THE ABC’S OF NORTH CAROLINA

By: Takeiya M. Hudson

Albemarle Sound

The Albemarle sound located on the coast of North Carolina, is the largest freshwater sound in the world.

Blue Ridge Road

Blue Ridge Road, located in Raleigh, is the site of the North Carolina Museum of Arts. Established in April of 1956, this museum was the first state funded art museum in the country.

Cardinal

The cardinal became the official State Bird of North Carolina in 1943. Sometimes called “the Winter Redbird” because it is most noticeable during the winter when it is the only "redbird" present.

Dogwood

The dogwood became the official state flower in 1941. Three types of dogwoods exist in North Carolina, the alternate-leaf dogwood, the gray dogwood, and the flowering dogwood.

Experimental Railroad

The mile-and-a-quarter road built by the Experimental Railroad Company of Raleigh in 1832-1833. As the first in the state, it allowed horse-drawn cars to transport stone needed for rebuilding the state capitol.

Flag

In 1885 a new model for the North Carolina state flag was adopted and this version has flown unchanged over the state since that year. April 12, 1776 represents the official date North Carolina was freed from England.

Granite

Granite became the official Rock for the State of North Carolina in 1979. This granite has been used for many important structures in United States such as the Wright Brothers Memorial, the gold storage at Fort Knox, and the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Halifax Resolves

Halifax Resolves represents North Carolina’s first official statement, by an American colony, calling for a united declaration of independence from British rule.

Isothermal Belt

A zone in western North Carolina, in which milder temperature provides longer growing seasons than in surrounding regions. This usually happens on mountains and foothills.

Jockey’s Ridge

Located in Nags Head, North Carolina, is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Its height can range from 80 to 100 feet!

King Charles I

“Carolina” comes from the word carolus, which is the Latin form of the name Charles. In 1629, King Charles I granted territory in America to be named Carolina.

Lost Colony

One of America’s oldest unsolved mysteries happened on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. Sometime between August 1587 and August 1590 the colony disappeared! To this day no one knows what happened them.

Mecklenburg Declaration

The Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775 led North Carolina to be the first state to declare independence from England.

November

North Carolina became a state in the month of November. In fact, the actual date was November 21, 1789.

One Hundred

North Carolina has one hundred counties.

Pine Tree

As an important feature of North Carolina and the Southeast, pine trees were mentioned in nearly all diaries and travel accounts of those who passed through the region during early periods and gave rise to the state’s nickname.

Queen City

“Queen City” is the nickname of the largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte.

Raleigh

Raleigh is North Carolina’s state capital.

Shad Boat

The shad boat became the State Historical Boat in 1987. Created on Roanoke Island, the name comes from that of the fish it was used to catch - the shad.

Tar Heel State

This nickname derives from North Carolina's long history as a producer of naval stores-tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine-- from the State's pine forests.

University of North Carolina

The University of North Carolina was the first public university in the United States.

Virginia Dare

Virginia Dare was the first English child born in America. She was born in Roanoke, North Carolina in 1587.

Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers were the first people to complete a successful flight in a propelled airplane over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in December 17, 1903.

X-ray

In 1896, Professor Henry Louis Smith, in Davidson, North Carolina created an x ray. This x-ray was the first to be made in the South and one of the first in the United States.

Ya’ll

This Piedmont language developed as people from the north, west, and east spread into the central portion of North Carolina and mixed their original languages.

Zebulon

Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace, a North Carolina State Historic Site established in 1955, serves as a memorial to North Carolina's Civil War governor and U.S. senator Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894). 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Takeiya M. Hudson is a native of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The purpose of this book is to provide historical information to students about the state of North Carolina to meet the NCSCOS Essential Standard for fourth grade social studies. Standard 4.H.2 states “(the student must) Understand how notable structures, symbols, and place names are significant with the state’s history.” This can be accomplished by explaining important buildings, statues, monuments, and place names as well as the historical significance of North Carolina’s state symbols.