Hertford was originally incorporated in 1758 as
the county seat for Perquimans county, first inhabited by the Yeopim Indians.
Stretching from the Albermarle Sound to the Great Dismal Swamp, its name means
"Land of Beautiful Women." The area was first settled in the late 1600s
and its first building, the Newbold White House, is thought to be the oldest
structure in the state.
Through the first part of the 20th century, Hertford thrived as a lumber
town, making good use of the nearby river. The original bridge that
spanned the river was a floating affair, comprised of steel and wood.
When a boat came near and wanted passage, the bridge would be unhooked from
one bank and allowed to float out of the way. Then, when the boat had
passed, lines were used to haul the free end of the bridge in and reconnect
it. Today, an S-shaped swing bridge is in use, the only one of its kind
in the world.
Today, agriculture is the chief industry of the area. Most people
are familiar with Hertford for its famous residents. Jimmy "Catfish"
Hunter lived here, Wolfman Jack is buried nearby, and many prominent historical
figures in the revolutionary war made Hertford their home. History has
been well-preserved and most of the early houses in Hertford still survive,
marked with the names of their original owners and the year they were built.
They are the focus of the annual walking tour and the pride of their owners.
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