Governor Stein Recognizes The Founding of James City

In Recognition Of

The Founding Of James City

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, African Americans, both enslaved and free, have built the foundations of the American nation for more than 250 years; and 

Whereas, enslaved people in North Carolina created strong communities of resistance, family, faith, and love; and 

Whereas, James City is the oldest continuous community in North Carolina founded by formerly enslaved people, still going strong since 1863; and 

Whereas, in 1893 after a ten-year court battle over legal title to their land, more than 2,000 James City residents were threatened with eviction from their longtime homes, which they had built themselves and upon which they paid taxes; and 

Whereas, James City residents appealed to the national media and requested that North Carolina Governor Elias Carr intervene; and 

Whereas, Craven County officials asked the Governor to send armed state militia to enforce eviction orders; on April 25, 1893, Governor Carr traveled to James City and personally met with its leaders to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the dispute; and 

Whereas, the James City community stood fast and then expanded to new neighborhoods and continued to thrive – producing farmers, craftspeople, business owners, ministers, members of the armed forces, educators, college graduates, and professionals with advanced degrees for 133 more years;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 25, 2026, as “In Recognition Of The Founding Of James City” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-third day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.