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North Carolina is a state located on the east coast of the United States. With over 10 million residents, it is the 9th most populous state in the country. North Carolina is known for its beautiful beaches, rolling mountains, and southern hospitality.

History of North Carolina

North Carolina has a rich history dating back to pre-colonial times. The state was originally inhabited by many Native American tribes including the Cherokee, Tuscarora, and Catawba tribes. European settlement began in the late 1600s with the establishment of the Roanoke and Albemarle settlements. North Carolina became one of the original 13 colonies. Major events in North Carolina's history include the Revolutionary War, civil rights movements, and hurricanes like Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Today, many historical sites and museums pay homage to North Carolina's storied past.

Geography and Climate

North Carolina spans three major geographic regions: the Appalachian Mountains in the west, the Piedmont region in the central area of the state, and the Atlantic coastal plains region in the east. The tallest mountain in the Eastern US, Mount Mitchell, is located in North Carolina at 6,684 feet high. The state has a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The rugged Blue Ridge Mountains help block cold air from the northwest, keeping winters milder on the coast and in the Piedmont region. Summers are hot and humid statewide with more rainfall.

Economy and Business

North Carolina has a diversified economy with thriving sectors in agriculture, technology, manufacturing, aviation, biotechnology, and finance among others. Some major corporations headquartered in the state include Bank of America, Lowes, Duke Energy, Nucor, and VF Corporation. North Carolina's gross domestic product was over $600 billion as of 2021, making it the 9th largest economy in the country. Major industries in NC include advanced manufacturing, technology, agriculture, tourism, and the military. The Research Triangle Park area near Raleigh is a major technology and research hub. Charlotte is a major financial center and home to Bank of America's headquarters. Some top agricultural products include poultry, eggs, pork, greenhouse plants, tobacco, sweet potatoes, and Christmas trees. Beverage company PepsiCo was founded in North Carolina as well. Tourism brings in over $28 billion to the state's economy annually. The military also has a major presence in North Carolina with major bases like Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Government and Politics

North Carolina's capital is Raleigh and its largest city is Charlotte. The state is divided into 100 counties. The main governmental bodies are the executive branch led by the Governor, the legislative NC General Assembly with 50 Senators and 120 members of the House of Representatives, and the judicial branch led by the NC Supreme Court. Roy Cooper, a member of the Democratic Party, is the current governor who took office in 2017. Some notable political figures from NC include presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Other notable politicians include Senator Jesse Helms, John Edwards, Elizabeth Dole, and Kay Hagan.

Demographics

North Carolina has a population of over 10.4 million as of 2019 estimates. Its largest cities include Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, and High Point. Racial demographics show the population is about 70% White, 22% African American, 10% Hispanic/Latino, 3% Asian American, and 1.5% Native American. The largest ancestries in the state include African American (22%), English American (11.5%), American (11.4%), and German (8.6%). 82% of the population speaks only English at home. Other languages spoken include Spanish (7.5%) and Asian languages (2.5%). North Carolina has many different religious faiths represented. The predominant affiliations are Protestant (35%), Baptist (30%), No religion (22%), Catholic (12%), and Methodist (12%).

Education

North Carolina has a statewide system of public education managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. School districts are managed at the county level. Larger public school districts in the state include Wake County Public School System, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Guilford County Schools, Cumberland County Schools, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. North Carolina is home to many top colleges and universities including Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Wake Forest University, East Carolina University, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, and Davidson College. The state's community college system has 58 campuses statewide.

Culture

North Carolina has a rich culture and heritage. Traditional southern cuisine like barbecue, country ham, fried chicken, sweet potatoes, biscuits, cornbread, and pecan pie are staples. Collard greens, black-eyed peas, and hushpuppies are other classic NC foods. Several major professional sports teams are based in North Carolina. They include the NFL's Carolina Panthers, NBA's Charlotte Hornets, NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, and MLB's minor league Charlotte Knights. College teams like Duke, UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest have rabid fan followings. NASCAR stock car racing has its origins and headquarters in North Carolina as well with many racetracks in the state. Basketball is extremely popular due to UNC and Duke's prominence in the sport. Museums like the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh and the Mint Museum in Charlotte showcase fine arts and exhibits on NC heritage. There are also over 300 historic sites and attractions to explore the state's history. The arts thrive in NC's cities. Charlotte is home to the Levine Museum of the New South, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture.

Major Cities and Regions

Charlotte

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and county seat of Mecklenburg County. It's located in the southern Piedmont region and is home to over 850,000 residents in the metro area. Charlotte is a major financial hub and home to the headquarters of Bank of America, Truist Financial, and the east coast operations of Wells Fargo. It's sometimes called the "Wall Street of the South" due to its large banking presence. The city is also a major transportation and distribution center. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a major airport hub and Interstate highways 77, 85, and 485 intersect in the city. Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts NASCAR races annually. The NFL's Carolina Panthers, NBA's Charlotte Hornets, and USL's Charlotte Independence soccer team are the major league franchises in town. Cultural destinations include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place museums, and the Uptown Arts District. There are also great parks, gardens, and the UNCC Botanical Gardens.

The Triangle

The Triangle region refers to the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill metro areas which encompass the three major universities of North Carolina State University, Duke University, and UNC Chapel Hill. The Triangle area is a major technology, research, and development hub. It's home to over 2 million residents. IBM, Cisco Systems, Biogen, and Lenovo all have a strong presence in the region. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and second largest city in the state. It houses the state government, NC State University, and performing arts centers. Durham is known for Duke University and its vibrant food scene. Chapel Hill is a quintessential college town centered around the UNC campus.

Asheville

Asheville is a small artsy city nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western NC. It has a lively music and craft beer scene with many microbreweries, music venues, galleries, and festivals. The historic Biltmore Estate is located nearby. Outdoor recreational activities like hiking, biking, rafting, and ziplining are popular pastimes with tourists. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the mountains outside the city and provides scenic overlooks.

The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks are a string of barrier islands located off the northeastern coast of North Carolina. Popular tourist towns include Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Hatteras Island, and Cape Hatteras. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, sand dunes, lighthouses, and as the birthplace of aviation. The Wright brothers conducted their first successful airplane flights on the dunes of Kitty Hawk. It's a popular beach and watersports destination.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a historic port city located on the Cape Fear River near the Atlantic coast. It has a charming historic downtown and riverfront. The city has a mild climate and many historic antebellum homes. The Battleship North Carolina museum is docked along the riverfront. Nearby beach towns include Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach.

Transportation

Airports

The largest airport in North Carolina is Charlotte Douglas International Airport which had over 46 million passengers in 2019. Other major airports include Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Wilmington International Airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport, and Asheville Regional Airport.

Highways

Some major interstate highways in NC include I-95, I-40, I-85, I-26, and I-77. These link the state's major cities and provide access from nearby states. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the state's western mountains with scenic overlooks.

Public Transportation

Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington and other cities operate local bus systems for public transportation. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates bus and light rail lines. Amtrak runs intercity rail service through the state via the Piedmont and Carolinian routes with stops in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, and Charlotte.

Parks and Outdoor Activities

North Carolina has a diversity of landscapes to enjoy outdoor recreation. There are 61 state parks, 10 national parks sites, and 4 national forests to hike, camp, swim, boat, fish, and explore. Some top parks and sites include:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Appalachian Trail
Blue Ridge Parkway
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Fort Macon State Park
Chimney Rock State Park
Linville Gorge Wilderness Area

Popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and more. The state has over 2,000 miles of hiking trails alone.

Major Landmarks and Attractions

Biltmore Estate

1 Lodge St Asheville, NC 28803 https://www.biltmore.com/ The Biltmore Estate is the largest private residence in America at 175,000 square feet. It was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s as a country retreat and is now a major tourist attraction.

USS North Carolina Battleship

1 Battleship Rd NE Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 251-5797 https://www.battleshipnc.com/ The USS North Carolina is a WWII era battleship now converted into a museum permanently docked along the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

1000 Colington Rd Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 (252) 473-2111 https://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm This National Park site commemorates the first successful airplane flights by the Wright Brothers in 1903 in Kitty Hawk.