ɪnðɪ ˈeɪtiːnθ ænd nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹiz, ðɪ ˌʌnɪŋkˈoːɹpɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd tˈaʊn wʌzɐ bˈɪzi stˈeɪdʒkˈoʊtʃ stˈɑːp ɔnðə ɹˈoʊd bᵻtwˌiːn nˈɔːɹfək ænd ᵻlˈɪzəbəθ sˈɪɾi, nˈɔːɹθ kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the unincorporated town was a busy stage-coach stop on the road between Norfolk and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.