North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. It is bordered on the north by Virginia; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by South Carolina and Georgia; and on the west by Tennessee. There is a long chain of islands or sand banks (called the Outer Banks) lying off the state's Atlantic coast. The geographic center of the state is in Chatham County.
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Named after Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina. It is the seat of Wake County and also the second-largest city of the state. According to the United States Census Bureau, the estimated population in 2010 was 403,892. Covering an area of 142.8 square miles, Raleigh is the forty-third largest city in the United States and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It is also known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees.
What is the largest city of North Carolina?Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. It is the seat of Mecklenburg County. The population of the city as of 2010 according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the seventeenth-largest city in the United States based on population. The city is the second-largest banking center in the United States after New York City.
What is the nickname of North Carolina?The word Carolina is derived from the word Carolus, the Latin form of Charles. The nickname of the state is the "Old North State." In 1710 when Carolina was divided, the southern part was called South Carolina and the northern, or older settlement, was given the name North Carolina. Hence, the nickname "Old North State" came into being.
How big is North Carolina?The total area covered by North Carolina is 52,669 square miles, of which the land covers 48,843 square miles and the remaining 3,826 square miles is covered by water.
What is the population of North Carolina?The state has an estimated population of 9,535,483.
When did North Carolina achieve statehood?North Carolina is the twelfth state of the United States. It was admitted to the Union on November 21, 1789 after the adoption of the state constitution in 1776. The state traces a long history of wars and foreign conquests, before achieving an independent status. Culpepper's Rebellion (1677), the Quaker-led Cary Rebellion (1708), the Tuscarora Indian War (1711-1713), were some of the major events in the history of the state.
Who are the political leaders of North Carolina?
The government of North Carolina comprises three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. There is a state governor's office, a bicameral state legislature known as the general assembly, and a state court system.
Governor: Pat McCrory
Lieutenant Governor: Dan Forest
English and Spanish are the most widely spoken languages in the state of North Carolina. German, Chinese, French, Vietnamese, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Greek are the other languages used. Amharic, Ibo, Twi, Yoruba, Bantu, Swahili, and Somali are some of the African languages used in the state.
What is the official religion of North Carolina?Christianity is the official religion of North Carolina. Roman Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Lutherans are the major sects of Christianity in the state. There are also a small number of Jews, Muslims and Moravians.
What is the economy of North Carolina like?The total gross state product of North Carolina in 2008 was $400.2 billion. Tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, tourism are the major industries. The state abounds in mineral resources such as mica, feldspar, olivine, crushed granite, talc, clays, lithium materials and phosphate rock. Agriculture is an important sector and the major products are poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, and soybeans. Finance, insurance and real estate make up North Carolina's leading service industry group.
State Flower: American Dogwood (Cornus florida) is the official state flower of North Carolina. It is one of the most prevalent trees in the state, found everywhere from the mountains to the coast. Dogwood was designated as the official state flower of North Carolina in 1941.
State Bird: The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was designated as the official state bird in 1943. It is one of the favorite backyard birds of the United States and are known for their "cheer cheer cheer," "whit-chew whit-chew" and "purty purty purty" whistles. Seven other states also have the cardinal as the state bird: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
State Tree: The pine tree is the official tree of the state of North Carolina. It was designated as the state tree of North Carolina in 1963. Pine trees are very important for the building industry, as they supply North Carolina with many important wood products.
State Flag: The flag of North Carolina was adopted in 1885. It consists of a blue union, containing in the center a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right. The fly of the flag consists of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar (red) and the lower bar (white). Above the star in the center of the union there is a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters the inscription "May 20th, 1775", and below the star there is a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription "April 12th, 1776".
Tourists are attracted to North Carolina because of the many historic sites, archeological museums, majestic mountains, relaxing beaches and many amusement parks in the state. The state offers immense tennis and golf opportunities. Nicknamed the "Golf Capital of the World", North Carolina has more than 500 golf courses. The major tourist attractions in the state are Dismal Swamp State Park, Fort Branch, Grimes Mill, Ingram Planetarium, Hickory Aviation Museum, Christ Episcopal Church and Wrightsville Beach.
