Slavery in Craven County, North Carolina." (2017). [https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3048&context=gc_etds online]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528690}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cravencounty.com/}}
* [http://www.cravenbusiness.com/ Craven County Economic Development]
* [http://www.havelockchamber.net/ Havelock Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.newbernchamber.com/ New Bern Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.ncgenweb.us/craven NCGenWeb Craven County], genealogy resources for the county
* [http://www.newbernsj.com/ New Bern ''Sun Journal'']

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Craven County, North Carolina
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Beaufort County, North Carolina|Beaufort County]]
|East      = [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]]
|Southeast = [[Carteret County, North Carolina|Carteret County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]]
|West      = [[Lenoir County, North Carolina|Lenoir County]]
|Northwest = [[Pitt County, North Carolina|Pitt County]]
}}
{{Craven County, North Carolina}}
{{North_Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Craven County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:New Bern micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1739 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1739]]