What is North Carolina Known For?

The residents of North Carolina are so passionate about their “Tar Heel State” that the “outsiders” are often looking forward to visiting the state. A recent study conducted by the United Van Lines, a moving company, suggest that Americans are moving to the state of North Carolina in higher numbers than any other state in the US. Why are people moving there? Could it be because of the long and breezy coastal beaches or the beautiful rolling mountains? North Carolinas enjoy these and so much more that makes it one of the best places to visit or live. Here are some of the things that North Carolina is famous for.

5. Beaches

North Carolina is a tourists’ preferred destination not only for people living in the country but also visitors. Apart from the beautiful rolling mountains, the beaches of North Carolina are some of the most frequented places in the state. The state has a 300-mile coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline runs from the Outer Bank to the border with South Carolina. Nearly all of the coastline is accessible beachfront. Famous beaches in North Carolina include Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which is a portion of the Outer Bank and is preserved by the US Park Service. The beach is about 70 miles long and has three visitors’ centers. At Nags Head beach, visitors can experience the natural beauty of the Outer Bank and also take part in a sand castle building contest. Other notable beaches include Topsail Beach, Carova Beach, Oak Island, and Holden Beach among others.

4. Higher Education

North Carolina is home to some of the most prestigous institutions of higher education in the country. The state has about 205 colleges and universities. There are 75 public colleges and 49 private colleges. According to SmartAssert, a personal finance technology company based in New York, North Carolina is among the top ten states with the highest in-state attendance rate in the US. Approximately 60,000 high school students in the state enrolled in one of its public universities in 2017. The most popular university in North Carolina is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university is among the 30 best universities in the US. It offers both undergraduate and graduate courses in its schools and colleges. There are other six UNC campuses in the state. The largest college in North Carolina is the North Carolina State University which enrolls approximately 35,000 students. Other institutions include Wake Forest University and Duke University ranked 27th and 8th respectively in 2016 by US News and World Report.

3. First in Flight

Ohio and North Caroline have disagreed on who took to the sky first. However, the first controlled and sustained aircraft flight took place on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. On this day, the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilber) achieved what so many people had failed to do. As Kitty Hawk was a remote area, which was perfect for the Wright brothers who needed a private place to conduct their experiment. They also selected the place because they needed the prevailing wind to assist in the flight. Today, a memorial park has been established at the place in honor of the two brothers. Ohio claims to be the birthplace of Aviation because the Wright brothers were from Dayton, Ohio and operated a shop there. However, in North Carolina license plates have been issued with the inscription “First in Flight.”

2. The Nation's Largest Private Residence

Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest private residence in the US. The estate sits on 10.86 square miles of land. Biltmore house, which is the main residence, was built between 1889 and 1895. The house measures 178,926 square feet in floor space. The house was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II and is currently owned by his descendants. The house is currently a tourist attraction. The house has 250 rooms, 3 kitchens, 35 bedrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement of the building a large swimming pool which is fitted with underground electrical lighting. The largest room in the house is the banquet hall which is 72 feet long and 42 feet wide. The dining table can extend to 40 feet and the room can comfortably host over 60 guests. To keep the guests warm, the banquet room has three fireplaces. Biltmore receives approximately one million visitors every year with tickets selling for $65 to $85 per person.

1. Tar Heel State

North Carolina is sometimes famously referred to as the "Tar Heel State". Although the origin of the name is unknown, several legends have been developed to explain its origin. One such legend claim that during the Civil War the soldiers from the state “stuck to their ranks” as if their heels had tar. The name gained its popularity during the Civil War