Kinston, North Carolina

Everything Kinston is known for

1 song mention this city

RoadyGoat plays music like this when you drive through Kinston. It's free on iPhone, and full songs play through Apple Music.

Music in Kinston

Songs About Kinston

Funky Drummer

James Brown

"Maceo!"

Artists From Kinston

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Rivers & Roads in Song near Kinston

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Kinston.

Highway I 40 21 songs Interstate 95 19 songs

History of Kinston

Battle of Wyse Fork RoadyGoat

1861

This quiet stretch of North Carolina saw fierce fighting that helped seal the Confederacy's fate. In March of 1865, Union forces under General Jacob Cox clashed with Confederate troops led by General Braxton Bragg near Wyse Fork. The battle, also known as the Battle of Kinston, involved days of skirmishing and maneuvering across this very land. Bragg aimed to stop Cox from linking up with General Sherman's larger army. On March 8, the Confederates launched a surprise assault that achieved one of the last major Confederate field victories of the war, capturing roughly 1,500 Union prisoners — one of the largest hauls in the war's final months. Union reinforcements arrived the following day, repulsing Bragg's renewed attacks, and by the night of March 10 he withdrew his forces across the Neuse River. The Union strategic victory at Wyse Fork ensured Sherman's army could be resupplied, contributing to the eventual surrender of Confederate forces in North Carolina. It was a crucial step toward ending the Civil War. Today, you can visit the battlefield site, though much of it is now farmland. Historical markers commemorate the battle, offering a glimpse into the events that unfolded here.

RoadyGoat → · 5.0 mi away

Skylight Inn BBQ RoadyGoat

Pete Jones opened Skylight Inn in Ayden, North Carolina in 1947, cooking whole hogs over oak coals the way Eastern Carolina has for centuries. When National Geographic called it the BBQ Capital of the World, Jones put a replica of the US Capitol dome on the roof. The pork is chopped by hand with cleavers, mixed with vinegar and coleslaw, and served on a cornbread-lined tray. No forks, no sauce bottles.

17.0 mi away

Things to Do in Kinston

food 17.0 mi away

Skylight Inn BBQ

Eastern NC whole-hog barbecue since 1947. The dome on the roof is a replica of the US Capitol because they declared themselves the BBQ Capital of the World.

Everything Near Kinston

11 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Mitchelltown Historic District · 0.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as you cruise through Mitchelltown, a perfectly preserved slice of Kinston's past. This neighborhood blossomed between 1885 and 1941, showcasing the popular architectural styles of the day. Wealthy…
Queen–Gordon Streets Historic District · 1.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This isn't just another street corner; it's a window into Kinston's bustling past. Back in the late 1890s and early 1900s, this Queen–Gordon Streets district was the heart of Kinston's commercial and industrial…
CSS Neuse · 1.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
To avoid capture, the Confederate Navy scuttled this ironclad ram right here in the Neuse River during the Civil War. She was called the CSS Neuse, and her mission was to break the Union blockade. Built in 1863 and…
Harmony Hall (Kinston, North Carolina) · 1.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a quick peek into North Carolina's Revolutionary past! This is Harmony Hall, the oldest building in Kinston, and it once played a crucial role in the state's fight for independence. Built in the 18th…
Battle of Kinston · 2.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Right here, in Lenoir County, fierce fighting erupted during the Battle of Kinston. In 1862, Union General John G. Foster led an expedition from New Bern, aiming to disrupt the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad at…
Battle of Wyse Fork · 5.0 mi
This quiet stretch of North Carolina saw fierce fighting that helped seal the Confederacy's fate. In March of 1865, Union forces under General Jacob Cox clashed with Confederate troops led by General Braxton Bragg near…
Fort Neoheroka · 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're near a place of profound sorrow and fierce resistance: Fort Neoheroka. Here, in 1713, the Tuscarora people made their stand against colonial expansion. The Tuscarora War had been raging for two years when a South…
Ayden Historic District · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what a turn-of-the-century North Carolina town looked like? You're driving through it! The Ayden Historic District preserves the heart of this Pitt County community. From the late 1800s through the…
Skylight Inn BBQ · 17.0 mi
Pete Jones opened Skylight Inn in Ayden, North Carolina in 1947, cooking whole hogs over oak coals the way Eastern Carolina has for centuries. When National Geographic called it the BBQ Capital of the World, Jones put a…
Carter-Simmons House · 17.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine building a life from scratch, brick by brick. That's the story of the Carter-Simmons House, and it's still being written today. It's believed that Alexander Carter built this house around 1805, though local…
Renston Rural Historic District · 18.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a second; you're about to drive through a piece of Pitt County history. This is the Renston Rural Historic District, a collection of farms and buildings that tell the story of this area's agricultural…

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