ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA North Carolina The Tar Heel State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO
4 NORTH CAROLINA INTRODUCTION North Carolina is located on the Atlantic coast At just under 600 miles when measured from east to west North Carolina is the longest state east of the Mississippi River Its coastline is dotted with lighthouses particularly along the treacherous Outer Banks Situated on the Outer Banks Cape Hatteras has been the site of many shipwrecks earning it the nickname the Graveyard of the Atlantic One of the original 13 states of the United States North Carolina is rich with history In 1587 it was the birthplace of the first child born of English parents in America In 1775 it became the first colony to authorize a vote for independence from England The state contains many historic sites from the American Revolution 1775 83 and the American Civil War 1861 65 North Carolina is known as the Tar Heel State Historians disagree about the origin of the nickname Some believe that it dates back to colonial days when North Carolina was a leading producer of tar Others trace the name to the American Civil War During one battle as Confederate soldiers from other states retreated North Carolina’s soldiers refused to retreat as if their heels were glued to the ground with tar The beaches along the Outer Banks are dotted with the remains of old shipwrecks some of which date back to the 1500s The Currituck Beach Lighthouse built in 1875 was the last brick lighthouse erected on the Outer Banks The state flag was adopted in 1885 The flag must be displayed at all public buildings state institutions and courthouses The Outer Banks are a chain of sandy islands found along the coast of North Carolina Some of the houses along the Outer Banks have been constructed out of the hulls of old shipwrecks whereas others are decorated with items rescued from sunken ships
North Carolina has the largest state-maintained highway system in the United States North Carolina’s area of 52,672 square miles makes it the 29th largest state in the country North Carolina’s official state flower is the dogwood The dogwood grows throughout the state and its beautiful white or pink flowers bloom every spring North Carolina is also known as the Old North State This nickname comes from the early 1700s when the colony of Carolina was being divided Since North Carolina was the older colony of the two most people simply referred to it as Old North Carolina INTRODUCTION 5 North Carolina is located in the southeastern part of the United States It covers an area of 52,672 square miles North Carolina is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east Virginia on the north Tennessee on the west and Georgia and South Carolina on the south There are many ways to get to North Carolina Several major interstate highways run through the state and secondary highways provide links to the state’s towns and cities Rail service is also available with passenger trains offering daily trips across the state The state also has several international and regional airports The busiest airports are in Charlotte and in Raleigh-Durham Travelers can also reach North Carolina by boat The state has ports along the Intracoastal Waterway which is a protected sailing route along the Atlantic coast North Carolina Location Map Capital Raleigh Interstate highways 30 0 0 Scale Population 8,049,313 48 60 96 Mi Km Size 52,672 square miles Highest peak Mount Mitchell 6,684 feet
