NORTH CAROLINA

Tar Heel State, Old North State

Origin of state's name: Taken from "Carolus," the Latin word for Charles and named after England's King Charles I

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That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the center of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription "May 20th, 1775," and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: "April 12th, 1776."

Entered Union: Twelfth of the original 13 states to ratify the Constitution, November 21, 1789
Capital: Raleigh
Motto: Esse Quam Videri (To be rather than to seem)
Flower: Dogwood
Bird: Cardinal
Tree: Pine
Song: The Old North State

A LITTLE HISTORY
The first English colony in America was the first of 2 established by Sir Walter Raleigh on Roanoke Island between 1585 and 1587. The first group returned to England; the second, the 'Lost Colony'. disappeared without a trace. Permanent settlers came from Virginia, c1660. Roused by British repressions, the colonists drove out the royal governor in 1775; the province's congress was the first to vote for independence. Ten regiments were furnished to the Continental Army. Cornwallis' forces were defeated at Kings Mountain in 1780, and forced out after Guilford Courthouse in 1781.

FACTS AND TRIVIA ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA
Cape Hatteras is located in North Carolina.

Some authorities accredit the 26th North Carolina Regiment with having incurred the greatest loss in a single battle recorded in the Civil War. At the Battle of Gettysburg, it lost 708 of its men, or approximately 85 percent of its total strength. In one company of 84 men, every man and officer was hit. The orderly sergeant who made out the report had a bullet wound through both legs.

The sweet potato is the Official State Vegetable. North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation harvesting over 4 billion pounds of the vegetable in 1989.

Coastal North Carolina was the scene of the first attempt to colonize America by English-speaking people. Two colonies were begun in the 1580's under a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh. The first colony, established in 1585 under the leadership of Ralph Lane, ended in failure.

In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates their acheivement.

Virginia Dare was the first child born to English-speaking parents in the new world. She was born in Roanoke Island in 1587.

North Carolina produces 61 million turkeys annually, more than any other state. Minnesota and Arkansas are number two and three.

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