How North and South Carolina Were Created

The Carolinas originated from a single proprietary colony granted by King Charles II in 1663 to eight Lords Proprietors. Key milestones:

1. 1663: Charter for "Carolina" (named for Charles I) covering 31°–36° N latitude.
2. 1670: First permanent English settlement at Albemarle Point (near present-day Charleston).
3. 1691: Proprietors appoint a separate deputy governor for the northern region, effectively creating "North Carolina" and "South Carolina" as administrative divisions.
4. 1712: Formal separation into two distinct proprietary colonies.
5. 1729: Proprietors sell their interests to the Crown; both become royal colonies.
6. 1776: Each adopts a state constitution and joins the United States.

The dividing line originally followed the Cape Fear River drainage, later refined by survey.