North Carolina is a state on the eastern coast of America. It has a long history, as North Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies belonging to the English. According to the 2008 Census, the "Tar Heel State" is the third fastest-growing state in the country, following closely behind Utah and Arizona.
The first attempt to colonize America by English-speaking people occurred in North Carolina in the 1580s, when Sir Walter Raleigh founded two colonies under a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. Both ended in failure, with the second settlement and its population vanishing without a trace. The first successful settlers to North Carolina were colonists from Virginia who moved down into the state in 1650. Twelve years later, England's King Charles II gave royal approval for the establishment of a new territory to be populated with people from England. It was to be called Carolina in honor of his father Charles (Carolus in Latin).
The capital of North Carolina is the city of Raleigh, named after Sir Walter Raleigh. It was founded as the state capital in 1792. By 2008, the city had a population of around 400,000, according to the U.S Census Bureau. That makes Raleigh the 45th largest city in the U.S. Other large cities in North Carolina include Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
North Carolina was part of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, and the state had a long history of slavery prior to 1861. However, North Carolina was the last state to secede from the Union, 13 days after Tennessee, and many in the state were divided over the issue of secession. During the war, North Carolina was the largest provider of men and supplies to the Confederate cause.
According to the U.S Census Bureau, North Carolina had a population of 9.3 million in 2009, making it the 10th most-populated state in the U.S. White Americans make up 70% of the population, with African-Americans making up 25.3%. The rest of the population is 6.5% Hispanic and 1.2% American Indian.
North Carolina is the largest producer of furniture, tobacco and textiles in the U.S in 2010, with a gross state product of $335 billion in 2004, according to the U.S Census Bureau. This makes it the country's 11th wealthiest state. Other industries that are important include metalworking, chemicals and paper, in addition to agricultural products such as hay, cotton, peanuts and vegetables. Tourism is also an increasingly important industry, with visitors spending $1 billion a year in the state.
