North Carolina
One of the original 13 states of the United States, North Carolina is rich with history. In 1587 it was the birthplace of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America. In 1775 North Carolina became the first colony to authorize a vote for independence from England. The state is filled with historic sites from the American Revolution (1775–81) and the American Civil War (1861–65). North Carolina also hosted the first successful airplane flight, by the Wright brothers in 1903.
Historians disagree on how North Carolina got the nickname Tarheel State. Some think the term began in colonial days, when the area was the leading producer of tar. Others believe it started during the American Revolution, when British forces that waded across the Tar River found their feet blackened with tar that had been dumped into the water. Still others trace the nickname to North Carolina soldiers who refused to retreat (as if their heels were glued to the ground with tar) during the American Civil War. The state capital is Raleigh.
North Carolina is located in the southeastern part of the United States. From east to west, North Carolina is the longest state east of the Mississippi River. It covers an area of 52,669 square miles (136,413 square kilometers). North Carolina is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Virginia on the north, Tennessee on the west, and Georgia and South Carolina on the south.
The surface of the state slopes downwards from west to east. Along the border with Tennessee are the Appalachian Mountains. The major Appalachian ranges in North Carolina are the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge. Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters), is the highest peak in the state and in the whole Appalachian system. The central part of the state is a plateau with rolling, forested hills. The coastal plain in the east is North Carolina's largest natural region. The land close to the Atlantic is low and swampy.
Off the coast is a long chain of islands and sandy reefs known as the Outer Banks. Three capes—Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, and Cape Fear—jut into the ocean in a region known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This name comes from the many ships that have gone down in the dangerous waters.
North Carolina has a pleasant climate. Summers are warm and winters are mild. The state is protected from severe cold by the western mountain barrier.
Many trees grow in North Carolina. Pine, the state tree, is plentiful on the coastal plain. Hardwoods such as oak, ash, and hickory grow in the mountain region. The central plateau has a mix of evergreens and hardwoods. The state flower is the dogwood.
The animals of North Carolina include bears, wildcats, deer, raccoons, and opossums. The state bird is the cardinal. Other common birds include the wren, mockingbird, chickadee, woodpecker, and warbler. Mountain streams have brook and rainbow trout.
The first people to live in what is now North Carolina were Native Americans. The largest tribe in the area when European settlers arrived was the Cherokee. During the 1830s most of the Cherokee were forced to move to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) so that settlers could take their land. Their difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. At the start of the 21st century almost 100,000 Native Americans lived in North Carolina. This was one of the largest Native American populations of any state in the country.
The early European settlers in North Carolina represented a variety of nationalities, including English, Scottish, Irish, and German. Their descendants make up the majority of the state's people. African Americans account for more than a fifth of the population. The numbers of Hispanics and Asian Americans in the state increased rapidly in the late 20th century. Nice weather and attractive scenery lead many people to North Carolina to retire.
The major cities of North Carolina are in the central part of the state. Charlotte is the largest city and a trade, financial, and manufacturing center. Winston-Salem is known for its cigarette plants. Raleigh, the state capital, is a trade and educational hub. Other major cities include Greensboro, Durham, and Fayetteville.
Recreation
With its mountains, lakes, woodlands, and coastlines, North Carolina is a popular place for outdoor activities. The state shares with Tennessee the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National seashores are located at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout.
North Carolina's professional sports teams include the Carolina Panthers (football), the Charlotte Hornets (men's basketball), the Charlotte Sting (women's basketball), and the Carolina Hurricanes (hockey). Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte hosts many racing events.
North Carolina began a system of public education in the 19th century, but the schools were closed during much of the year and did not serve very many children. Improvements were made when the school system was brought under state supervision in 1933.
The University of North Carolina, the first state university in the nation, opened in Chapel Hill in 1795. Among the many other state-supported schools are North Carolina State University, at Raleigh, and North Carolina School of the Arts, at Winston-Salem. Duke University, at Durham, is the largest private university in the state and one of the nation's leading universities. North Carolina also has many technical institutes.
North Carolina is among the nation's leading industrial states. The state's long-established manufacturing industries include textiles, wooden furniture, and cigarettes. Among its newer industries are industrial machinery and computers, electronic equipment, and chemicals. Many companies have established high-technology research facilities in an area called Research Triangle Park, located near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Other major industries include banking, health care, and tourism.
North Carolina still has a large rural population, and farming remains important to the economy. The main crops include tobacco, sweet potatoes, cotton, soybeans, corn, and peanuts. Pigs, poultry, and cattle are raised. Forest products are used in making furniture and as a source of pulp for paper. The waters of the Atlantic support a profitable fishing industry.
Prehistoric Indians lived in what is now North Carolina more than 15,000 years ago. Between 35,000 and 50,000 Native Americans lived in the area when Europeans arrived.
The first English colony in North America was established in 1585 on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. It was not successful. A second group of colonists that landed on the island in 1587 mysteriously disappeared by 1591. The only trace they left behind was the word Croatoan carved on a tree. The word may have referred to a Native Americans tribe that lived in the area.
Farmers and traders from Viriginia established the first permanent settlement in present-day North Carolina in the mid-17th century. In 1663 King Charles II of England granted the Carolina region to eight English gentlemen. North Carolina was separated from South Carolina in 1712 and became a royal colony in 1729. The number of colonists then increased rapidly, and settlement spread westward.
With the outbreak of the American Revolution, loyalties in North Carolina were divided. Royal control was overthrown in 1775, however, and an independent state government was established. Several battles were fought in North Carolina, including one at Guilford Courthouse in 1781.
North Carolina joined the Union in 1789 as the 12th state. In the decades that followed the state's progress was slow. Conditions improved after 1835, when changes to the state constitution helped the western half of the state catch up with the the east. A period of great economic growth followed. The state's agricultural economy depended on slave labor.
Despite the role of slavery in North Carolina, the state was not quick to join the Confederacy before the American Civil War. After fighting began in 1861, however, North Carolina withdrew from the Union and fought with the Confederacy. After the Confederacy's defeat, North Carolina was readmitted to the Union in 1868.
After World War I (1914–18) manufacturing overtook agriculture as the most important part of North Carolina's economy. The Great Depression of the 1930s, however, halted the state's economic development. The New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped North Carolina's economy to recover. During World War II (1939–45) the state was a major supplier of manufactured war materials and textiles.
North Carolina changed rapidly after World War II. Many people moved from the countryside to the cities, and new industries were established. The state's population grew at a record pace of more than 21 percent between 1990 and 2000. Population (2000 census), 8,049,313.
