What was the first permanent settlement in North Carolina?

There were several attempts to establish a permanent settlement in North Carolina. The French claimed this land in 1524. However, they were looking for a shorter route to Asia as well as gold and silver. Since North Carolina satisfied neither of these goals, the French didn't stay here. The Spanish came next and established a settlement at Cape Fear. That settlement was not successful as many people died from hunger and disease.

Eventually, the British came to North Carolina. They established a settlement on Roanoke Island. However, that settlement also wasn’t successful. The first permanent settlement in North Carolina was actually established by Virginians in 1653 in the Albemarle Sound region. In 1663, the King made eight of these settlers the “lords proprietors” of Carolina. The first governor of Albemarle was Sir William Berkeley. In 1691, this region was named North Carolina and made into a colony in 1712. In 1729, North Carolina became a royal colony.

Thus, the first permanent settlement in what is now called North Carolina was in the region of Albemarle Sound.