North Carolina State Symbols and Official Adoptions
The North Carolina General Assembly adopted its first state symbol in 1885 with legislation recognizing the official State Flag. Since that time, the Legislature has adopted more symbols, from the State Dog to the State Marsupial to the State Beverage and the State Vegetable. Some symbols are emblems or iconic representations of the state's history and culture, such as the flag or the Great Seal. Others represent the state's unique natural heritage, such as the Cardinal and the Venus Fly Trap, or elements, like the sweet potato, that have been vital to sustaining the people or the economy.
State Symbols and other Official Adoptions are created from legislation enacted by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. The adoption of each state symbol is associated with a particular piece of legislation enumerated in the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 145: State Symbols and Other Official Adoptions. Scroll down this page to access a list of the state's official adoptions (with links to NCpedia articles).
During the 2015-2016 legislative session two bills were introduced to designate official adoptions: for new official adotion. On January 26, 2015, a bill was introduced for the adoption of the Old Fort Gold Festival, in McDowell County, as the official Gold Festival of North Carolina. The festival has been celebrated during the first weekend in June since 2003. And on March 4, 2015, a bill was introduced to name the Bobcat as the official State Cat. Fourth-graders at Benvenue Elementary School in Nash County wrote to their state legislator to recommend that the General Assembly adopt an official state cat to complement the state dog, the Plott Hound. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Bobbie Richardson, a Nash County Democrat. The General Assembly concluded the legislative session in 2015 without taking up either legislation for ratification.
During the 2016 session, the General Assembly voted to adopt the Town of Warsaw (Duplin County) Veterans Day Parade as the State Veterans Day Parade (S.B. 160). The bill was signed into law by the Governor of North Carolina on June 24, 2016.
North Carolina's State Symbols and Other Official Adoptions: Articles on State Symbols in NCpedia
Click on the blue text to access individual articles
Berries - The Red Berry and The Blue Berry
Festival, Blue Monday Shad Fry
Festival, Livermush - Fall and Spring
Festival, Watermelon - Northeastern NC, Southeastern NC
Fly Fishing Museum (Fly Fishing Museum of the Souther Appalachians) adopted June 2018, 2017 Legislative Session; article forthcoming)
Outdoor Festival (North Carolina Outdoor Festival, adopted June 2018, 2017 Legislative Session, article forthcoming)
Veterans Day Parade, Town of Warsaw
North Carolina Legislation Authorizing State Symbols and Other Official Adoptions
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18 October 2012 | Agan, Kelly
Comments
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i am using this site for a project and i think its great!!!!!!!!!
How can you find out who
How can you find out who sponsered the bill to have the state symbols adopted? We are looking for insect, reptile and precious stone.
I have a heavy wooden (early
I have a heavy wooden (early 1900's??)wall seal of NC, probably 2 ft in diameter. I wonder if it has antique value. It's very heavy.
I love this website!
I love this website!
Interesting for sure, didn't
Interesting for sure, didn't know there were so many official things for each state lol. How does the government find the time to do all this, but no time to create jobs, help people get an education or start a business? Sure makes you wonder...
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GREAT SITE!!!!!!!! Got lots of info. My project is gonna be AWESOME!!! Thanks..... whoever made this website!!
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awsome site
hate this!!! i was looking
hate this!!! i was looking for SC symbols
come ON!HATEHATEHATE
Sheesh! Calm down
Sheesh! Calm down
Aw... do you really hate
Aw... do you really hate it? Or did you just want to leave a silly comment? ;)
I'm afraid SC symbols is outside the scope of the NCpedia. It is all about North Carolina.
You may wish to try a site about South Carolina, like http://www.sciway.net/hist/symbols.html or http://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/coolstuff/symbols.shtml.
Good luck in your research!
Michelle Czaikowski, Government & Heritage Library
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