The 9th most populous state of United States, North Carolina is a southeastern state bordered by South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. It is the 10th most populous of the United States.
Map of North Carolina with Cities, Road, River, Highways
About Map: North Carolina Map showing the capital, state boundary, roads, rail network,rivers, interstate highways, major cities and towns.
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About North Carolina State Map
North Carolina is a southeastern state, nestled between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Varied landscapes like beaches, hills, mountains and barrier islands make North Carolina a great place to spend time outdoors. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee Indian Reservation are a few of the options for experiencing the beauty of North Carolina, which can be accessed via the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. As one of the original thirteen colonies, North Carolina has a long history and several flourishing and historic cities. Charlotte is situated in the southwestern part of the state and holds the title of largest city in the state, while the capital, Raleigh has a more central location in the state, not far from Greensboro and Chapel Hill. One of North Carolina's claims to fame is that its coastal city, called Kitty Hawk, was the location of the Wright Brothers' first successful powered flight.
North Carolina History:
Before European contact, North Carolina had been inhabited by several Native American tribes, including both Algonquian- and Iroquoian-speaking groups. North Carolina was first colonized by Spanish explorers in 1567, but their settlement last only a short time, because the settlers were taken out by the native tribes.
British explorers arrived and settled the area in 1584, after which a colony was founded that had been chartered by Sir Walter Raleigh. The settlement at Roanoke Island has come to be known as the Lost Colony because historians are still unsure of what happened to end the settlement after such a short time. In the 1640s, British settlers began migrating from Virginia down to the region that would become the Carolinas. In 1663, King Charles II granted a charter to a group known as the “Lords Proprietor” who could then colonize the area within defined boundaries. Until about 1712, the Carolinas were mostly treated as one governmental unit and the settlers focused on the port region of Charleston, South Carolina.
During the American Revolutionary War, North Carolina sent troops to fight, but did not see many battles on its land. The state joined the Union in 1789, after first rejecting the U.S. Constitution, to become the twelfth state. During the Civil War, North Carolina seceded from the Union with the rest of the south, and continued to struggle with race relations for many years to follow.
North Carolina Geography:
North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as the Atlantic Ocean along its eastern coast. Off the coast of North Carolina, out in the Atlantic Ocean, are a string of barrier islands, called the Outer Banks, the site of the Wright brothers first flights, the Kitty Hawk flying experiments. North Carolina's main geographic features are the coastal plains and the Appalachian Mountains. The subranges of the Appalachians located in North Carolina are the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Balsam Mountains, and the Black Mountains, which have the highest in the eastern United States, Mount Mitchell.
North Carolina Demographics:
As of the United States Census Bureau's statistics, the population of North Carolina is 10,488,084. About 68.5 percent of the population of North Carolina identifies as white, and the next largest group, about 21.5 percent, identifies as black. Around 80 percent of the state's population is affiliated with the Christian church. North Carolina has a relatively high percentage of Native Americans, and the highest of any state on the East Coast with about 1.3 percent.
North Carolina Major Cities
Charlotte - The largest city in North Carolina with over 874,579 people, Charlotte is the second largest financial center in the United States. Uptown is home to many businesses like Bank of America.
Raleigh - The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is its second largest city. Along with Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle.
Other large cities in North Carolina include Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and Asheville. The other cities with populations of over 50 thousands are given below.
| Rank | Name | 2020 Census | Density (mi²) | Area (mi²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | 874,579 | 2,940 | 307.24 |
| 2 | Raleigh | 467,665 | 3,293 | 145.89 |
| 3 | Greensboro | 299,035 | 2,362 | 129.07 |
| 4 | Durham | 283,506 | 2,625 | 112.22 |
| 5 | Winston-Salem | 249,545 | 1,912 | 132.61 |
| 6 | Fayetteville | 208,501 | 1,421 | 147.85 |
| 7 | Cary | 174,721 | 3,110 | 58.73 |
| 8 | Wilmington | 115,451 | 2,281 | 51.4 |
| 9 | High Point | 114,059 | 2,072 | 55.98 |
| 10 | Concord | 105,240 | 1,740 | 63.5 |
| 11 | Asheville | 94,589 | 2,125 | 45.57 |
| 12 | Greenville | 87,521 | 2,473 | 35.63 |
| 13 | Gastonia | 80,411 | 1,591 | 51.65 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | 72,723 | 1,505 | 48.65 |
| 15 | Huntersville | 61,376 | 1,579 | 40.73 |
| 16 | Apex | 58,780 | 3,030 | 20.8 |
| 17 | Chapel Hill | 61,960 | 2,922 | 21.53 |
| 18 | Burlington | 57,303 | 1,972 | 29.8 |
| 19 | Kannapolis | 53,114 | 1,693 | 32.61 |
| 20 | Rocky Mount | 54,341 | 1,215 | 44.19 |
| 21 | Mooresville | 50,193 | 2,181 | 24.61 |
North Carolina Attractions
Travelers visit North Carolina to experience its natural beauty, with outdoor recreation at its beaches, camping, hiking, skiing, and viewing the vibrant fall colors in the mountains. The cities of North Carolina offer historic neighborhoods and architecture, as well as cultural activities and athletic events. North Carolina has several professional sports teams, as well as many college sports team. Charlotte is known as a NASCAR city, with about three-quarters of NASCAR employees or drivers residing there, as well as the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
North Carolina Economy:
North Carolina's major economic sectors include banking, agriculture, information technology and biotechnology. Charlotte, North Carolina is the second largest center for banking in the country, and headquarters to large banks, like Bank of America. North Carolina is a major producer of poultry and eggs, hogs, cattle, milk, and tobacco. The Research Triangle Park includes the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University, which is a center for information technology and biotechnology research and development.
North Carolina Culture:
North Carolina is culturally a southern state, known for its delicious food, music scenes, and college towns. North Carolinian cuisine is best known for its various styles of barbecue, which differ across regions of the state. The barbecue of North Carolina focuses on pork, from whole hog to pork shoulder. The eastern region of North Carolina is known for whole hog barbecue, served with a vinegar barbecue sauce sauce, often seasoned with pepper. North Carolina's signature Lexington style barbecue is to use pork shoulder only, served with a tomato-vinegar barbecue sauce. Music from North Carolina includes jazz, blues, and bluegrass, as well as rock and metal from the college region of the state. The college triangle also contributes to the culture of North Carolina, with school rivalries and an emphasis on college football.
North Carolina Interstates
North-South interstates include: Interstate 15, Interstate 17 and Interstate 19. East-West interstates include: Interstate 8, Interstate 10 and Interstate 40.
North Carolina Routes
US Highways and State Routes include: Route 60, Route 70, Route 89, Route 89A, Route 93, Route 95, Route 160, Route 180 and Route 191.
North Carolina State Facts
| State Name | North Carolina |
| Nickname | The Tar Heel State |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Capital City | Raleigh |
| Largest City | Charlotte |
| Abbreviation | NC |
| State Motto | Esse Quam Videri |
| Bordering States | Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina |
| State Flower | Flowering Dogwood |
| State Bird | Northern Cardinal |
| State Animal | Eastern Gray Squirrel |
| Joined the Union | November 21, 1789 |
| Area | 53,819 sq mi (139,391 sq km) |
| Major Cities | Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem |
| Timezone | Eastern Time Zone |
| Population | 10,439,388 (2020 Census) |
| Highest Point | Mount Mitchell - 6,684 ft (2,037 m) |
| Lowest Point | Atlantic Ocean - Sea Level |
| Major Rivers | Cape Fear River, Neuse River, Roanoke River, Yadkin River, Catawba River |
| Major Lakes | Lake Norman, Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Fontana Lake, High Rock Lake |
| Longest River | Roanoke River |
| Famous For | Outer Banks, Blue Ridge Mountains, tobacco, college basketball, aviation history |
| Airports | Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport |
| Major Sports Team | Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Hurricanes |
| Major Highways | US Highway 1, US Highway 17, US Highway 64, US Highway 70, US Highway 421 |
| State Routes | North Carolina Highway 12, North Carolina Highway 24, North Carolina Highway 54, North Carolina Highway 68, North Carolina Highway 150 |
| Official Website | https://www.nc.gov |
List of the Largest Cities in North Carolina by Population
| City | County | Population (2020 Census) | Lat Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg County | 874,579 | 35.2271,-80.8431 |
| Raleigh | Wake County | 467,665 | 35.7796,-78.6382 |
| Greensboro | Guilford County | 299,035 | 36.0726,-79.7920 |
| Durham | Durham County | 283,506 | 35.9940,-78.8986 |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth County | 249,545 | 36.0999,-80.2442 |
| Fayetteville | Cumberland County | 208,501 | 35.0527,-78.8784 |
| Cary | Wake County | 174,721 | 35.7915,-78.7811 |
| Wilmington | New Hanover County | 115,451 | 34.2257,-77.9447 |
| High Point | Guilford County | 114,059 | 35.9557,-80.0053 |
| Concord | Cabarrus County | 105,240 | 35.4088,-80.5795 |
North Carolina Interstates
North-South interstates include: Interstate 73, Interstate 77, Interstate 85 and Interstate 95.
East-West interstates include: Interstate 26, Interstate 40 and Interstate 74.
North Carolina State Routes
North Carolina Highway 12, North Carolina Highway 24, North Carolina Highway 54, North Carolina Highway 68, North Carolina Highway 150, North Carolina Highway 211, North Carolina Highway 751.
Regions in North Carolina
- Outer Banks
- Piedmont
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- Coastal Plain
- Research Triangle
- Sandhills
- Foothills Region
- Cape Fear Region
Main Sights in North Carolina
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cherokee
- Biltmore Estate - Asheville
- Blue Ridge Parkway - Western North Carolina
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Outer Banks
- Wright Brothers National Memorial - Kill Devil Hills
- Grandfather Mountain - Linville
- Chimney Rock State Park - Chimney Rock
- NASCAR Hall of Fame - Charlotte
- Linville Gorge - Pisgah National Forest
- Jockey's Ridge State Park - Nags Head
- USS North Carolina Battleship - Wilmington
- Pisgah National Forest - Brevard
National Parks in North Carolina
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Cape Lookout National Seashore
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
- Wright Brothers National Memorial
Beaches in North Carolina
- Carolina Beach - Carolina Beach
- Wrightsville Beach - Wrightsville Beach
- Nags Head Beach - Nags Head
- Emerald Isle Beach - Emerald Isle
- Oak Island Beach - Oak Island
- Kill Devil Hills Beach - Kill Devil Hills