North Carolina is a state of active tourism. Although its name may sound chilly, these lands are not far from Florida, and the climate here is subtropical with hot summers. In winter, ski resorts await enthusiasts of downhill slopes and snowboarders.
In the summer, the state’s coastline offers opportunities for swimming in the salty water, diving with scuba gear, and kayaking. Campgrounds, bike rides, and excursions to waterfalls are eagerly offered to travelers in the central part of North Carolina.
Brief information about the state:
- Abbreviation: NC
- State capital: Raleigh (Raleigh, 42nd largest city in the USA, 483,579 people)
- Largest city: Charlotte (Charlotte, 912,096 people)
- State population: 10.5 million people (9th place in the USA)
- State area: 139,390 km² (28th place in the USA)
- Official website: ncgov.com
North Carolina Attractions
The state is on the list of the top 10 most visited places in America, so there’s plenty to see here. The list of attractions should probably start with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It occupies more than 500 thousand acres and is located in two states: North Carolina and Tennessee. Essentially, it’s a corner of pristine nature, allowing visitors to enjoy not only the beauty of mountain ridges, the power of swift waterfalls, and the emerald green of forest expanses but also to interact with their inhabitants.
Hanging Rock State Park (literally translated as “State Park of the Hanging Rock”) is worth a visit too. Visitors are invited to hike 20 miles up a mountain trail to enjoy the feeling of being on top of the world.
For history buffs, Wilmington offers samples of 19th-century architecture, and New Bern has a huge number of thematic museums. And for those who want to swim and sunbathe, the recreation areas on Bald Head Island and the 100-year-old Wrightsville Beach offer their services.
Charlotte City is of particular interest. The city offers a variety of amusements and attractions. But above all, it is famous for its high-speed highway and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
History of the State
Between 1150 and 1400, an indigenous settlement formed around the Town Creek mound. This unique structure has survived to this day. However, there are almost no other material evidence of life from that period.
More accurate data on the history of the region dates back to the beginning of the colonization of the New World by European settlers. In 1524, the Italian Giovanni da Verrazzano sailed past the coast of North Carolina on a ship under the French flag. He compiled the first description of the coastal area and mapped its contours.
The region was explored in more detail by expeditions led by H. Pardo and H. de Soto in 1539-1567. Soon, the first settlement appeared – Fort San Juan. The indigenous people greeted the newcomers without much enthusiasm, so the settlement did not last long. It was captured and burned by the indigenous people.
In 1584, with the approval of Elizabeth I, the famous British adventurer Walter Raleigh arrived in North Carolina. An expedition soon returned to the Court with trophies in the form of two Croatan Indians and samples of unknown plants. Raleigh informed the Queen that he had founded new lands for the British Empire, for which he was immediately knighted.
In the spring of the following year, five ships set sail from Britain to America with about 100 male colonists aboard to establish a permanent settlement. They reached their destination quite successfully, but then troubles began: there were barely enough supplies, and the Indians constantly attacked. The colony had to be abandoned.
Walter Raleigh’s friend and associate, John White, arrived in 1586 and founded a colony called “Roanoke”. He tried to establish friendly relations with the native population, but he did not succeed. On August 18 of the same year, his daughter gave birth to a girl, who became the first native-born Englishwoman in the New World. He had to return to the Old World to request military support.
Because of the war with Spain, the journey there and back took him four years. When White returned to the colony, he found only desolation: all the houses were dismantled, but there were no signs of resistance. What happened to the people remains unknown to this day.
In 1663, Charles II granted the right to settle the lands of what was then still the unified Carolina to 8 lords proprietors. Almost immediately, a conflict broke out between the North and South territories, and in 1712, the regions were officially divided.
However, the riots and confrontations did not end there, but their goal was common – independence from the British crown. This goal was achieved only by ratifying the U.S. Constitution and North Carolina becoming part of this young state. On November 21, 1789, the territory became the twelfth state of America.
Interesting Facts about North Carolina
1. North Carolina is often called the “tar state”. It is believed to remind people of the hard work of those in the profession, whose heels were always covered in tar. However, locals find this nickname puzzling because they don’t associate themselves with people boiling tar.
2. During the Civil War, the population of the state struggled to decide which side to take. Governor Ellis initially refused President Lincoln’s request for soldiers at the start of the war in 1861. But later, he supported the Confederacy and sent twice as many troops.
3. The oldest river in North America, called the New River, flows through the state, in Ashe County.
4. The locals, no less than Ukrainians, love fat. All traditional dishes here are made from pork. The cleaned and well-roasted intestines of a young boar are considered an extreme delicacy.
5. North Carolina is the second-largest center of the film industry in the United States after Hollywood.
6. One of the laws in the state’s Administrative Code sets restrictions for playing bingo: the maximum prize cannot exceed $500, the game cannot last more than 5 hours in a row, and it cannot be held more than once every two days.
Famous People from North Carolina
- Julianne Moore – actress
- Evan Rachel Wood – actress, dated Marilyn Manson, then came out as bisexual but immediately married actor Jamie Bell.
- Jamie Pressly – actress
- Ava Gardner – actress from the 1950s
- Jeff Hardy – professional wrestler
- Edward Snowden – whistleblower, currently living within Moscow under political asylum.
Major Cities
North Carolina has 9 major cities, each with a population exceeding 100,000:
- Charlotte – (912,096)
- Raleigh – (483,579)
- Greensboro – (301,094)
- Durham – (287,865)
- Winston-Salem – (250,765)
- Fayetteville – (213,475)
- Cary – (174,762)
- Wilmington – (126,000)
- High Point – (114,227)
- Concord – (100,639)
Moreover, the percentage ratio of the number of men and women living in the state is practically equal.