The natural resources of the town, it's rivers and woodlands, have played an important role in the Town's history and development. The North River was home to the ship building industry form 1730 to the early 1800s. The "Bedford", built on the North River, was the first ship to take the American flag into a foreign port. During this era, over 1,000 ships were built in Pembroke. In 1813 the manufacture of wood boxes began. The abundance of time provided the necessary resource to fuel the booming industry. By the late 1800s, the Gilbert West Company employed 10,000 people and produced 1,000 wooden boxes per day. The establishment of highway systems has created easy access to employment and shopping centers. Pembroke has maintained it's rural character, there is a strong community spirit, one that has not strayed from the early beliefs held by the towns' forefathers.