A Brief History of Our Town

Grifton, once known as “Bell’s Ferry,” “Coward’s Bridge” and “Skinhead”, is situated south of Greenville on both sides of Contentnea Creek (known locally as Moccasin River) a few miles above where it empties into the Neuse River. It was once known as the most divided town in North Carolina, being in three townships, Contentnea and Swift Creek in Pitt and Contentnea Neck in Lenoir County. It was in two senatorial districts, two judicial districts, and two congressional districts. It even had three township constables exercising authority over their respective parts of town.