River Bend was first counted by the census in 1990
Among the newest of U.S. towns · #284 of 290 in North Carolina. What drives it
Most of River Bend was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1985. Below: maps from 1901 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, River Bend is among the newest of U.S. towns, #284 of 290 in North Carolina. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of River Bend’s overall grade.
North Carolina towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical North Carolina town has 12.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so River Bend’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (19% of North Carolina towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be D−. The pre-1940 share (±0.9 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about River Bend’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of River Bend. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1901New Bern sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of River Bend.
The story so far
River Bend, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of River Bend yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
River Bend is a town in Craven County. As of the 2020 census, River Bend had a population of 2,902. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Its first post office opened in 1990. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 3,119 to 2,902 (-7%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
The River Bend post office opened in 1990, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does River Bend rank for history?
River Bend is among the newest of U.S. towns, #284 of 290 in North Carolina. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in River Bend?
0.0% of River Bend’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 4.1% for a North Carolina town; the median home was built in 1985.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
