English
colonists, sent by Sir Walter Raleigh, unsuccessfully attempted to settle
Roanoke Island in 1585 and 1587. Virginia Dare, born there in 1587, was the first
child of English parentage born in America.
In
1653 the first permanent settlements were established by English colonists from
Virginia near the Roanoke and Chowan rivers. The region was established as an
English proprietary colony in 1663–1665 and in its early history was the
scene of Culpepper's Rebellion (1677), the Quaker-led Cary Rebellion (1708), the
Tuscarora Indian War (1711–1713), and many pirate raids.
During
the American Revolution, there was relatively little fighting within the state,
but many North Carolinians saw action elsewhere. Despite considerable pro-Union,
antislavery sentiment, North Carolina joined the Confederacy during the Civil
War.
North
Carolina is the nation's largest furniture, tobacco, brick, and textile producer.
Metalworking, chemicals, and paper are also important industries. The major agricultural
products are tobacco, corn, cotton, hay, peanuts, and vegetable crops. The state
is the country's leading producer of mica and lithium.
Tourism
is also important, with visitors spending more than $1 billion annually. Sports
include year-round golfing, skiing at mountain resorts, both fresh- and salt-water
fishing, and hunting.
Among
the major attractions are the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge National Parkway,
the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, the Wright Brothers National
Memorial at Kitty Hawk, Guilford Courthouse and Moores Creek National Military
Parks, Carl Sandburg's home near Hendersonville, and the Old Salem Restoration
in Winston-Salem.
Coming Soon!
See
more on North Carolina: Encyclopedia: North Carolina Encyclopedia: Geography Encyclopedia:
Economy Encyclopedia: Government Encyclopedia: History Monthly Temperature
Extremes
Accredited
Colleges and Universities
Selected
famous natives and residents:
David Brinkley TV newscaster; Howard
Cosell sportscaster; Virginia Dare first person born in America to English
parents; Elizabeth Dole government official; James B. Duke industrialist;
Donna Fargo singer; Roberta Flack singer; Ava Gardner actress; Richard
Gatling inventor; Billy Graham evangelist; Kathryn Grayson singer and
actress; Andy Griffith actor; Jesse Helms politician; O. Henry writer;
Barbara Howar broadcaster and writer; Andrew Johnson president; Charles
Kuralt TV journalist; Sugar Ray Leonard boxer; Dolley Madison first lady;
Ronnie Milsap singer; Thelonious Monk pianist; Alfred Moore jurist;
Edward R. Murrow commentator and government official; Walter Hines Page
journalist and ambassador; Floyd Patterson boxer; Richard Petty auto racer;
James K. Polk president; Soupy Sales comedian; Earl Scruggs bluegrass
musician; Randy Travis musician; John Scott Trotter orchestra leader;
Thomas Wolfe novelist
Capital:
Raleigh
State
abbreviation/Postal code: N.C./NC
Governor:
Mike Easley, D (to Jan. 2009)
Lieut.
Governor: Beverly Perdue, D (to Jan. 2009)
Senators:
Richard Burr, R (to Jan. 2011); Elizabeth Dole, R (to Jan. 2009)
U.S.
Representatives: 13
Secy.
of State: Elaine F. Marshall, D (to Jan. 2009)
Treasurer:
Richard H. Moore, D (to Jan. 2009)
Atty.
General: Roy Cooper, D (to Jan. 2009)
Entered
Union (rank): Nov. 21, 1789 (12)
Present
constitution adopted: 1971
Motto:
Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem)
State
symbols: flower dogwood (1941) tree pine (1963) bird cardinal (1943)
mammal gray squirrel (1969) insect honeybee (1973) reptile eastern
box turtle (1979) gemstone emerald (1973) shell scotch bonnet (1965) historic
boat shad boat (1987) beverage milk (1987) rock granite (1979) dog
plott hound (1989) song “The Old North State” (1927) colors
red and blue (1945) fruit scuppernong grape (2001)
Nickname:
Tar Heel State
Origin
of name: In honor of Charles I of England
10
largest cities (2003 est.): Charlotte, 584,658; Raleigh, 316,802; Greensboro,
229,110; Durham, 198,376; Winston-Salem, 190,299; Fayetteville, 124,372; Cary,
99,824; High Point, 91,543; Wilmington, 91,137; Asheville, 69,045
Land
area: 48,711 sq mi. (126,161 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Chatham Co., 10 mi. NW of Sanford
Number
of counties: 100
Largest
county by population and area: Mecklenburg, 771,617 (2004); Robeson, 949 sq
mi.
State
parks: 29
Residents:
North Carolinian
2004
resident population est.: 8,541,221
2000
resident census population (rank): 8,049,313 (11). Male: 3,942,695 (49.0%);
Female: 4,106,618 (51.0%). White: 5,804,656 (72.1%); Black: 1,737,545 (21.6%);
American Indian: 99,551 (1.2%); Asian: 113,689 (1.4%); Other race: 186,629 (2.3%);
Two or more races: 103,260 (1.3%); Hispanic/Latino: 378,963 (4.7%). 2000 percent
population 18 and over: 75.6; 65 and over: 12.0; median age: 35.3.
