North Carolina Quick Facts
Learn more about the wonderful people and places in North Carolina
The oldest town in the state is Bath, incorporated in 1705.
In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk, NC. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates their achievement.
Grandfather Mountain, highest peak in the Blue Ridge, is the only private park in the world designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve.
The Outer Banks of NC hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Whitewater Falls in Transylvania County is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States.
During prohibition, North Carolina earned the title of “Moonshine Capital of the World.” NASCAR racing has its origin in bootlegging of illicit products during the prohibition years. Bootleggers used small vehicles to illegally distribute various products. Bootleggers would modify their cars to enhance their speed. After Prohibition was repealed, people from North Carolina continued to ‘moonshine’ for fun and other reasons.
North Carolina has given the world many prominent Jazz artists, including Bill Taylor, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Tal Farlow, Tab Smith, Percy Heath, and Thelonious Monk. If you love jazz music, we recommend buying tickets to the North Carolina Jazz Festival.
Mount Mitchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It towers 6,684 feet above sea level.
White Lake near Elizabethtown is very unique in that it has a white sandy bottom and is blessed with crystal clear waters. It has also been labeled as the “Nation’s Safest Beach.” It is truly a child’s paradise in that there are no currents, no tides, no hazardous depressions or real dangers of any kind to swimmers.
The Biltmore Estate in Ashville is America’s largest home, and includes a 255-room chateau, an award-winning winery and extensive gardens.
North Carolina was one of the first states in the U.S. to establish a state symphony. The North Carolina Symphony, founded in 1943, currently performs nearly 185 full-orchestra concerts each year.
The first commercial winery — Medoc Vineyard — was established in 1835. Today, the state has over 400 vineyards and 200 commercial wineries. Nestled in the foothill of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Yadkin Valley is a famous wine destination that attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Grimshawes Post Office in Cashiers was the tiniest Post Office in the United States. At eight by six feet, the structure resembles a tiny shack, but from 1878 until 1953, it was the place to pick up letters and goods from the outside for residents of this remote area.
The infamous pirate Blackbeard plundered many ships and haunted the state of North Carolina for years. He was killed by the British Naval forces off the cost in the Outer Banks in the year 1718.
