The very first people who lived in what is now North Carolina were hunters and gatherers at least 10,000 years ago. Over the years, many Native American cultures have called the area home, including the Cherokee, Woodlands, and Mississippi tribes. Europeans first came to North Carolina in the 1500s and it became the 12th colony in 1789, just after America declared its independence from Great Britain. North Carolina withdrew from the country on May 20, 1861. It was one of 11 states that made up the Confederate States of America that fought against the Union during the Civil War.
North Carolina was nicknamed the Tar Heel State because workers here sold tar, tar, and turpentine from the state’s pine trees for use on wooden ships. Legend has it that some British soldiers were slowed down when they walked into the sticky tar of North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.
Geography of North Carolina
According to itypetravel.com, North Carolina is south of Virginia, east of Tennessee, north of South Carolina, and west of the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling through North Carolina, visitors can experience three unique regions defined by three different landscapes. The Appalachians, the largest mountain range in the eastern United States, cover the western region of the state. Some peaks are more than a mile above sea level! Journey to the center of the state to find the Piedmont region. High and flat – like a mountain with a cut off top – this plateau is located between the mountainous and coastal plains. In this region, rivers flow through waterfalls and over rapids. Keep walking east until you hear seagulls! The eastern region is called the coastal plain, and its mostly flat land leads to the Atlantic Ocean. Beaches, swamps and longhair pines make up the landscape here.
Wildlife of North Carolina
The diverse regions of North Carolina are home to mammals such as black bears, coyotes, and raccoons; reptiles like sea turtles; amphibians love salamanders; and birds like ospreys and cardinals (the state bird). The state boasts 300 species of trees, including pine, shortleaf, and American chestnut. In addition, about 3,000 species of flowering plants, including flowering dogwood, the state flower, fill the state with more flowers. Forests cover almost 60 percent of North Carolina, making wood a very important natural resource that has helped North Carolina become one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the country. Other natural resources include fish, meat, clay, and various types of stones and minerals used in construction.
WILMINGTON
Population: 109,900 thousand people (2012)
Area: 107.4 sq. km
Founded: 1739
Time zone: UTC-5, summer UTC-4
Wilmington is a port city in the state of North Carolina. Located in the valley of the Cape Fear River. Named after the Earl of Wilmington, who served in the court of George II as Prime Minister of Great Britain. The historical center of the city is concentrated along the river embankment. See North Carolina cities.
The first settlements of European colonists in the area date back to 1720. Prior to the liberation civil war of the 19th century, the main activity of the people of Wilmington was trading. Its geographic location has allowed the city to build both a river and an ocean port, making it a key link in the chain of acceptance and distribution of imported goods across the continent. The expansion of commercial activity was facilitated by the construction of the railway in 1840. During World War II, shipyards open in Wilmington. Since 1927, Wilmington International Airport has been accepting passengers.
The architectural heritage of the era of colonial classicism in Wilmington is the amazingly preserved houses of wealthy slave owners, industrialists and merchants of the early 18th century. Here you can see both the Venetian Renaissance style and the best examples of Italian architecture. In the design of the facades, Greek columns, Ottoman terraces and galleries were widely used. Technical innovations and the best materials for interior decoration were used in the interior design of the premises. Some of these mansions are now open to the public as colonial history museums, such as the home of the Bellamy family.
Today, Wilmington remains a major industrial and commercial center of the eastern region of the United States. The University of North Carolina is located here.
The active support of the film industry gave the city a second unofficial name – East Hollywood. In the luxurious mansions of the colonists and on the coast, such series as Dawson’s Creek, Sleepy Hollow, Under the Dome and others were filmed.
On the ocean beaches of the city, nightlife is in full swing. Boutiques and cafes, surfer competitions and the three largest beaches for families and youth. And the river promenade along the historical center will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated traveler. River trams depart from the pier for sightseeing walks.
WINSTON SALEM
Population: 234,300 thousand people (2012)
Area: 176.6 sq. km
Timezone: UTC
Winston Salem is located in North Carolina. Its very name reveals that it is the center of the tobacco industry. Previously, there were two cities – Winston and Salem, they merged in 1913. Salem itself was founded in 1753, and Winston was founded a century later.
One of the attractions of Winston-Salem is a museum reconstructing the ancient settlement, which includes a whole group of different buildings. Attractions in Old Salem include a toy and arts and crafts museum, a tavern, and reenactments of ancient crafts. The city is rightfully called the center of arts and innovations.
There are many educational institutions, including the university. Many offices of large corporations are concentrated here. The city has many art galleries, and there is also an opera house. The dominant high-rise building is 100 North Main Street, which has 34 floors and is 140 meters high.
Another attraction of Winston-Salem is the Reynolda Gardens. They are open daily for everyone. Today, the gardens contain a vast variety of plants, including fruit trees, flowers, roses, hedges, tea houses, fountains and gazebos.
