North Carolina is a fascinating state that is filled with contrasts. In many ways the state is one of the least densely populated. Having a land area about the size of England, it only has a population that hovers around 6 million. Severely suffering the effects of the Civil War, North Carolina has taken a long time to rebuild and become its own economic power and a tourist jewel as well. As remote is the state is within itself, it is home to the prestigious Duke University. This is the state where the New World's first settlers mysteriously disappeared into thin air in 1590 and whose favorite sons - the Wright brothers - took themselves and mankind to the air a little over three centuries later. The state is divided into three main areas, the west with its beautiful mountains and the Smoky Mountains National Park, the central Piedmont with its trendy cities like Chapel Hill and the coastal area with its interesting history, beaches and beautiful scenery.
Capital: Raleigh
Population: 6, 628, 637
Area: 53, 821
Time: Eastern Time (US)
Geography: North Carolina is bordered in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, the north by Virginia, in the west by Tennessee and in the south by Georgia and South Carolina
Climate
North Carolina has varied weather patterns. The coastal areas have very warm and humid summers. The inland areas toward the west are mountainous, have higher altitudes and are cooler than the coast. The winter is not bad in the mountains except for frequent ice storms in place of snow which falls infrequently. The shore areas are cool to mild during the winter months. |
