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North Carolina
written by Jay Stikeleather
North Carolina is a Southern U.S. state and is one of the thirteen original colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. The state is named for King Charles II of England (in Latin, Carolus means Charles).
North Carolina has three metropolitan combined statistical areas with a populations of over 1 million; Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury, Raleigh-Durham-Cary and Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point. Population is approximately eight (8) million, ranking N.C. eleventh among the fifty states.
Over the past century, North Carolina has grown to become a national leader in agriculture, financial services, real estate and industry. The state's industrial output is mainly textiles, chemicals, electrical equipment, paper and paper products, ranking the state eighth in the nation in the early 1990s.
Tobacco, one of North Carolina's earliest sources of revenue, was once vital to the local economy. Today, technology, research, and banking have become a driving force in the state, especially with the creation of the Research Triangle Park between Raleigh and Durham in the 1950's. Also, Charlotte has achieved international status as the second largest banking center in the entire United States.
North Carolina is known for its public and private colleges and universities. The University of North Carolina has a rich heritage of academic excellence. Chartered in 1789, UNC was the first public university in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century. Today, UNC is a multi-campus university composed of 16 constituent institutions. The university consists of public educational institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees in the state
of North Carolina. Also located in the state are Duke University, Wake 
Forest University, and Davidson College, three of the nation’s finest private institutions.
The state is also the center of American motor sports. The first “stock car” racing was rumored to have occurred when the moonshine (illegal whiskey) transporters needed to outrun the revenuers (Federal Alcohol Agents) in Wilkes County NC. Many NASCAR racing teams and related industries are located near Charlotte and the Lake Norman region.
Outdoor activities vary from snow skiing in the west to body surfing in the Atlantic Ocean. The western boundary is the crest of the Smoky Mountains, which, with the Blue Ridge Parkway, forms a part of the great Appalachian system. Hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, bird watching, hunting, camping and every imaginable form of outdoor activity can be found in North Carolina .
The North Carolina Mountains are renowned for production of Christmas trees. Over 15% of America ’s real Christmas trees are produced in these mountains – 50 million Fraser firs grow on over 25,000 acres. Most of the trees are cut, bagged, and shipped out of state. But, there are over 400 “Choose and Cut” Christmas tree farms providing the opportunity for individuals, couples, and families to really get “in the Christmas spirit”.
On the eastern shore for more than 100 years, North Carolina lighthouses have been a beacon for mariners and weary travelers seeking a respite from life’s tempests. Lighthouses – about one every 40 miles along 
North Carolina's windswept shore – stand sentinel today as they have since the early 1800s. The more popular sites are the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Ocracoke Lighthouse, Cape Lookout, Oak Island, Price’s Creek Lighthouse, and Bald Head Lighthouse. Many folks spend multiple weekends each year visiting each lighthouse in turn.
North Carolina has fast become a haven for retirement opportunities. Low property taxes, a moderate climate and central location are attractive to the WWII and baby boomer generation. As a result, real estate opportunities exist for agents, brokers, buyers, sellers and developers.
For more information on North Carolina and links to many sites around the state visit http://www.wilkes-nc-real-estate.com and http://www.ncrealestateblog.com.
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