North Carolina is the northern portion of the original 1629 land grant made by England's King Charles I, which was named in his honor (Carolus is Latin for Charles). The first European settlement in North Carolina is the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke Island that vanished sometime after 1587. North Carolina joined the Union in 1789 and is the 12th of the original 13 states. One of its major industries is tourism, as many Americans travel to the state to enjoy its beautiful beaches. North Carolina has a long, attractive coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, characterized by many islands, reefs and sand bars. The state stretches westward from the coast across both swampland and fertile tobacco fields. Historic sites, battlefields, old mansions and beautiful gardens attract sightseers and students of American history.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Raleigh
Governor: Mike Easley, D (to Jan. 2005)
Senators:John Edwards, D (to Jan. 2005); Elizabeth Dole, R (to Jan. 2009)
House of Representatives: 13 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 258,592; National rank: 12; Percent change since 1990: 83%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 10 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $27,308; National Rank: 33 (90% of the national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 16,799; National Rank: 12
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans.
Industry: Tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, tourism.

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Updated: June 2003