Quick Facts and Information About North Carolina
North Carolina is a state in the southeastern United States, and it is bordered by Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and the Atlantic Ocean. This page lists some basic, quick facts about North Carolina and provides links to other useful information.
Quick Facts
Date North Carolina became a state: November 21, 1789 (12th state)
State Capital: Raleigh (Wake County)
Governor: Roy Cooper
State Motto: Esse Quam Videri: To be rather than to seem
State Song: The Old North State
State Colors: Red and Blue
State Bird: Cardinal
State Flower: Dogwood
State Name Origin and Nicknames: Carolina, the Tar Heel State, the Old North State
Economy, Gross Domestic Product: $575,605,000,000 (2018, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Population Estimate: 10,383,620 people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018) (visit the U.S. Census Quick Facts for more information)
Population Rank: 9th largest state in the United States
Largest City (Population): Charlotte -- 830,258 (North Carolina Office of Budget and Management, 2016)
Total Land Area: 48,617.91 square miles
Land Area Rank: 28th largest state in the United States by land area
Number of Counties: 100
Highest Point in North Carolina: Mount Mitchell (6,683 feet)
Distance Between Murphy (west) and Manteo (east): 546 miles (driving); 474.5 miles (direct, "as the crow flies")
Length by Width: North Carolina is 503 miles long by 150 miles wide
Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives: 13
Seats in the N.C. General Assembly: 120 members in the House; 50 members in the Senate. Find your state legislators at https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
Links to useful information
North Carolina State Constitution
North Carolina State Government Website
North Carolina County and Municipal Population Estimates (NC Office of Budget and Management)
Locate US Representatives for North Carolina (U.S. House of Representatives website)
Locate US Senators for North Carolina (U.S. Senate website)
North Carolina General Assembly website (NC State Legislature)
North Carolina Voter Information: North Carolina State Board of Elections
North Carolina State Symbols and other Official Adoptions (NCpedia article)
Crime Statistics (NC State Bureau of Investigation)
Public Education Information: Reports and Statistics (NC Public Schools)
U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts for North Carolina
North Carolina Economy at a Glance (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019)
North Carolina Agricultural Statistics (NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2018)
NC LINC (NC Office of Budget and Management: population, labor, education, transportation, agriculture, and other data for NC)
Updated July 2019
Image credit:
TUBS. North Carolina in United States. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Carolina_in_United_States.svg (accessed October 2, 2016).
25 December 2015 | Agan, Kelly
Comments
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The "Quick Facts" about North
The "Quick Facts" about North Carolina still list Pat McCrory as the governor when it should be Roy Cooper.
Thank you
Dear Kathryn,
Dear Kathryn,
Thank you for alerting us. The article has been corrected.
Marie Jones, Government and Heritage Library
Was the name Early a common
Was the name Early a common name in that. Region
Hi Boyd,
Hi Boyd,
Thank you for visiting NCpedia and sharing this question. That's a very good question!
I have forwarded your questions to reference services at the NC Government & Heritage Library. A reference librarian will contact you shortly to try to help with your questions if you're still looking for information.
Kelly Agan, Government & Heritage Library
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