NC Facts & Figures

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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 North Carolina, find one-of-a-kind shopping, tee off on one of the state's more than 400 golf courses and experience the "home" of NASCAR. Sample wine at one of North Carolina's 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

State Capital

State Colors

State Motto

State Nicknames

Name Origin

State Song

November 21, 1789, the 12th state

Raleigh (established 1792)

Blue & Red

Esse Quam Videri/To Be Rather Than to Seem

The Tar Heel State, The Old North State

From Latin Carolus in honor of King Charles I of England

"The Old North State," lyrics by William Gaston, music collected and arranged by Mrs. E. E. Randolph

State Symbols

Bird

Flower

Tree

Insect

Stone

Rock

Vegetable

Reptile

Fish

Cardinal

Dogwood

Pine

Honey Bee

Emerald

Granite

Sweet Potato

Eastern Box Turtle

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 and Great Smoky 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.

Population

Statewide:

Population

Distribution

Ranking

9.1 million (2007 est.)

60% urban, 40% rural

11th among states

Largest Cities:

Charlotte

Raleigh

Greensboro

Winston-Salem

Durham

674,658

367,098

248,111

224,889

222,472

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	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, Maya Angelou
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, and Lee, Richard and Kyle Petty