New Bern

James City was founded in 1862 as a settlement for freed slaves following the Union Army’s occupation of New Bern. The community takes its name from Horace James, an Army chaplain who helped establish evening schools and give religious instruction to African Americans. Unlike other freedmen camps, James City was not broken up after the war, as residents had obtained leases from the land’s original owners. Today, proximity to New Bern remains a huge appeal, and not living in the city proper comes with added benefits. “It’s only two minutes from New Bern, and you don’t have to pay city taxes,” says Jana Tyson, owner of The Tyson Group Realtors who has sold homes in the New Bern area for almost 30 years. That’s because James City isn’t a city at all but an unincorporated area, and one that offers much more of a rural feel, with mature forests and a median lot size of nearly half an acre. From July 2024 to July 2023, James City’s median home price has stood $50,000 lower than that of the New Bern metro area, at about $300,000. Most residential streets branch off US Highway 70, leading to dead-ends or the coast of the Neuse River. “A lot of the homes on the water have been torn down and rebuilt. So, there’s a mix of older and newer homes in the neighborhood,” says Cindy Nice, broker with Coldwell Banker. “Most of the waterfront homes have private docks.” Ranch-style homes date from the 1960s to the 1990s. Recent constructions tend to follow stately New Traditional designs, with subdivisions continuing to come in through the 2020s. Detached homes usually go from $150,000 to $400,000, but riverfront manors on multi-acre lots can get up to around $1.2 million. Undeveloped parcels are still available, with prices ranging based on proximity to the water and acreage. Townhouses in Wesmill Pond go for around $300,000, while Trent River Villa’s townhouses near the river and highways sell for twice that. Homes in the northwest corner of James City by the Trent are at a greater flood risk than most homes overlooking the Neuse River because of the flatter terrain. Brinson Memorial Elementary is centrally located within James City and earns an overall B from Niche. Grover C. Fields Middle and New Bern High are both located across the Trent River and get a B-plus and a B-minus, respectively. New Bern High’s Career & Technical Education program offers students the chance to earn employment credentials including Microsoft Office Specialist and Adobe Certified User. The high school is also known for their athletics, teams such as football and boys outdoor track winning several state championships since 2006. Craven Community College is 5 miles west. US Highway 70 bisects James City and crosses the Trent River into New Bern. Most residents are about 17 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and 17 more miles from Morehead City. Coastal Carolina Regional Airport is on the north side of the neighborhood and offers direct flights to Charlotte; Hartford, Connecticut; and Orlando, Florida. The airport’s terminal was recently increased in size, and future expansions are planned. “It doesn’t have so much air traffic that noise is a problem,” Nice says. There’s a strip mall off US Highway 70 with a Food Lion, Family Dollar, fast food restaurants and various smaller shops. Farther south down the road, there’s also a Harris Teeter. Beartown Bistro & Pizza Company serves up unique pies including a tzatziki pizza with lamb and feta and the smoker, topped with pulled pork, fried onion and other barbecue elements. Brütopia Brewing Company, known for their craft beers and live music on weekends, is right across the street. The establishment also sells grains, hops and other ingredients and supplies for anyone interested in doing home brewing of their own. More restaurants can be found across the Trent River in Downtown New Bern, along with more shopping centers on the west side of town. Creekside Park offers a modern playground with slides, climbing ropes and even a few small ziplines. The park also hosts baseball and softball diamonds, volleyball courts and a pier which overlooks Brice Creek, utilized for fishing and kayaking. “Even though the pier is small, fishing is very good over there,” Nice says. “Brice Creek has brackish water. It’s a mix of salt and fresh water, so you can get both types of fish. You can expect bass over there to be big.” New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park is near the center of James City and popular for its guided tours and short strolls through the greenery. “The trails are very well manicured, so they’re a good walk for older people,” Nice says. For walks on the sand and shell-collecting, Atlantic Beach is about 36 miles south. Most special events take place across the river in New Bern proper. The Bike MS: Historic New Bern Ride typically attracts over a thousand cyclists each year and raises funds to help fight multiple sclerosis. Over one weekend in September, cyclists bike between 30 and 200 miles each. New Bern is also known for MumFest, short for Chrysanthemum Fest, where locals can enjoy food, live music and games and support local vendors. The festival takes place a weekend in October.