Geography and Climate of North Carolina
Bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, South Carolina to the south, Georgia to the southwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina is a state divided into three geographical regions.
The coastal plain comprises the eastern region of North Carolina, which is mostly rural. Rivers in the area run deep and slowly. The land is flat with fertile soil, perfect for producing tobacco, cotton and other agricultural products.
The largest landlocked sounds in the U.S., the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, are located in the Outer Banks. The Outer banks is a series of sandy islands that create a barrier between inland water and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the middle of the state is the Piedmont region. The transition from the coastal plain occurs along the fall line, where the elevation changes and waterfalls show up along streams and rivers. This is the most urbanized and densely populated region in North Carolina, with gently undulating hills and countryside with low mountain ridges.
West of the Piedmont is foothills and the Appalachian Mountains, with several major subranges, each one distinct in its characteristics. Some of the biggest are the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Uwharrie Mountains and the Black Mountains.
North Carolina varies from a humid subtropical climate in the Piedmont and coastal plain to a humid continental climate in the mountains. Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal plain keeps temperatures milder all year round, while the Piedmont region has hotter summers and colder winters than the coast.
The Appalachian Mountains are coolest in temperature and have a higher amount of snowfall, depending on the elevation. Severe weather is intermittent in North Carolina. The state’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes it vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms, thunderstorms and tornadoes.
History of North Carolina
Many different Native American tribes lived in the North Carolina area, such as the Cherokee, Tuscarora, Catawba, Waccamaw, Machapunga and Pamlico. Spanish explorers in the 1500s happened upon the last of the Mississippian culture at Joara, nearby Morganton.
Elizabeth I from England granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter in 1584 for what is now the Carolinas. Raleigh set up two colonies on the coast later in the decade. Both failed, giving rise to the mystery of the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke Island.
By 1650, Virginia colonists moved southward into the Albemarle Sound area. In 1712, North Carolina became a separate colony.
Indentured servants made up much of the colony, but as that labor supply decreased, more slaves worked on tobacco plantations. By the eve of the American Revolution, North Carolina had become the first state to vote for independence from the British.
Several battles took place within the state, such as the fight at King’s Pinnacle and the Battle of Cowpens. In 1789, North Carolina was the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution.
North Carolina’s plantation system was significantly smaller than neighboring southern states. However, landowners exerted political power over the rural antebellum state. Aside from slaves, there were a large number of free people of color, most of who had migrated from Virginia.
Although many slaveholders were inspired enough by Christian sects like the Quakers to free their slaves, around a third of the population were enslaved African-Americans by the time of the Civil War. Unlike the surrounding states, North Carolina did not vote to secede from the Union until President Abraham Lincoln invaded South Carolina.
However, plenty of North Carolinians did not really support the Confederacy, especially farmers in the Piedmont region without slaves. Some secretly supported Union troops while others stayed neutral.
After Reconstruction, in spite of African-Americans in political office, white Democrats regained control of the legislature and disfranchised African-Americans and poor whites. Tens of thousands of African-Americans left the state in the Great Migration in the early 1900s, looking for job opportunities in the north.
Meanwhile, the Negro Voters League in Raleigh continued to gain registered voters in an effort to change segregation laws. A group of college students started a sit-in at the Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro, one of the first examples of Civil Rights activism. By 1973, Raleigh elected the first African-American mayor.
In 1903, the Wright Brothers successfully flew their first airplane at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina.
Demographics of North Carolina
North Carolina’s estimated population as of 2006 is 8,856,505 and is one of the fastest growing states due to rapid urbanization, especially in Charlotte and Raleigh.
African-Americans account for nearly a quarter of the population, while the Asian-American population has grown significantly, especially due to Indian, Laotian and Vietnamese immigrants. Native Americans make up less than two percent of the population, but they are the highest number living on the East Coast. There are also a growing number of Hispanic immigrants from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Central America.
American and English ancestry constitutes the highest percentage of the population. German, Irish, Scots-Irish, Scottish, Italian and French make up other European ancestry groups. Ukrainians, Portuguese and Canadians have settled in various parts of North Carolina.
Christians comprise 80 percent of the state’s religious makeup, with 38 percent of those claiming affiliation with the Baptist church. Only 10 percent of the population is Catholic, while nine percent is Methodist.
There is also a large Quaker following in northeastern North Carolina, along with a small number of Jewish faith. About one-tenth of the population is non-religious.
Economy of North Carolina
In 2006, North Carolina’s gross state product was $375 billion, while its per capita income in 2005 was $31,029.
Historically an agricultural state, North Carolina’s outputs include poultry, cattle, eggs, dairy products, sweet potatoes, soybeans and tobacco. North Carolina is a major center for textiles. Other manufacturing industries include electrical equipment, paper products and chemicals.
The finance and banking sectors have grown substantially in recent decades. Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the U.S. Biotechnology, education and research are also important economic contributors, with Research Triangle Park as one of the most prestigious centers of its kind. Additionally, North Carolina has an active and expanding film industry.
North Carolina Law and Government
Democrat Mike Easley is North Carolina’s current governor. The state legislature consists of 50 members in the Senate and 120 members in the House of Representatives. Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr, both Republicans, serve in the U.S. Senate. Raleigh is the state capital.
After the Civil War, North Carolina became part of the Democratic South. However, by the 1960s, there was a shift towards the Republican Party. Since 1968, North Carolina has voted Republican in every presidential election, even though Democrats are in control at the state level.
Rural areas lean towards Republicans, while urban metro areas tend to vote Democrat. Overall, the state remains socially conservative on issues such as abortion and gay rights.
North Carolina Transportation
I-26 runs through Asheville while I-77 goes north to south, passing Charlotte. I-85 also runs north to south, while I-40 runs east to west through the state. I-95 follows the coastline, whereas U.S. Highway 1 passes through Raleigh. There are many other routes going in and around urban and rural areas of North Carolina.
The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is the largest and acts as a hub for U.S. Airways. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is quickly growing, while the Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Fayetteville and Wilmington also offer smaller flights.
Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Raleigh have mass transit systems that use buses, express shuttles and trolleys, although this last one is only in Charlotte. The LYNX light rail line connects Charlotte to Pineville, with plans for expansion.
Major Cities and Towns of North Carolina
North Carolina has three metro areas with populations over one million. The Metrolina includes Charlotte, the Triangle is the Raleigh-Durham area and the Piedmont Triad is home of Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
Charlotte is the state’s largest city, with over 700 churches and various colonial landmarks. The Mint Museum of Art is named after being the first site of gold discovery in the U.S. The city will soon be the home of NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
North Carolina Educational System
The University of North Carolina system includes 16 public universities and 58 community colleges. North Carolina State University is the biggest, while the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is one of the best public schools in the nation.
Fayetteville State University is a well-known historically black college. Duke University and Davidson College are among the best private colleges in the country.
Learn more from the North Carolina State Board of Education.
North Carolina Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Since North Carolina’s three metro areas spread out, it was difficult for the state to attract any major sports franchises. The Charlotte Bobcats play for the NBA, the Carolina Panthers play for the NFL and the Carolina Hurricanes play for the NHL.
So far, there are no major league baseball teams in the state. However, there are several minor league teams, along with teams in football, soccer, basketball and ice hockey. The state is a major center for motorsports, especially NASCAR.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway is the largest in North Carolina. Off-road motorcycle racing, bull riding and golf are also popular.
Only second to Indiana in its love for basketball, North Carolina is a huge state for college basketball. UNC, Duke University, Wake Forest University and North Carolina State University are all major rivals and have excellent basketball teams. UNC has won four NCAA national championships, while Duke has won three and NC State has won two.
North Carolina’s close proximity to the Atlantic Coast beaches and the Appalachian Mountains means that residents get to partake in swimming, skiing, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, biking, boating, sailing, camping, canoeing and spelunking.
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