Historic Murfreesboro is a very old town going back to the Meherrin, Chowanoke, and Notttaway tribes who populated the area before the Europeans arrived in the 1600s. Settled around 1707, the first recorded land grant was to Henry Wheeler in 1714 for a tract of land along the Meherrin River. Early landowners included names such as Ganey, Parker, Griffith, and Maney. In 1746, Irish Immigrant William Murfree purchased a large tract of land. Eight years later Murfree’s Landing was designated to be a King’s Landing where goods arriving and departing by boat could be inspected by a representative of His Majesty’s government. Murfreesboro prospered as a port and agricultural center, and also was known as a center for education and culture with the founding of the Hertford Academy, the Chowan Baptist Female Institute, and Wesleyan Female College. The village was known as Murfree’s Ferry by 1770, and was established as Murfreesborough in 1787 when William Murfree donated 97 acres of land for incorporation of the town.

Located on the banks of the Meherrin River, Historic Murfreesboro contains a 12-block National Register Historic District. This tour is designed to share some of the history of our town with you. Hopefully after you tour the town and see the exteriors of these historic properties, you will be interested in coming back to visit when the buildings are open for tours. You can walk most of this tour or you may take it by car if you prefer. Some of these properties are privately owned residences. Please be respectful of the owners and their property by staying on public streets and sidewalks when visiting private residences, unless they are open for tour.