Farmland

The roots of what we now know as the Town of River Bend start near the turn of the century. This robust tobacco plantation of 1,200 acres was owned by the Odd Fellows, a fraternal group of black tenant farmers collectively working and farming together raising the golden leaf, which was the backbone of Eastern North Carolina's economy. During the recession of 1914, this hardy, proud group was forced to sell its land to the "company store" for supplies and debt. The W.S. Clark Company was a leading supplier of farm supplies and general merchandise to the farming community. During the first half of the century, the Clark Company obtained nearly 70 farms, large and small, through barter and exchange for debt.

During the 1960s with the beginning of the decline of small tenant farms, large tracts with high tobacco allotments became inefficient for absentee owners. The Clark family, at this point, was beginning to age and die out. It was timely for them to convert their low production large tracts into cash and move on into newer fields.

In 1964, Frank Efird and family moved to New Bern from Salisbury, NC. Shortly after, the Efird Company was organized to build single family homes - many for the retirees who came to the area. Mr. Efird began his search for a large tract of land with water and soil conditions that could be developed into a total living planned community. The Odd Fellows farm was purchased in October 1967 for $486,000, and thus, was the beginning of a 25-year development plan for River Bend Plantation, known as The Town of River Bend.

* information from the: History of the Town of River Bend

Town of River Bend Site

Aerial Map River Bend 2000

Jim Ferrel (Hat) & Jesse Quick (white shirt) discuss connecting to Trent River from Plantation Lake.