Guide Note

North Carolina is in the southeastern part of the United States. It is located on the Atlantic Seaboard below Virginia and above South Carolina. It was originally known as Carolina and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. It seceded from the Union on May 20, 1861 but was readmitted on July 4, 1868. The population of North Carolina is estimated at 9,061,032 people. North Carolina was originally inhabited by many different native tribes including the Cherokee, Tuscarora, Waccamaw and Catawba. In 1584, Queen Elizabeth I granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter for land in North Carolina. Raleigh established two colonies in 1580 on North Carolina's coast. However, both of the colonies ended in failure. Around 1650, colonist from Virginia moved into the state and settled in the Albemarle Sound area. King Charles II granted a charted in 1663 which led to the establishing of North Carolina's borders. In 1710, the established Carolina colony split into two areas due to governance disputes thus creating South Carolina as well.

Fast Facts

1. Capital: Raleigh
2. Governor: Mike Easley (Democrat)
3. Population: 9,061,032 (10th largest in U.S.)
4. Achieved statehood: November 1, 1789
5. Time zone: EST
6. Major cities: Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Wilmington
7. Official state items: Longleaf Pine (tree), Dogwood (flower),Red Drum (saltwater fish), Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (freshwater fish), "The Old North State" (song)
8. Bank of America and numerous other banks headquartered in Charlotte make it the 2nd largest banking city in the nation, behind New York City
9. Professional Sports: Carolina Panthers (NFL), Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)

Climate

The coastal plains feature the mildest temperatures in the state. In the winter, temperatures range between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, the highs average less than 89 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures in the Peidmont area average over 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and stay around 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. The area averages around 3-5 inches of snowfall annually. The Appalachian Mountains are the coldest area of the state. In the winter, the temperatures range between 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the highs to below teen digits for the lows. In the summer, the temperature averages around 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the highs. Snowfall amounts in the area average to around 14–20 inches annually.

Geography

North Carolina is split up into three sections, the coastal plains, the Piedmont region, and the Appalachian Mountains. In the extreme eastern area of the state lies the Outer Banks. This area contains the city of Kill Devil Hills where the first successful flight took place by the Wright Bothers. The coastal plains are the most rural area of the state containing few large cities or towns. The major rivers in the coastal plains are the Neuse, Tar, Pamlico, and the Cape Fear Rivers. The Piedmont region in central North Carolina is the most urbanized area of the state. The Piedmont area ranges between 300–400 feet in elevation. The Appalachian Mountains are in the western region of the state. This area contains the Great Smokey Mountains, Black Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah Mountains, and the Great Balsam Mountains.