North Carolina

History: Prior to European exploration, the Woodland culture Native Americans inhabited the area. By 1550, many groups of Native Americans lived in the area; Chowanoke, Roanoke, Pamlico, Machapunga, and many more. A Spanish Explorer, Juan Pardo, came to the region in 1556-1557 and established Fort San Juan. Carolina was established as a Royal Colony in 1660. By 1729, the northern and southern parts separated into North and South Carolina. North Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies. After the Revolutionary War, it became the 12^th state on November 21, 1789. It seceded from the U.S. in 1861 and joined the Confederacy; North Carolina rejoined the U.S. in 1868.

Economy: Current economy is largely knowledge-based (informational, internet). The current focus is on industries such as food processing, banking, pharmaceuticals, technology and vehicle parts. Charlotte has become the second largest banking center in the nation.

Climate: North Carolina experiences extreme weather in summer and winter. Summer brings threat of hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rain, and flooding. They average less than 20 tornadoes a year, from tropical storms along the coastal plain. The mountain areas are the coolest year-round.

Geography: North Carolina is divided into three main regions; its Coastal Plain with beautiful beaches, the Piedmont, a plateau that stretches from Alabama to New York, and lastly, the Appalachian Mountains.

Fun Facts:

The Wright Brothers completed the first successful powered airplane flight near Kitty Hawk in 1903.
The Biltmore Estate, the largest mansion in the U.S., has 255 rooms, gardens, and it’s own winery.
North Carolina is a huge producer of both sweet potatoes and Christmas trees.
The great baseball legend, Babe Ruth, hit his first professional homerun on March 7, 1914 in Fayetteville.
There are more American Idol finalists from North Carolina than from any other state.
Krispe Kreme donuts began in 1937 in Winston-Salem and has become one of the largest pasty chains in the world.

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