Elizabeth City History

The Dismal Swamp Canal began in 1793. For almost 100 years the Dismal Swamp Canal controlled the town's fortunes. Improvements to the canal were reflected in the growth and prosperity of the town. The arrival of the railroad in 1881 was an added improvement to water activity. The area around the early town was drained by four creeks. Poindexter Creek and Tiber Creek formed the northern and southern town boundaries and Charles Creek was located just south of town.

Starting north of Knobbs Creek, located north of town, is the site of the present sewage treatment plant. Around 1905, Dare Lumber Company built a large mill on this location. Barges of logs arrived daily from East Lake (Hyde County) and were dumped into large holding pens until used for lumber. An early ferry connected Camden County to Pasquotank County near this area. Around the point on the right is Knobbs Creek, location of a number of mills including Blades Lumber Company, G.H. Toadrine Lumber Company, Richmond Cedar Works, Elizabeth City Lumber Company, Kramer Brothers, Chesson Manufacturing Company, North Carolina Tray and Basket Company, East Coast Cedar Company, Buffalo City Mills., and National Box Company. Some were the same mill under different owners. Between the 1890s and 1920s, eighteen lumber and wood product companies were incorporated in Elizabeth City.

A number of mills were located just south of Knobbs Creek on the Pasquotank River: Jones Company, Albemarle Lumber Company, Blades Lumber Company, and Foreman-Blades Lumber Company.