Grifton, North Carolina

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Grifton is a small town in eastern North Carolina, located in Lenoir and Pitt counties along Contentnea Creek. As of 2020, about 2,448 people lived there. It’s part of the Greenville Metropolitan Area in the Inner Banks region. The town is nicknamed “The Shad Capital of North Carolina.”

History and name
- People settled here by 1756, calling the place Peter’s Ferry; by 1764 it was known as Blount’s Ford.
- After the Civil War, a bridge was rebuilt and then replaced by a ferry run by Franklin Bell, giving the area the name Bell’s Ferry.
- It was incorporated as Bell’s Ferry in 1883, and six years later the name was changed to Grifton to honor local merchant C. M. Griffin.

Geography
- Grifton sits on the southern edge of Pitt County, mostly on the northeast side of Contentnea Creek; a small part is in Lenoir County.
- North Carolina Highway 11 runs just west of town, about 13 miles north to Greenville and 7 miles southwest to Kinston.
- The town covers about 2.7 square miles, all land. Contentnea Creek flows toward the Neuse River.

Community and education
- Grifton is served by Grifton School (Pre-K through 8) in the Pitt County Public School system. High school students go to Ayden-Grifton High School between Ayden and Grifton.
- Nearby private school Arendell Parrott Academy lies just south of Grifton.
- For higher education, residents can attend Pitt Community College in Winterville or Lenoir Community College in Kinston; East Carolina University is in nearby Greenville.

Local features and events
- The town hosts the Grifton Shad Festival, begun in 1971 to bring the community together. It features about 40 events, including parades, art, dances, and a Shad Toss.
- John Lawson Legacy Days are held at the Grifton Historical Museum and Indian Village, honoring explorer John Lawson.
- The Grifton Historical Museum also runs a Back-N-Time Book Club to promote reading.
- The WITN TV transmission tower is located in Grifton.