1. Regions of NC

2. Mountain Region Location: Between Piedmont and Tennessee
Characteristics: Mountains, Smoky Mountains (Western by Tennessee), Blue Ridge (Eastern), Mount Mitchell= highest summit in Eastern NC, Black Mountains= most important
Soil Type: Rocky, natural resources= minerals, stones
Economy: Tourism, mining, apples, Christmas trees
Major Cities: Asheville, Boone

3. Mountain Region Cont.
Historical Sites: Biltmore Estate( largest privately owned home in NC), Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee Reservations
Facts: Takes up about 10% of the state, home to Cherokee Indians, least populated

4. Mountain Region

5. Piedmont Region Location: Between Mountain region and Coastal Plain
Characteristics: “Piedmont”= foothill of the mountains, rolling hills, swift streams, hardwood forests, lumber and livestock=natural resources
Economy: manufacturing (textiles), furniture, tobacco (RJR), banking
Cities: Charlotte/Concord, Winston Salem, Raleigh, Greensboro

6. Piedmont Region Cont. Soil Type: Rich, red clay (bricks)
Historical Sites: State museums (Raleigh), Old Salem, NC Zoo
Facts: 45% of state, most urban and populated

7. Piedmont Region

8. Coastal Plain Location: Between Piedmont and Atlantic Ocean
Characteristics: Salt marshes, swamps, Outer Banks, sound, BEACH, all natural lakes
Economy: Tobacco, textiles, paper, agriculture, near the coast: tourism, fishing
Cities: Greenville, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Wilmington, New Bern
Soil Type: Sandy
Facts: About the size of Piedmont, NC military bases, first area in U.S. to be explored and colonized (Roanoke-The Lost Colony)

9. Coastal Plain

10. Coastal Plain Tidewater Area

11. Effects of Geography
Piedmont’s rivers (Catawba, Yadkin, Pee-Dee) flow southeast which discouraged settlers from moving west into the interior
Due to Piedmont’s clay and drier climate farms were smaller, but streams and rivers helped build major industries
Cities develop where industries are
Heavily forested mountains were last to be settled by Europeans = least populated
Early growth of coastal cities lack of natural harbors, winds shifted barrier islands