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Facets Of The History Of New Bern, Michael Hill, Ansley Wegner

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The affable climate and geography of the coastal plain of North Carolina made it an attractive settlement point for incoming Europeans. The land is relatively flat, and the rich soils are ideal for agriculture. The mild climate allowed for longer growing seasons, and a number of wide, slow-moving rivers provided both navigation and a food source. Indeed, John Lawson, the British naturalist and explorer, described North Carolina as "a country, whose inhabitants may enjoy a life of the greatest ease and satisfaction, and pass away their hours in solid contentment."