 Edenton's History Edenton has been called "The South's prettiest town." Established in the late seventeenth century and incorporated in 1722, it is located on Edenton Bay at the head of the Albemarle Sound, 90 miles southwest of Norfolk, Virginia. A town of 5,000 people, Edenton retains an extensive historic district with a wonderful assemblage of 18th, 19th, and early-20th-century buildings. A guided walking tour of the historic district is offered several times daily throughout the year from the Visitor Center.
Today, the record of accomplishment from earlier days can be seen in the public and private buildings along the streets of this remarkable community, and in the pride its residents take in their past and present. Beyond its historic significance, Edenton offers visitors a fascinating look at contemporary life in a small and thriving Southern town. Its three-block-long business district is lined with shops and businesses that cater to both residents and visitors. The waterfront has been given over to parks with vistas across Edenton Bay and the Albemarle Sound. It is not uncommon for residents of the gracious old homes that line the shaded streets to invite visitors to come in for tea . . . just one sign that life continues as it should in Edenton. Guided walking tours daily from the Visitor Center include historic sites such as St. Paul's Church, ca. 1736; Cupola House, ca. 1758; Barker House, ca. 1782; Chowan County Courthouse, 1767; and the James Iredell House, ca. 1773.
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During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Edenton was a political, cultural, and commercial center in the colonies and in the fledgling nation. One of its citizens signed the Declaration of Independence (a second signer died in Edenton while fleeing his creditors), and another signed the United States Constitution. Artisans in Edenton and the surrounding Chowan and Roanoke River basins were leaders in building and cabinetmaking. During the early eighteenth century, Edenton was the second largest port in the colonies.