100+ Interesting facts about North Carolina

Explore fascinating facts about North Carolina, from its sandy beaches to soaring mountains. Learn about its history, famous residents, and unique wildlife in this fun and educational journey for all ages. Discover what makes the Tar Heel State so special in these facts about North Carolina

North Carolina is a fascinating state full of interesting facts that you will love learning about. It’s located in the southeastern part of the United States and has a little bit of everything – from beautiful beaches to majestic mountains. Did you know North Carolina is often called the “Tar Heel State”? That’s because a long time ago, people used to make tar from the state’s pine trees.

North Carolina is famous for many things, like being the birthplace of flight! That’s right, the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, flew the world’s first powered airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. And speaking of flying, North Carolina also has a lot of colorful birds, including the bright red cardinal, which is the state bird. So, get ready to explore the wonders of North Carolina with us and discover more amazing facts about North Carolina along the way!

Ready to learn more facts that will help improve your vocabulary and knowledge of interesting facts then check out 35 Oinktastic Facts About Pigs as well as our 50 Shell-tacular Fascinating Facts about Turtles just for kids!

Facts About The Tar Heel State

1. The state capital of North Carolina is Raleigh.
2. There are many animals who reside in North Carolina like: black bears, coyotes, and raccoons; reptiles like sea turtles; amphibians like salamanders; as well as ospreys and cardinals (the state bird). 
3. North Carolina is the 28th largest state in the USA.
4. Tallest Sand Dune on the East Coast. It is called Jockeys Ridge and is located in the Outer Banks! The sand dunes can reach 60 ft. tall.
5. In the early 1800s, the state became known as “Rip Van Winkle” because North Carolina’s slow progress was compared to being asleep.

6. The North Carolina ice hockey team is called “The Carolina Hurricanes”
7. North Carolina is commonly referred to as “Carolina” 
8. North Carolina has two nicknames: The Tar Heel State and Old North State.
9. The state boasts 300 species of trees—including longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, and the American chestnut tree. 
10. North Carolina is the 9th most populated state in the USA.

11. North Carolina is also known to have the highest ski slope in the Northeast. Located in Western North Carolina, Beech Mountain Ski Slope is 5,505 ft.
12. North Carolina is home to Cape Hatteras, the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. The original construction was in 1802 and it stands at 210 feet-tall, with a range of 24 nautical miles. 
13. The Wright brothers completed their first flight in Kitty Hawk.
14. Dellview, North Carolina, is one of the smallest US towns
15. The pirate Blackbeard called North Carolina home, and spent time ransacking ships off the coast in the early 1700s.

16. North Carolina borders 4 other states: South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia
17. The state motto is “Esse Quam Videri,” which translates in English to “To Be Rather Than To Seem.”
18. The Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight in 1903 in North Carolina at Kill Devil Hills.
19. North Carolina’s license plate boasts “first in flight”
20. North Carolina got the nickname the Tar Heel State because workers here used to sell tar, pitch, and turpentine from the state’s longleaf pine trees to be used in wooden ships.

21. North Carolina is the number 1 producer of sweet potatoes and tobacco
22. Krispy Kreme Donuts was also born in the Tar Heel state!
23. Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate, with more than 250 rooms, is the largest private home in the United States. 
24. North Carolina is Home To The Lost Colony Of Roanoke 
25. The World’s Largest Black Bears are in NC.

26. If North Carolina were a country, it would be larger than Greece.
27.  The town of Bath, North Carolina, was the state’s first official port and is known for its historic significance.
28. North Carolina was known as the moonshine state.
29. The state has a population of 10.7 million, which makes it the 9th most populous state, between Georgia and Michigan.
30. North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola.

31. North Carolina is home to the tallest dam on the East Coast at 426ft: Fontana Dam
32. Mini-golf/putt-putt golf was said to be started in North Carolina.
33. America’s first public university was the University of North Carolina, known today as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
34. North Carolina Was One Of The Original Colonies.
35. The state’s official dog is the Plott Hound, a breed known for its hunting abilities and loyalty.

36. Virginia Dare was born in Roanoke, North Carolina on August 18, 1587, and was the First English-born child in America.
37. North Carolina has the largest Native American population east of the Mississippi.
38. North Carolina is home to the Carolina Reaper, one of the world’s hottest chili peppers.
39. The First Successful Flight of an Airplane took place in Kitty Hawk, NC on December 17, 1903, lasting 12 seconds.
40. North Carolina didn’t have a state flag until 1861

41. The state’s six largest cities are all located in the central Piedmont region of the state.
42. Pepsi was invented in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham.
43. North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park is a hub of technology and innovation, hosting numerous tech companies and research institutions.
44. During the early years, North Carolina’s main industry was agriculture, which relied on slavery. 
45. North Carolina is typically broken down into three sections from west to east: the Mountains, the Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain.

46. The town of Mount Airy is said to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in “The Andy Griffith Show.”
47. On April 12, 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to declare freedom from British rule.
48. North Carolina is Home to the First Gold Rush in the United States. On March 19, 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed went fishing in Little Meadow Creek and found a 17-pound gold nugget. 
49. The name Carolina is derived from the Latin name Charles, after King Charles I and II.
50. Havelock, North Carolina has the largest air base in the Marine Corps.

51. The Moravian cookie, made in Winston-Salem, is often considered the country’s first Christmas cookie.
52. Mount Mitchell, along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, is the highest peak east of the Mississippi river at 6684 feet.
53. UNC-Chapel Hill is the Oldest Public University in the United States
54. The emerald is a natural occurring gemstone in North Carolina.
55. Texas Pete Hot Sauce is actually from North Carolina.

56. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are known as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic” because more than a thousand shipwrecks have been discovered in the area.
57. The North Carolina portion of the I-95, the highway running closest to the coast, is said to be the most dangerous road in the country in terms of number of deaths.
58. Bennett Place in Durham is the Site of a Pivotal Surrender in the Civil War
59. North Carolina is Home to the Oldest Mountains in North America.
60. North Carolina is home to 1 national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which it shares with Tennessee. The park is named after its signature haze that settles in its forests and mountains.

61. The North Carolina Museum of Art is the first state-owned art museum, having opened its doors in 1956.
62. According to the US Forest Service, Upper White Water Falls in North Carolina is indeed the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies with a 411-foot drop.
63. “The Greensboro Four” Was A Pivotal Moment In The Civil Rights Movement 
64. The Battleship North Carolina, docked in Wilmington, is a floating museum that served in World War II.
65. North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England, on May 20, 1775.

66. Babe Ruth Made His First Professional Homerun in North Carolina.
67. North Carolina’s state flower is the dogwood, known for its delicate beauty and springtime blossoms.
68. North Carolina Is The Barbecue Capital.
69. North Carolina’s Literary Works Are A Key Part Of Its Cultural Identity
70. The Venus Flytrap is a Native Plant of North Carolina

71. North Carolina Has Diverse Wildlife Thanks To Its Distinct Geographic Regions
72. North Carolina has a string of barrier islands off its coast, which are known as “Outer Banks“. These islands are famous for their beaches and draw many tourists.
73. High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World.
74. Cheerwine was created in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1917, It is most notable for its nuclear pink color which is partially how it got its name. 
75. North Carolina still has around half a dozen drive-in movie theaters, including a few of the most popular ones in the country.

76. The Carolina Panthers, popular in both North and South Carolina, are one of only two NFL teams to represent two states.
77. The state’s official beverage is milk.
78. North Carolina merged The Towns Of Winston and Salem now known as Winston Salem
79. Fort Bragg, North Carolina is one of the largest military centers in the world, with around 55,000 military stationed there.
80. North Carolina is known for producing a lot of Christmas trees. With 1,300 growers, North Carolina produces more Christmas trees than most other states.

81. Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1914.
82. The NASCAR Hall Of Fame Is Located In North Carolina
83. Vicks VapoRub was invented by Lunsford Richardson of Selma, North Carolina.
84. North Carolina Is The Best Place In The US To Explore Shipwrecks
85. The oldest woman to complete a full marathon was North Carolina’s Harriette Thompson, at age 92.

86. In North Carolina, it’s technically against the law to have “Happy Hour” specials on alcohol. If the “Happy Hour” is offered on food, it’s legal.
87. Bald Head Island Is The Perfect Place For Travel If Looking For Peace
88. Early Astronauts Learned Navigation went to UNC-Chapel Hill
89. It’s illegal to visit the cemetery after midnight in North Carolina.
90. The Land of Oz theme park, based on “The Wizard of Oz,” is located in Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

91. Pisgah National Park Is A Great Place To Hike. The .7-mile Gorge Trail leads tourists to awesome views.
92. North Carolina is the northernmost location where alligators are natively found. They tend to hover around the North Carolina and Virginia Border. 
93. North Carolina Is A Top Producer Of Beer and Wine. 
94. In the late 1860s, Washington Carruthers Kerr found fossils from a dinosaur known as Hypsibema crassicauda in Sampson County, North Carolina.
95. The megalodon, the largest shark ever to have existed, once lived in what is now North Carolina. It reached up to 60 ft (18 m) in length. Its tooth is the official state fossil.

96. Charlotte, North Carolina, is home to the first Bojangles which opened in 1977. 
97. Dawson’s Creek was filmed in Wilmington, NC
98. One Tree Hill was filmed in Wilmington, NC
99. Zachary Knight Galifianakis is from North Carolina
100. Clay Aiken who placed second on American Ideal is from North Carolina
101. Scotty McCreey from American Idols calls North Carolina home. 

Be sure to share with us in the comments some North Carolina facts that we did not include in our list!

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