Over 100 Fun Facts about North Carolina [Free Fact Cards]

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North Carolina is a special place in the southeastern part of the United States. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, tall mountains, and lots of history. From the Wright brothers’ first flight to delicious barbeque, there’s so much to learn about this wonderful state. Let’s dive into these exciting facts about North Carolina.

Imagine walking on the soft sandy shores of North Carolina’s beaches. The state has more than 300 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. That’s like walking from one end of a super long hallway to the other! People love to swim, build sandcastles, and search for seashells on these beaches. And did you know? Every summer, thousands of baby sea turtles hatch from eggs and make their way to the ocean to start their own adventures!

But North Carolina isn’t only about beaches. It’s also home to the mighty Appalachian Mountains. These mountains are super tall and covered with trees that change colors in the fall, like a giant rainbow of leaves. People love to hike, camp, and explore these mountains, finding hidden waterfalls and friendly critters along the way. Some folks even call the Appalachian Mountains the “Blue Ridge Mountains” because they look a little blue from far away!

Now, let’s take a step back in time. North Carolina has a rich history, too! Did you know that the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, flew the first successful airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? They zoomed into the sky like birds and changed the way people travel forever. And there’s even more history – North Carolina was one of the thirteen original colonies that started the United States. From Native American tribes to essential battles during the Revolutionary War, this state has many stories to tell.

So get ready to explore the wonders of North Carolina! From its sandy beaches to its tall mountains and from its history-filled past to its exciting present, there’s something for everyone to discover in this awesome state.

Fun Facts About North Carolina

1. North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park is a hub of technology and innovation, hosting numerous tech companies and research institutions.
2. During the early years, North Carolina’s main industry was agriculture, which relied on slavery. 
3. North Carolina is typically broken down into three sections from west to east: the Mountains, the Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain.
4. The name Carolina is derived from the Latin name Charles, after King Charles I and II.
5. Havelock, North Carolina, has the largest air base in the Marine Corps.

6. North Carolina Has Diverse Wildlife Thanks To Its Distinct Geographic Regions
7. North Carolina has a string of barrier islands off its coast, which are known as “Outer Banks“. These islands are famous for their beaches and draw many tourists.
8. High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World.
9. Cheerwine was created in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1917, It is most notable for its nuclear pink color which is partially how it got its name. 
10. North Carolina still has around half a dozen drive-in movie theaters, including a few of the most popular ones in the country.

11. The Carolina Panthers, popular in both North and South Carolina, are one of only two NFL teams to represent two states.
12. Dawson’s Creek was filmed in Wilmington, NC
13. One Tree Hill was filmed in Wilmington, NC
14. Zachary Knight Galifianakis is from North Carolina
15. The Moravian cookie, made in Winston-Salem, is often considered the country’s first Christmas cookie.

16. Mount Mitchell, along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, is the highest peak east of the Mississippi river at 6684 feet.
17. Bennett Place in Durham is the Site of a Pivotal Surrender in the Civil War
18. The town of Bath, North Carolina, was the state’s first official port and is known for its historic significance.
19. North Carolina was known as the moonshine state.
20. The state has a population of 10.7 million, which makes it the 9th most populous state, between Georgia and Michigan.

21. North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola.
22. North Carolina is home to the tallest dam on the East Coast at 426ft: Fontana Dam
23. The town of Mount Airy is said to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in “The Andy Griffith Show.”
24. On April 12, 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to declare freedom from British rule.
25. North Carolina is Home to the First Gold Rush in the United States. On March 19, 1799, 12-year-old Conrad Reed went fishing in Little Meadow Creek and found a 17-pound gold nugget. 

26. In the late 1860s, Washington Carruthers Kerr found fossils from a dinosaur known as Hypsibema crassicauda in Sampson County, North Carolina.
27. Clay Aiken who placed second on American Ideal is from North Carolina
28. Scotty McCreey from American Idols calls North Carolina home. 
29. The megalodon, the largest shark ever to have existed, once lived in what is now North Carolina. It reached up to 60 ft (18 m) in length. Its tooth is the official state fossil.
30. Charlotte, North Carolina is home to the first Bojangles which opened in 1977. 

31. North Carolina is also known to have the highest ski slope in the Northeast. Located in Western North Carolina, Beech Mountain Ski Slope is 5,505 ft.
32. North Carolina is home to Cape Hatteras, the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. The original construction was in 1802 and it stands at 210 feet-tall, with a range of 24 nautical miles. 
33. The Wright brothers completed their first flight in Kitty Hawk.
34. Virginia Dare was born in Roanoke, North Carolina on August 18, 1587, and was the First English-born child in America.
35. North Carolina has the largest Native American population east of the Mississippi.

36. North Carolina is home to the Carolina Reaper, one of the world’s hottest chili peppers.
37. UNC-Chapel Hill is the Oldest Public University in the United States
38. The emerald is a natural occurring gemstone in North Carolina.
39. Texas Pete Hot Sauce is actually from North Carolina.
40. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are known as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic” because more than a thousand shipwrecks have been discovered in the area.

41. The North Carolina portion of the I-95, the highway running closest to the coast, is said to be the most dangerous road in the country in terms of number of deaths.
42. North Carolina is the northernmost location where alligators are natively found. They tend to hover around the North Carolina and Virginia Border. 
43. North Carolina Is A Top Producer Of Beer and Wine. 
44. The First Successful Flight of an Airplane took place in Kitty Hawk, NC on December 17, 1903, lasting 12 seconds.
45. North Carolina didn’t have a state flag until 1861

46. The state’s six largest cities are all located in the central Piedmont region of the state.
47. Pepsi was invented in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham.
48. North Carolina is Home to the Oldest Mountains in North America.
49. The North Carolina Museum of Art is the first state-owned art museum, having opened its doors in 1956.
50. According to the US Forest Service, Upper White Water Falls in North Carolina is indeed the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies with a 411-foot drop.

51. “The Greensboro Four” Was A Pivotal Moment In The Civil Rights Movement 
52. North Carolina is home to 1 national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which it shares with Tennessee. The park is named after its signature haze that settles in its forests and mountains.
53. North Carolina’s state flower is the dogwood, known for its delicate beauty and springtime blossoms.
54. North Carolina Is The Barbecue Capital.
55. North Carolina’s literary works are a key part of its cultural identity.

56. It’s illegal to visit the cemetery after midnight in North Carolina.
57. Tallest Sand Dune on the East Coast. It is called Jockeys Ridge and is located in the Outer Banks! The sand dunes can reach 60 ft. tall.
58. In the early 1800s, the state became known as “Rip Van Winkle” because North Carolina’s slow progress was compared to being asleep.
59. The North Carolina ice hockey team is called “The Carolina Hurricanes”
60. The Land of Oz theme park, based on “The Wizard of Oz,” is located in Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

61. Pisgah National Park Is A Great Place To Hike. The .7-mile Gorge Trail leads tourists to awesome views.
62. The venus flytrap is a native plant of North Carolina.
63. The NASCAR Hall of fame is located in North Carolina.
64. Vicks VapoRub was invented by Lunsford Richardson of Selma, North Carolina.
65. North Carolina is the best place in the US to explore shipwrecks.

66. The state capital of North Carolina is Raleigh.
67. There are many animals that reside in North Carolina, like black bears, coyotes, and raccoons; reptiles like sea turtles; amphibians like salamanders; as well as ospreys and cardinals (the state bird). 
68. North Carolina is the 28th largest state in the USA.
69. The Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight in 1903 in North Carolina at Kill Devil Hills.
70. North Carolina’s license plate boasts “first in flight”

71. Krispy Kreme Donuts was also born in the Tar Heel state!
72. Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate, with more than 250 rooms, is the largest private home in the United States. 
73. North Carolina is home to the Lost Colony Of Roanoke.
74. The World’s Largest Black Bears are in NC.
75. If North Carolina were a country, it would be larger than Greece.

76. North Carolina got the nickname the Tar Heel State because workers here used to sell tar, pitch, and turpentine from the state’s longleaf pine trees to be used in wooden ships.
77. North Carolina is the number 1 producer of sweet potatoes and tobacco
78. Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1914.
79. North Carolina is commonly referred to as “Carolina”. 
80. North Carolina has two nicknames: The Tar Heel State and Old North State.

81. The state boasts 300 species of trees—including longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, and the American chestnut tree. 
82. North Carolina is the 9th most populated state in the USA.
83. Mini-golf/putt-putt golf was said to have been started in North Carolina.
84. America’s first public university was the University of North Carolina, known today as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
85. North Carolina was one of the original colonies.

86. The state’s official dog is the Plott Hound, a breed known for its hunting abilities and loyalty.
87. The Battleship North Carolina, docked in Wilmington, is a floating museum that served in World War II.
88. North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England, on May 20, 1775. 
89. Babe Ruth Made His First Professional Homerun in North Carolina.
90. The oldest woman to complete a full marathon was North Carolina’s Harriette Thompson, at age 92.

91. In North Carolina, it’s technically against the law to have “Happy Hour” specials on alcohol. If the “Happy Hour” is offered on food, it’s legal.
92. Bald Head Island Is The Perfect Place For Travel If Looking For Peace
93. Early Astronauts Learned Navigation went to UNC-Chapel Hill
94. Dellview, North Carolina, is one of the smallest US towns
95. The pirate Blackbeard called North Carolina home, and spent time ransacking ships off the coast in the early 1700s.

96. North Carolina borders 4 other states: South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia
97. The state motto is “Esse Quam Videri,” which translates in English to “To Be Rather Than To Seem.”
98. The state’s official beverage is milk.
99. North Carolina merged The Towns Of Winston and Salem now known as Winston Salem.
100. Fort Bragg, North Carolina is one of the largest military centers in the world, with around 55,000 military stationed there.
101. North Carolina is known for producing a lot of Christmas trees. With 1,300 growers, North Carolina produces more Christmas trees than most other states.

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