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The
Tuscarora Indian tribe inhabited the banks of the Tar
River and Contentnea Creek long before Greenville and
Pitt County were created. English explorers considered
the Tuscarora to be the most powerful Indians of
Carolina's inner coastal plain. Because they refused
to trade in any language but their own, the Tuscarora
language became the language of trade and negotiation
between the Indians and whites in eastern Carolina.
Eventually the colonist, led by Colonel John Barnwell
and Colonel James Moore, defeated the Tuscarora. The
remainder of the tribe fled to New York and Canada.
Pitt
County was founded by English and Scottish adventurers
in the early 1700's. Formally established by the
General Assembly in 1760, the county was named in
honor of William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham who was a
strong English voice for colonial rights and
development. Fourteen years later, in 1774, the
courthouse was moved from the residence of John Hardee
to Martinsborough, named after royal governor Josiah
Martin, which became the county seat. In 1787, the
town's name was changed from Martinsborough to
Greenesville in honor of Nathaniel Greene, hero of the
Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Over time, the name was
shortened to Greenville.
Pitt
Academy was chartered in 1787 to provide proper
education for the area's youth. In 1909, East Carolina
Teachers Training School was established. This
teaching school was eventually elevated to East
Carolina University.
In
the early days of Pitt County, the Tar River was a
major asset. Suitable for inland boats of the day, it
provided a route to Washington, North Carolina; the
Sound; and the Atlantic Ocean. Products of the area,
such as tobacco, cotton, peanuts, potatoes, and live
stock, were floated up and down the river and its
creeks. Also in 1787, a free, tax-supported ferry was
launched across the Tar River at Greenville, uniting
the county. Today, river traffic has given way to
pleasure boats and other recreational activities.
In
1850, the Greenville and Raleigh plank road was
chartered allowing stage coaches to transport people
and products by land, leading to a network of paved
highways. Greenville's first railroad was built in
1889.
Since
the days of the Indians, tobacco has been a major
crop. In 1891, the Greenville tobacco market opened
with the completion of the first of several local
tobacco warehouses. Today, Greenville boasts one of
the largest markets in the state, and it is the
distribution center for all farm crops produced in the
area. Although Greenville is an agricultural
community, recent years have seen a shift away from
dependence on tobacco and a move toward a more
industrialized economy. Some industries which have
come to the community include textiles, electronics,
brushes, pharmaceutical supplies, apparel, lumber, and
automotive parts.
Several disastrous fires have tried to stop
Greenville's progress but failed. In 1858 a man from
Tennessee set fire to the courthouse and destroyed it
because he was outraged by the provisions of a will.
Two other fires occurred in the latter years of the
century. In 1910, the Courthouse, along with the
Masonic Temple and many stores, was burned again when
the John Flanagan Buggy Company caught fire and shot
flames through the city. A hurricane in September of
1912 also damaged the town.
Throughout history, Greenville and Pitt County have
continued to grow and prosper. Today, Greenville is a
progressive city that serves as the cultural,
economic, educational, and medical center of Eastern
North Carolina. People from all over the world are
drawn to Greenville for its medical center and the
international base of certain members of its
industrial community. By many, Greenville is
considered to be the heart of Eastern North Carolina.
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Greenville's population increased by
almost 30 percent during the past decade; however,
employment rose by 32 percent. This growth in jobs can
be attributed to the considerable growth and expansion
in the Greenville Industrial Park. The park is home to
DSM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (1,300 employees), TRW (300 employees),
Greenville Yarns (300 employees), NACCO Materials
Handling Group, Inc. (1100 employees), Vermont American (340
employees), and Rubbermaid (375 employees). At its
opening, the Japanese firm, ASMO, announced it would
expand from 260 jobs to 430 jobs by 1998. The
Fullarton Computer Industries of Scotland created 600
jobs and also anticipates future expansion. Meanwhile,
companies such as Eastern Carolina Leaf Processors and
Grady White Boats are community mainstays. Other
industries in the county include DIMON International
Tobacco Processing, Collins and Aikman Auto
Upholstery, Mestek Heating Units, Carolina Classics
Catfish, Atwell Industries, U.S. Cellular, and
Wachovia Bank.
Pitt
County's manufacturers employ over 10,000 area
residents. Education, health care, public
administration, distribution, communication, and
financial services provide over 9,000
non-manufacturing jobs. Pitt County Memorial Hospital
employs nearly 4,000 area residents. Regional
education institutions, East Carolina University and
Pitt Community College, make major contributions to
the economy, not only by educating the workforce, but
with over 4,000 employees of their own. City and
County agencies and other interested groups meet
regularly to monitor and guide the course of the areas
continuing growth. They work together to encourage new
business and manufacturing in Pitt County while
ensuring that commercial growth or expansion does not
have a negative impact on area resources or residents'
quality of life. Meanwhile, the chambers of commerce
in the area offer a wide array of services to new
business owners and owners of existing businesses who
wish to expand.
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