Princeville, located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, holds a unique place in American history, standing as the oldest town in the United States chartered by Black people.

Established in 1865 by freed African Americans, the town was originally known as Freedom Hill, named for its elevated location near the Tar River and to commemorate the site where Union soldiers proclaimed the war's end, ensuring freedom for the formerly enslaved with the Emancipation Proclamation.

With support from the Freedmen’s Bureau, the town grew and was officially incorporated in 1885 and renamed Princeville in honor of Turner Prince, a formerly enslaved carpenter who played a key role in its early development.

Despite the prevailing racism and extreme poverty of the post-Civil War era, the town's community persevered and grew. By the time of its incorporation, Princeville was home to nearly 400 people, comprising an emerging workforce of carpenters, blacksmiths, grocers, seamstresses, and brick masons.

Towards the close of the 19th century, African American political representation in Edgecombe County was notable, with voters electing eleven Black men to the state legislature between 1877 and 1890. As a historically Black town, Princeville was part of this broader movement, reflecting the political engagement and activism of the era.

However, by the 1890s, Jim Crow laws and voter suppression tactics significantly curtailed Black political power. Despite a racist campaign in 1903 to revoke its charter, the citizens of Princeville stood firm and successfully defended their town’s incorporation.

Princeville has faced recurrent flooding due to its proximity to the Tar River, with significant floods occurring in 1919, 1924, 1928, 1940, and most notably in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd. These disasters have tested the town’s resilience, causing widespread destruction in the region.

More recently, floods from Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018) have continued to threaten the town’s survival.

Despite these challenges, Princeville remains home to a resilient community and stands as a powerful symbol of freedom, determination, endurance, and pride.
.
Narrative sources: Wikipedia; Blacksonian