NORTH CAROLINA FACTS AND FIGURES
From the misty mountains to the sunny coast, North Carolina is the nation's variety vacationland, featuring natural beauty, history, arts, culture and adventure - something for everyone.
In the mountains, surround yourself with scenic beauty while picnicking, hiking, golfing or even whitewater rafting and rock climbing. In the winter, ride the slopes on skis, tubes or snowboards. Find serenity on snowshoes.
In central NC, find one-of-a-kind shopping or tee off on one of the state's 600 internationally known golf courses. Sample wine at one of North Carolina's 45 wineries or step back in time at a Civil War battlefield.
Along the coast, dive into water sports like boating, swimming and saltwater fishing; climb historic lighthouses and bask in the warm sun on the Atlantic coastline. Savor Eastern Carolina BBQ and Calabash seafood.
State Stats:
Statehood November 21, 1789, the 12th state
State Capital Raleigh (established 1792)
State Colors Blue & Red
State Motto Esse Quam Videri/To Be Rather Than to Seem
State Nicknames The Tar Heel State, The Old North State
Name Origin From Latin Carolus in honor of King Charles I of England
State Song "The Old North State," lyrics by William Gaston, music collected and arranged by Mrs. E. E. Randolph
State Symbols Bird Cardinal
Flower Dogwood
Tree Pine
Insect Honey Bee
Stone Emerald
Rock Granite
Vegetable Sweet Potato
Reptile Eastern Box Turtle
Fish Red Drum
Geography
The highest mountains in the eastern United States are located in western North Carolina. The state is home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains and Black Mountains, all part of the 1,500 mile Appalachian Mountain Range. The rolling hills of central NC - famous for their golf resorts, historic towns, lively cities and great shopping - soften to the broad, lush fields of the coastal plain. More than 300 miles of sandy beaches form the eastern border of the state along the Atlantic Ocean.
Area: 52,669 square miles; 28th largest in the nation
3,954 square miles of inland water
Elevation: Highest - Mount Mitchell, 6,684 feet
Lowest - Sea level along the Atlantic Ocean
Coastline: 301 miles
Greatest east-west distance: 543 miles (Manteo to Murphy)
Greatest north-south distance: 188 miles
Climate
North Carolinians enjoy four distinct seasons, marked by warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures range from 22°F to 92°F. The state averages five to six inches of snow a year, with higher elevations in the mountains receiving 10 to 50 inches of winter precipitation.
Population
Statewide:
Population: 8.4 million
Distribution: 60% urban, 40% rural
Ranking: 11th among states
Largest Cities:
Charlotte 599,771
Raleigh 313,004
Greensboro 229,180
Durham 201,660
Winston-Salem 193,922
A Few North Carolina Firsts
- First English child born in America - Virginia Dare was born on Roanoke Island on August 18, 1587
- First state university in the United States - University of North Carolina opened in 1795 in Chapel Hill
- First gold nugget found in the United States - Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County in 1799
- First interstate railroad - opened in 1833 between Blakely (Northampton County) and Petersburg, Virginia
- First operating silver mine in the United States - opened in 1838 near Lexington
- First mint in the United States to coin a gold dollar - Bechtler Mint in Rutherford County
- First forestry school in the United States - opened in 1898 near Mount Pisgah
- First structure for which United States Congress appropriated money - Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- First successful powered airplane flight - 1903 by the Wright Brothers, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk
- First state to establish a soil and water conservation district - 1937
A Few Famous North Carolinians
Astronauts: Mike Smith, Dr. William Thornton
Educators: Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Annie Wealthy Holland, W. L. Moore (Waccamaw-Siouan), N. C. Newbold, Oscar R. Sampson (Lumbee), Sequoyah (Cherokee)
Entertainers: Howard Cosell, Roberta Flack, Eileen Fulton, Ava Gardner,
Andy Griffith, Ronnie Milsap, Doc Watson, Thelonious Monk, James Taylor, Rick Dees, John Coltrane, Randy Travis
Literature: Doris Betts, O. Henry, Guy Owen, Betty Smith, Thomas Wolfe
Media: David Brinkley, Charles Kuralt, Edward R. Murrow, Tom Wicker, Edwin Yoder, Sam Ragan, Charlie Rose, Howard Cosell
Presidents: Andrew Jackson (7th), James K. Polk (11th), Andrew Johnson (17th)
Pulitzer winners: Paul Green, Hatcher Hughes, Reynolds Price, Vermont Royster
Religion: Billy Graham
Baseball: "Catfish" Hunter, Gaylord Perry, Jim Perry
Basketball: Phil Ford, Bobby Jones, Michael Jordan, Meadowlark Lemon, Danny Manning, Pete Maravich, Curley Neal, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood
Boxing: Sugar Ray Leonard
Football: Kelvin Bryant, Roman Gabriel, Sonny Jergenson
Motorsports: Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Junior Johnson, Lee, Richard and Kyle Petty
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