North Carolina Facts

North Carolina State Flag

North Carolina Flag Facts North Carolina's official flag was adopted in 1885. The upper date, May 20th, 1775, commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (named for Mecklenburg County, where North Carolina citizens met to declare their freedom from Great Britain, although the original document was destroyed and some people have questioned its existence). The lower date, April 12th, 1776, commemorates the adoption of the Halifax Resolves (this was the first official action by a colony calling for independence from Britain).

North Carolina State Seal

State Seal Facts Shows all 3 regions of NC The 2 figures are named Liberty and Plenty. Dates on the seal is the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and Halifax Resolves

State Motto “Esse Quam Videri”

State Motto Facts Latin for “To be, rather than to seem.” Was adopted in 1893 Was the last of the 13 original colonies to adopt a motto

State Bird Cardinal

State Bird Facts The Cardinal was selected by popular choice as our State Bird on March 4, 1943 A year-round resident of North Carolina One of the most common birds in our gardens, meadows, and woodlands

Flower Dogwood

State Flower Facts One of the most prevalent trees in North Carolina Can be found in all parts of the State Blossoms can be red, white, or pink

Tree Pine

State Tree Facts Pine is the most common of the trees found in North Carolina No specific type of pine tree was specified Pine trees were vital to the early economy of NC

Mammal Gray Squirrel

State Mammal-Gray Squirrel Common inhabitant of most areas of North Carolina

Insect Honey Bee

State insect-Honey Bee annual production of more than $1 million worth of honey in the state greatest value of Honey Bees is their role in the growing cycle as a major contributor to the pollination of North Carolina crops account for approximately $154 million in annual crop productivity in North Carolina.

Seashell Scotch Bonnet

State shell-Scotch bonnet abundant in North Carolina coastal waters at depths between 50 to 150 feet named because of its resemblance to the caps worn by Scottish peasants, and because the coloration resembles a Scottish plaid or tartan

Precious Stone Emerald

Precious Stone Emerald emerald crystal weighing 1869 carats,largest ever found in North America, was unearthed in late 2003 at a mine in Hiddenite, near Statesville 71-carat stone found on the same property yielded two finished stones--the 7.85 carat Carolina Prince that sold for $500,000, and the Carolina Queen (18.88 carats)

Reptile Eastern Box Turtle

Reptile Eastern Box Turtle Some turtles may live to be over 100, though 40 - 60 years is the average Eastern Box Turtle is listed as "Near Threatened“

Rock Granite

State Rock-Granite largest open face granite quarry in the world is just outside Mount Airy In 2004, North Carolina mined over 51 million metric tons of granite. NC granite was used in the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, the gold depository at Fort Knox, the Arlington Memorial Bridge and numerous courthouses throughout the land

State Nickname The Old North State or Tarheel State

State Dog

State Dog Plott Hound is the state dog Type of hunting dog that originated in NC

State Fish

State Fish Channel Bass is the state fish Also known as the Red Drum Can be as large as 75 pounds

State Vegetable

State Vegetable Sweet potato is the state vegetable NC leads the nation in growing sweet potatoes

Famous Tarheels Andrew Jackson

Famous Tarheels Andy Griffith

Famous Tarheel athletes Famous Tarheels Famous Tarheel athletes

NC’s Governor-Pat McCrory

NC’s Senators-Richard Burr and Thom Tillis

Lincoln County’s US Representative-Patrick McHenry