Perhaps most famous for being the site of the Wright brothers’ first successful flight with an airplane, North Carolina was also the location of the first English colony in the Americas. When Europeans discovered the Americas, North Carolina became the first area the British attempted to colonize when Sir Walter Raleigh chartered two colonies on the coast in the 1580s. One of them, the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke Island, remains one of America’s great mysteries, as over 100 colonists disappeared in the late 1580s, vanishing without any sign of struggle.
      In modern day, North Carolina is known for unspoiled landscapes, tobacco growth and leadership in excellent business climates. The Appalachian mountain chain runs through western North Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains in the southwestern part of the state are among the United States’ top natural vacation destinations. Covering nearly one half of the state is the central Piedmont region, which boasts one of the most dynamic American economies and is the location of North Carolina’s largest cities and biggest financial institutions. The Piedmont region is also known for renowned universities, tobacco farms, textile and furniture production, excellent golf courses and countless historical sites. North Carolina’s coast is also well known for its sunny, pristine beaches, giant sand dunes and wildlife-filled wetlands.

Did You Know...

State Nickname: The Tar Heel State State Capital: Raleigh State Flower: American Dogwood State Bird: Cardinal

      In the past century, North Carolina has become one of the nation’s top leaders in agriculture, industry and financial services. Tobacco, sweet potatoes, peanuts, pork, turkey, grapes and wine are also produced here. The “Tar Heel State” is also the nation’s leading producer of wooden furniture.

Banking has also become a large part of the state’s economy, as Charlotte, North Carolina’s biggest city, is the second largest banking center in the U.S. and hosts the headquarters of giants Bank of America and Wachovia. Additionally, North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park is critical to America’s role in the sciences. Drawing off the resources and minds from Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, the Research Triangle area has become an international center for research and development of cutting-edge technology and medical research. There are also many military installations in the state, including Fort Bragg, the largest military base in the United States.
      This southern state is also a center for American motorsports, with many of NASCAR’s racing teams and related industries located near Charlotte. Many other sports also call North Carolina home, including professional football, hockey and women’s basketball. Surprisingly, North Carolina is also one of the most popular filming states after California and New York. Movie studios are located in many cities, including Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte, and many well-known movies and television shows have been filmed locally, including “Dirty Dancing,” “The Crow” and “The Andy Griffith Show.”
      Visitors to the state have myriad attractions to choose from. Try out one of North Carolina’s world-renowned golf courses, such as Pinehurst, a PGA Tour stop, or sample the state’s exquisite cuisine. Visitors may also be astonished to discover that North Carolina has become a prime wine state. Its many wineries host tastings, picnics and tours of the vineyards. As the first European settlement in the Americas and the last state to secede from the Union during the Civil War, North Carolina is also home to countless sites of historical significance, from lighthouses to Native American settlements to battlegrounds, as well as many historical museums, trails, tours and gardens.
      Anyone who sets foot in the state can not help but be bowled over by its natural beauty. The state is home to over 120 species of trees, which makes its fall foliage as spectacular as the colors found to the north in New England. Weekend warriors or active visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities, everything from hang gliding off four-story sand dunes to kayaking one of the state’s lakes to fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Find out what countless others already know: North Carolina is a premier American destination for visitors and new residents, offering an effervescent combination of history, wilderness, arts, culture, cuisine, sports, education and technology.