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North Carolina: Quick Facts

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News •

Here are some of the House seats that Democrats didn't expect to win this year • Nov. 10, 2026, 12:06 AM ET (AP)
Police make arrest in a deadly shooting at Winston-Salem State during homecoming weekend • Nov. 8, 2026, 5:41 PM ET (AP)
Takeaways: Voters punish Trump, and the GOP pays across the country • Nov. 4, 2026, 1:18 AM ET (AP)
Trump's hand-picked nominees falter in South Carolina, Texas and North Carolina, imperiling Republican control of Senate • Nov. 3, 2026, 11:04 PM ET (AP)
Michael Malone gets win No. 1 at blueblood North Carolina. It wasn't an easy night • Nov. 2, 2026, 11:29 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Tar Heel State
Capital Raleigh
Population1 (2020) 10,439,388; (2025 est.) 11,197,968
Governor Josh Stein (Democrat)
Date Of Admission Nov. 21, 17892
U.S. Senators Ted Budd (Republican) • Thom Tillis (Republican)
State Nickname Tar Heel State • Old North State
State Motto "Esse Quam Videri (To Be Rather Than To Seem)"
State Bird northern cardinal
State Flower flowering dogwood
State Song “The Old North State”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 14 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT − 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 139,391
Total Area (Sq Mi) 53,819
1Excluding military abroad.2Original state; date shown is that of ratification of Constitution.

Photos and Videos

North Carolina: flag
State seal of North Carolina
North Carolina: state bird
North Carolina: state flower
Map of North Carolina
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
North Carolina
Map of the Upper South region of the United States, highlighting states including Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of surrounding states. The map shows major physical features such as the Appalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau, major rivers, and lakes, along with the locations of national and state capitals and numerous cities.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Bald Head Island
Examine the advanced agricultural practice of chicken farming from the hatchery to the processing plant
Learn about North Carolina's contribution to the Confederate causes during the American Civil War
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaks at a podium with the presidential seal, with American flags in the background at a campaign rally in Raleigh.
Roy Cooper
American politician and lawyer
Iredell, James
James Iredell
United States jurist
default image
William Blount
American politician
Vance, Zebulon B.
Zebulon B. Vance
American politician
Sumter, Thomas
Thomas Sumter
United States general and politician

Related Places

United States
United States
country, North America
Durham: Bennett Place State Historic Site
Durham
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State Capitol, Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh
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Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington
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Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte
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New Bern: Stanly House
New Bern
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Asheville
Asheville
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Greensboro
Greensboro
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Salisbury: Rowan Museum
Salisbury
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Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem
North Carolina, United States
Oconee, South Carolina
Oconee
county, South Carolina, United States
default image
Elizabeth City
North Carolina, United States
Hillsborough: Ayr Mount
Hillsborough
North Carolina, United States
Fayetteville: Market House
Fayetteville
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Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill
North Carolina, United States

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