36 Random North Carolina Facts

By James Israelsen, Associate Writer

Published October 20, 2021

North Carolina is in the top ten of the fastest-growing states in America, with a population that recently surpassed ten million residents._[12]
The typical shade of the North Carolina skies is known to locals as “Carolina blue.”_[12]
Although North Carolina’s production of wine was brought to almost a standstill during Prohibition, there are now around 400 vineyards and over 200 wineries in the state._[12]
North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest mountains in the world. They formed roughly 480 million years ago. The Rockies, by contrast, are between 50 and 80 million years old._[12]
Roanoke Island, located in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, was the site of the first colony of European settlers in the New World._[12]
In recent years, the Zombie Research Society released a statement warning of the possibility of sinister creatures hiding out on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island._[9]
The first documented Jew to live in the Americas was a colonist who settled in North Carolina in the 16th century._[9]
North Carolina was the first place in what would become the United States to which enslaved Africans, as well as South Americans, were brought by their European captors._[9]
North Carolina was one of 11 states to secede from the United States at the beginning of the Civil War._[8]

In 1590, an expedition led by John White discovered the mysterious word CROATON carved on a rock on Roanoke Island

North Carolina’s Roanoke Island is famous for the mystery of its first colonists, who went missing without a trace sometime before 1590._[9]
North Carolina’s state nickname is the "Tar Heel State," derived from the state’s history as a major source of tar, pitch, and turpentine; people used to claim that they came away from North Carolina with "tar on their heels."_[8]
The Piedmont region of North Carolina is a massive plateau that covers the whole center of the state._[8]
Due to the forests that cover almost 60% of the state, North Carolina is one of the largest furniture producers in the United States._[8]
The first gold to be discovered in the United States was found in 1799 in North Carolina._[8]
The famous pirate Blackbeard made his home in North Carolina in the early 1700s._[8]
Although he was born somewhere near the border between North and South Carolina, the exact birthplace of U.S. President Andrew Jackson is unknown, resulting in both claiming to be his native state._[7]
Ohio and North Carolina have long argued over which state is the true "birthplace of aviation." The Wright brothers were Ohio natives and built their first plane there, though they first achieved flight in North Carolina._[19]

The Wright Brothers made history at Kitty Hawk

North Carolina’s license plates usually carry the motto “First in Flight,” a reference to the Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk. Their state quarters say "First Flight."_[8]
North Carolina's state motto is "Esse Quam Videri," which means "to be rather than to seem."_[17]
The North Carolina governor's mansion is popularly believed to be haunted. According Governor Bob Scott (1969–1973), after he moved an old bed to the basement of the mansion, he heard strange knocking sounds coming from where the bed had stood. Governor Scott attributed the noises to Governor Foyle, who had died in the bed in 1891._[16]
"Hoi Toide" is a unique accent of the once-isolated residents of North Carolina's Outer Banks. The name is a reference to the way those who have it pronounce "high tide."_[13]
Two of the accents of residents of North Carolina were voted as being among the 50 most sexy accents in the United States._[13]
It's illegal in North Carolina to host a meeting while wearing a costume._[15]

The lighthouse has seen several major renovations during its 200-year history

North Carolina's Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States._[2]
More troops in the Confederate Army came from North Carolina than from any other state._[6]
North Carolina and South Carolina originally were considered a single territory. Due to the large size of the territory, the governers of the colony officially divided it into two territories in 1712._[6]
North Carolina is second in the nation as a center for the banking industry._[6]
Built in the late 19th century by tycoon George Washington Vanderbilt II, the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina is the largest mansion in the United States._[14]
The owner of a rural home in Collettsville, North Carolina, has decorated the outside of his house with thousands of mugs. Tourists are welcome to bring mugs of their own to add to the collection._[3]
North Carolina boasts hundreds of waterfalls and over 120 species of trees._[1][12]

Once a cash crop, tobacco is no longer as desirable a commodity

Once one of North Carolina's major industries, their tobacco economy has shrunk due to lower smoking rates worldwide._[6][7]
Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional ball player in Fayetville, North Carolina, during spring training with the Baltimore Orioles. He hit his first in an official season game in Toronto._[11]
The carnivorous Venus flytrap plant is native to North Carolina._[18]
Famous inventions from North Carolina include Pepsi, putt-putt golf, barcodes, and Krispy Kreme donuts._[4]
North Carolina is the leading grower of sweet potatoes (or sweetpotatoes, as they spell it) in the United States._[10]
North Carolina is named after King Charles I of England; Carolus is the Latin version of Charles._[5]