North Carolina has a lot of history behind it. The Outer Banks host the most beautiful beaches in the country. It is the home of NASCAR, and the roots of many drivers can be traced to the state. The Richard Petty Museum can be found in Randleman. If fast cars and prohibition do not grab your attention, there is a lot more to the state. Mount Mictchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It towers the east coast at nearly 7000 feet.
Sporting has deeper roots in the state. The first mini golf course was built in Fayetteville. And Babe Ruth hit his first home run in the same city in March of 1914. It is the birthplace of Pepsi and President Andrew Jackson. No matter how much Pepsi is produced; it will not rival the state beverage…milk. The Wright Brothers, although born in Ohio, made their first flight at Kill Devil Hill, near Kitty Hawk.
There is so much to make residents of the state proud. Here are a few of the lesser published facts about North Carolina.
- North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation. Students at a Wilson County school petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly for the establishment of the sweet potato as the official state vegetable.
- North Carolina leads the nation in furniture, tobacco, brick, and textile production.
- North Carolina has 1,500 lakes of 10 acres or more in size and 37,000 miles of fresh water streams.
- The Swiss and German settlement of New Bern was named in honor of the founder’s home, Bern, Switzerland. When Bern, Switzerland was founded, it was named by a group of hunters. They named the city for the first animal they came upon on their hunting expedition. It was a bear. “Bern” is the old Germanic word for Bear, and the bear became the symbol of the city. It has been adopted by New Bern, as well.
- The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the oldest State University in the United States.
Moving here would be a great idea for your family. Rich in culture and history, many love to visit the state.
