North Carolina is on the east coast of the United States and is home to 10.3 million people. Neighboring states are Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina.
According to Acronymmonster, about 10.3 million people live in the eastern US coastal state of North Carolina. North Carolina covers an area of approximately 139,000 km². The capital of the so-called Old North State is Raleigh with around 470,000 residents. North Carolina’s neighboring states are Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
North Carolina – Native to First Settlement
North Carolina was one of the so-called Thirteen Colonies, the founding states of today’s USA. The first English outpost in the region can be dated back to 1585. At that time, the historical Mississippi culture was coming to an end, instead mainly Cherokee and tribes such as the Roanoke, Machapunga, Chowanoke, Cheraw, Waxhaw and the Saponi (and many others) lived here. First settlement efforts by the English went back to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, who acted on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. From 1710, the new Carolina colony split up due to political differences in North and South Carolina. North Carolina is also the first state to call on its delegates to declare independence from Great Britain.
North Carolina before and after the Civil War
In the 19th century in particular, the slave trade flourished and North Carolina became a major exporter of cotton and tobacco. In 1861 North Carolina joined the Confederation in the American Civil War. In 1868 North Carolina became part of the United States again in the context of the so-called Reconstruction, and the new constitution banned slavery from then on. North Carolina is still the largest tobacco producer among the US states, and agriculture shapes the economy of the coastal state.
The main cities of North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina – around 870,000 people live here, and the metropolitan region has over 2.5 million. This is followed by the capital Raleigh (named after Sir Walter Raleigh), Greensboro (about 290,000 residents) and Durham (about 275,000 residents). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered to be the region’s largest national park.
Piedmont North Carolina
The Piedmont Region is located in the heart of North Carolina and stretches from the foot of the Appalachian Mountains to the coast in the east. It is characterized by rolling, rolling farmland and fast growing and diverse cities. This region can be divided into the Piedmont Highlands, the highlands, and the Piedmont Lowlands, the lowlands. The Piedmont is known for its excellent golf courses, traditional southern charm and world-class barbecue. The fact that the Piedmont region is one of the most popular destinations is probably due to the extremely idyllic and peaceful atmosphere.
The mountainous region of North Carolina
The mountain region in western North Carolina is characterized by the imposing backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains. As part of the Appalachian Mountains, the mountain range is a popular recreational area. Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and bustling cities like Asheville and Boone await the visitor. The mountainous region of North Carolina is almost made for nature lovers. As diverse as the local flora and fauna are, so are the activities. Of course, hiking and winter sports come first. Because nowhere else in North Carolina does one have such a dreamlike setting.
The North Carolina coastal region
The coastal region extends over two thirds of the state and is considered to be one of the most beautiful landscapes in North Carolina. The Outer Banks and the Crystal Coast await their visitors with endless secluded sandy beaches, in Kitty Hawk you can experience aviation history and of course you shouldn’t miss the historic coastal town of Wilmington with its booming film industry and beautiful New Bern. The coastal region not only has sun and sand to offer, but also a lot of seas.
Largest Counties in North Carolina by Area
According to Countryaah, the biggest counties in North Carolina are listed as below:
| Ranking | County | Area |
| 1 | Dare County | 4,046 km2 |
| 2 | Hyde County | 3,688 km2 |
| 3 | Carteret County | 3,473 km2 |
| 4 | Beaufort County | 2,484 km2 |
| 5 | Columbus County | 2,471 km2 |
| 6 | Robeson County | 2,463 km2 |
| 7 | Sampson County | 2,453 km2 |
| 8 | Pender County | 2,416 km2 |
| 9 | Onslow County | 2,354 km2 |
| 10 | Bladen County | 2,297 km2 |
| 11 | Brunswick County | 2,227 km2 |
| 12 | Wake County | 2,220 km2 |
| 13 | Duplin County | 2,121 km2 |
| 14 | Johnston County | 2,062 km2 |
| 15 | Randolph County | 2,046 km2 |
| 16 | Craven County | 2,005 km2 |
| 17 | Wilkes County | 1,968 km2 |
| 18 | Bertie County | 1,919 km2 |
| 19 | Halifax County | 1,893 km2 |
| 20 | Chatham County | 1,836 km2 |
| 21 | Moore County | 1,829 km2 |
| 22 | Buncombe County | 1,709 km2 |
| 23 | Cumberland County | 1,704 km2 |
| 24 | Guilford County | 1,704 km2 |
| 25 | Pitt County | 1,696 km2 |
| 26 | Union County | 1,658 km2 |
| 27 | Harnett County | 1,557 km2 |
| 28 | Tyrrell County | 1,554 km2 |
| 29 | Iredell County | 1,546 km2 |
| 30 | Rockingham County | 1,481 km2 |
| 31 | Davidson County | 1,469 km2 |
| 32 | Pamlico County | 1,466 km2 |
| 33 | Rutherford County | 1,466 km2 |
| 34 | Wayne County | 1,443 km2 |
| 35 | Haywood County | 1,437 km2 |
| 36 | Northampton County | 1,427 km2 |
| 37 | Mecklenburg County | 1,414 km2 |
| 38 | Nash County | 1,406 km2 |
| 39 | Swain County | 1,401 km2 |
| 40 | Surry County | 1,393 km2 |
| 41 | Anson County | 1,391 km2 |
| 42 | Granville County | 1,391 km2 |
| 43 | Currituck County | 1,362 km2 |
| 44 | Rowan County | 1,357 km2 |
| 45 | Macon County | 1,344 km2 |
| 46 | Burke County | 1,334 km2 |
| 47 | Edgecombe County | 1,313 km2 |
| 48 | Montgomery County | 1,300 km2 |
| 49 | Cherokee County | 1,287 km2 |
| 50 | Franklin County | 1,282 km2 |
| 51 | Jackson County | 1,279 km2 |
| 52 | Richmond County | 1,243 km2 |
| 53 | Caldwell County | 1,228 km2 |
| 54 | Jones County | 1,225 km2 |
| 55 | Cleveland County | 1,215 km2 |
| 56 | Martin County | 1,194 km2 |
| 57 | Stokes County | 1,181 km2 |
| 58 | Madison County | 1,171 km2 |
| 59 | McDowell County | 1,155 km2 |
| 60 | Warren County | 1,150 km2 |
| 61 | Alamance County | 1,127 km2 |
| 62 | Caswell County | 1,109 km2 |
| 63 | Ashe County | 1,106 km2 |
| 64 | Washington County | 1,098 km2 |
| 65 | Catawba County | 1,072 km2 |
| 66 | Forsyth County | 1,070 km2 |
| 67 | Person County | 1,046 km2 |
| 68 | Stanly County | 1,046 km2 |
| 69 | Lenoir County | 1,041 km2 |
| 70 | Orange County | 1,039 km2 |
| 71 | Hoke County | 1,015 km2 |
| 72 | Transylvania County | 987 km2 |
| 73 | Henderson County | 971 km2 |
| 74 | Wilson County | 969 km2 |
| 75 | Cabarrus County | 945 km2 |
| 76 | Gaston County | 943 km2 |
| 77 | Hertford County | 932 km2 |
| 78 | Gates County | 896 km2 |
| 79 | Yadkin County | 873 km2 |
| 80 | Perquimans County | 852 km2 |
| 81 | New Hanover County | 850 km2 |
| 82 | Scotland County | 831 km2 |
| 83 | Watauga County | 811 km2 |
| 84 | Yancey County | 811 km2 |
| 85 | Lincoln County | 795 km2 |
| 86 | Camden County | 793 km2 |
| 87 | Graham County | 782 km2 |
| 88 | Durham County | 772 km2 |
| 89 | Pasquotank County | 749 km2 |
| 90 | Vance County | 699 km2 |
| 91 | Davie County | 692 km2 |
| 92 | Greene County | 689 km2 |
| 93 | Alexander County | 681 km2 |
| 94 | Lee County | 671 km2 |
| 95 | Avery County | 640 km2 |
| 96 | Polk County | 619 km2 |
| 97 | Alleghany County | 611 km2 |
| 98 | Chowan County | 603 km2 |
| 99 | Mitchell County | 575 km2 |
| 100 | Clay County | 572 km2 |