North Carolina (U.S. state)

This article is about North Carolina (U.S. state). For other uses of the term North Carolina, please see North Carolina (disambiguation).

State Flag of North Carolina

North Carolina, nicknamed the Tar Heel State, is a state in the southeastern United States of America. It was one of the original thirteen colonies that united to form a union. In the American Civil War (1861-1865), North Carolina was one of the eleven states that seceded from the U.S. to form the Confederate States of America.

North Carolina is part of America's Eastern Seaboard, and bordering states are South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, and Virginia to the north.

North Carolina's State Motto is: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem).

  See also North Carolina, History.

Climate

North Carolina has a humid, subtropical climate. Winters are short and mild, while summers are usually very sultry.

Politics

The current Governor is Democrat Bev Perdue. North Carolina is dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Democrat Barack Obama won the state, but by a very narrow margin.

Education

North Carolina is home to many notable colleges and universities, including The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, Campbell University, Appalachian State University, Duke University, and East Carolina University.