Winter: 53/34°F
Geography
North Carolina is the 28th largest state, with 53,821 square miles (139,396 sq km). From east to west, the land slopes upward. In the very east are the Outer Banks, a thin string of islands that runs along the state’s coastline. The Outer Banks protect the mainland from eroding but can be dangerous to sailors. Along the coast, you can find long stretches of sandy beaches, swamps, and even quiet lagoons. This eastern portion of the mainland is called the Coastal Plain. If you travel west from this area, you will hit the Fall Line, where the land rises sharply. There are beautiful waterfalls and river rapids there. Farther west, a hilly region known as the Piedmont Plateau rises about 250 to 1,250 feet (76 to 381 m) higher than the Coastal Plain. Red clay comes from this area, often coloring the lakes and rivers that pass through it. In the westernmost part of the state are the Appalachian Mountains, where the soil is rocky and thin.
Resources and Economy
The economy used to rely almost completely on agriculture. Although not as important today, farming and raising turkeys and hogs still provide jobs and money. Off the coast, tons of fish, shrimp, and blue crabs can be found. Today, North Carolina is one of the most industrialized states in the country. The economy is based on manufacturing chemicals, textiles, furniture, and cigarettes. The state doesn’t have many mineral resources, but valuable forests provid e lumber. Each year, tourism brings in more revenue as people discover the natural beauty of North Carolina.
The People
Population
North Carolina is ranked the 11th most populated state. The largest city is Charlotte, and the next largest is the capital, Raleigh. About 40 percent of the population lives in rural areas. The number of people who live in the countryside is odd for such an industrialized state. One reason for this is because many people prefer to live outside the city and commute to work. Another reason is that some industries have made their homes in small towns.
Total Population: 9,061,032
Government
Capital: Raleigh
State Abbreviation: NC
Governor: Mike Easley (Democrat)
U.S. Senators: 2
Richard Burr (Republican)
Elizabeth Dole (Republican)
U.S. Representatives: 13
Republicans: 6
Democrats: 7
State Senators: 50
State Representatives: 120
Counties: 100
- In the first constitution, the governor served only a one-year term and couldn’t veto any bills. In 1996, the law changed and gave the governor veto power.
- Today, Nort h Carolina’s governor is elected to a four-year term but may serve no more than two terms.
Famous People
Clay Aiken — Singer
John Coltrane — Jazz musician
Elizabeth Dole — Public official
Dale Earnhardt — Race car driver
Ava Gardner — Actress
O. Henry — Short-story writer
Andrew Jackson — Seventh U.S. president
Jesse Jackson — Reverend and civil rights activist
Andrew Johnson — 17th U.S. president
Michael Jordan — Basketball player
Sugar Ray Leonard — Boxer
Dolley Madison — U.S. first lady
James K. Polk — 11th U.S. president
James Taylor — Singer
Orville and Wilbur Wright — Inventors of the first working airplane
Native America
Several thousand Native Americans lived in what is now North Carolina before European settlers came. The Hatteras, Cherokee, and Tuscarora were three of the largest groups. The Hatteras belonged to the Algonquin family of tribes and lived on the banks of present-day Cape Hatteras. The Tuscarora and Cherokee were part of the Iroquois family of tribes. The Tuscarora lived along the Roanoke River, while the Cherokee lived in the Appalachian Mountains to the east. The Tuscarora were organized into clans based on the mother’s line in each family. The clans were named after different animals such as Hawk, Bear, a nd Turtle. They lived in longhouses and grew squash, beans, and corn.
When Europeans came, they fought with the natives over land. The foreigners also brought disease, which killed off much of the native population. When gold was found in the area, it was only a matter of time before the tribes lost their land to settlers and gold diggers. The Tuscarora were forced to move north closer to other Iroquois tribes. The Cherokee remained in the area, but when the United States government took over, they were forced to move to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears. Around one thousand Cherokee managed to go into hiding and stay in North Carolina. Their descendants belong to the present-day Eastern Band of the Cherokee. It is the largest tribe living in North Carolina, but it is not yet federally recognized.
Cultural Notes
First in Flight
At the village of Kitty Hawk, the Wright brothers tested their flying inventions. They chose Kitty Hawk for its remote location, where they would not be bothered by reporters, and for its sandy beaches, which they hoped would make for a soft landing. The Wright Flyer I was the name of their first powered flying machine. It was made of lightweight spruce wood, with handmade propellers and a gasoline engine. The Wright brothers visited the area each year from 1900 to 1903 until they finally saw success. On 17 December 1903, Orville Wright became the first person to fly in a powered aircraft. He flew about 10 feet above the ground for 12 seconds in the plane he and his brother Wilbur built. Over the next few years, the brothers became world famous and completed longer and higher flights around the world, including one flight where Wilbur circled the Statue of Liberty. Today, the Flyer I is on display in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Art School
North Carolina was the first to start many state-supported art programs, such as a symphony, art museum, and school for the performing arts. The North Carolina School of the Arts is one of the best in the entire world. Located in Winston-Salem, the conservatory opened in 1965. The school is unusual in that it accepts students all the way from middle school up through graduate school, so it grants high school diplomas as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The five main areas of study include dance, music, drama, filmmaking, and design and production. The more than a thousand students are split almost evenly between North Carolinians and students from out of state. Prospective students must audition as part of the application process, and if accepted, they are expected to perform in events both at the school and on tour throughout their academic career. One of the most exciting events is the all-school musical that happens once every ten years. Students from across the conservatory join together, putting on a Broadway musical to raise money for the school.
Fun Facts and Contacts
State Symbols
State Bird
Cardinal—This bird can be=2 0seen year-round in yards and fields.
State Tree
Pine—Not only is this tree common, it has also helped support the state economically.
State Flower
Dogwood—The state flower is actually a tree blossom.
State Mammal
Gray squirrel—In 1969, North Carolina school children helped choose the gray squirrel as the official state mammal.
Other Symbols
Berries: Strawberry and blueberry
Beverage: Milk
Colors: Red and blue
Dog: Plott hound
Salt Water Fish: Channel bass
Fruit: Scuppernong grape
Insect: Honeybee
Reptile: Eastern box turtle
Rock: Granite
Shell: Scotch bonnet
Song: “The Old North State”
Stone: Emerald
Vegatable: Sweet potato
State Motto
Esse Quam Videri—This Latin phrase means “To Be Rather than to Seem.”
