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North Carolina Facts

North Carolina Facts
The state of North Carolina is located in the southeastern region of the United States. It shares state borders with South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. It also borders the Atlantic Ocean. North Carolina is the 28th largest state with 53,819 square miles. It is the 10th most populated U.S. state with approximately 9,848,060 residents and it is ranked as the 15th most densely populated state. Prior to European settlement the region was inhabited by Native Americans. The first permanent settlements were established in the 1500s, and in 1789 it became the 12th U.S. state after joining the Union.
Interesting North Carolina Facts:
The name North Carolina was chosen as a way to honor King Charles I. His son King Charles II chose the name because Carolus is Latin for Charles.
North Carolina's state nickname is the 'Tar Heel State', and has also been called the 'Old North State'.
The state motto for North Carolina is 'Esse Quam Videri' which means 'To Be Rather Than to Seem'.
North Carolina's state song is 'The Old North State'.
Residents of North Carolina are referred to as North Carolinians.
North Carolina's capital city is Raleigh and its largest city is Charlotte.
North Carolina's state flag was officially adopted in 1885. It includes both the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the date of the Halifax Resolves.
North Carolina's state bird is the cardinal and the state mammal is the gray squirrel.
North Carolina's state fish is the channel bass and the state reptile is the eastern box turtle.
North Carolina's state flower is the flowering dogwood and the state tree is the longleaf pine.
The sweet potato is North Carolina's state vegetable. North Carolina produces more sweet potatoes than any other state.
Major rivers in North Carolina include the Yadkin River, the Roanoke River and the Neuse River.
Major lakes in North Carolina include Lake Waccamaw, Lake Phelps and Lake Mattamuskeet.
Major industry in North Carolina includes tourism textiles, furniture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences.
Major agriculture in North Carolina includes vegetables, peanuts, hay, cotton, corn, and tobacco.
The 11th United States President James Knox Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1795. He served as President from 1845 until 1849.
The 17th United States President Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1808. He served as President from 1865 until 1869.
The 7th United States President Andrew Jackson was born on the border of North and South Carolina.
The oldest state university in the United States is The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
The furniture capital of the world is High Point, North Carolina.
The famous 'Krispy Kreme' donut was created in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Babe Ruth hit his first home run in 1914 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Pepsi was invented in 1898 in New Bern, North Carolina.
Wendell, North Carolina was named after the American author Oliver Wendell Holmes.
North Carolina's oldest town is Bath, established in 1705.
Virginia Dare was the first English child born in the United States. Her birthplace is Roanoke, North Carolina, in 1587.


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