North Carolina Facts for Kids

A Map of the U.S. state North Carolina
  • U.S. State: North Carolina
  • Abbreviation: NC
  • Joined the USA: November 21st, 1789 (12th State)
  • Located: Southeastern United States
  • Capital City: Raleigh, NC
  • Most Populated City: Charlotte, NC

36 North Carolina Facts for Kids

  1. North Carolina is a state in the United States of America.
  2. North Carolina is in the southeastern region of the United States.
  3. North Carolina became a U.S. state on Saturday, November 21st, 1789.
  4. North Carolina was the 12th state to join the United States.
  5. The U.S. state of North Carolina covers 53,819 square miles.
  6. North Carolina is the 28th largest state by area in the United States.
  7. In 2019, the population of North Carolina was estimated to be 10,490,000 residents by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  8. In 2019, North Carolina was the 9th most populated state in the United States.
  9. A person who is from or lives in North Carolina is called a North Carolinian.
  10. The capital city of North Carolina is Raleigh.
  11. The seven most populated cities in North Carolina are Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Fayetteville and Cary.
  12. The largest city by population in North Carolina is Charlotte.
  13. The largest metropolitan area in North Carolina is the Greater Charlotte area.
  14. The U.S. state of North Carolina has 100 counties.
  15. The most populated county in North Carolina is Wake County with 1,112,000 residents (2019, U.S. Census Bureau).
  16. The largest county by area in North Carolina is Dare County with 1,562 square miles.
  17. The highest elevation point in North Carolina is Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet above sea level.
  18. The lowest elevation point in North Carolina is the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean at sea level.
  19. The average precipitation (rain and snow) in North Carolina is 46.9 inches.
  20. North Carolina is the 14th wettest state by precipitation (rain and snow) in the United States.
  21. The average temperature in North Carolina is 61.7 °F.
  22. North Carolina is the 9th warmest state in the United States.
  23. The warmest temperature ever recorded in North Carolina was 110 °F on August 21st, 1983.
  24. The coldest temperature ever recorded in North Carolina was -34 °F on January 21st, 1985.
  25. A few natural disasters that can affect North Carolina are heat waves, hurricanes, lightning and thunderstorms.
  26. North Carolina is in one time zone, Eastern Time Zone (ET).
  27. The USPS abbreviation for North Carolina is NC.
  28. North Carolina is also known as the Old North State and the Tar Heel State.
  29. The motto of the US state of North Carolina is “To be, rather than to seem”.
  30. The first aircraft to ever sustain flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina by the Wright Brothers.
  31. The official state insect of North Carolina is the honeybee (Apis).
  32. The official state bird of North Carolina is the cardinal (Cardinalidae).
  33. The official state reptile of North Carolina is the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina Carolina).
  34. The official state mammal of North Carolina is the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).
  35. The official state flower of North Carolina is the dogwood (Cornus).
  36. The official state tree of North Carolina is the pine (Pinus).

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