North Carolina is the 10th largest and was the 12th state to enter the union. North and South Carolina were one colony until 1729; the state seceeded on 20 May 1861. It is known as the Tarheel state because tar was an early source of commerce. North Carolina is one of the nation's fastest growing states: it grew 51% from 1980 to 2006 due, in part, to its Research Triangle Park.
Introduction
The 2006 population was 8.8 million. North Carolina is not as white as the nation on average: it is 74.0% white (80.1% nationally) and 21.7% black (12.8% nationally). It is known for its Research Triangle: Winston-Salem (190,000), Chapel Hill (49,000), Raleigh (317,000), Durham (198,000). It has a greater percentage of poor people than the national average (13.8% v 12.7%). In 2000, the rural population was 2.56 million (32%).
Registered Voters (2006): Republican, 35%; Democratic, 45%; Independent, 20%.
Registered Voters (2006): Republican, 35%; Democratic, 45%; Independent, 20%.
Presidential Politics
Democrats tend to win state elections in North Carolina, and Republicans, the federal ones. This is the home of former Sen. Jesse Helms. Like Pennsylvania, North Carolina's Democratic primary has not been crucial since 1976.North Carolina has 15 electoral votes.
- 2004: Bush (56%), Kerry (44%)
- 2000: Bush (56%), Gore (43%)
- 1996: Clinton (44%), Dole (49%), Perot (7%)
Federal Representation
- Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R)
- Sen. Richard Burr (R)
State Government
- Gov. Michael F. Easley (D). Elected: November 2000, 2004. Term expires: January 2009.
- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (D)
Economy
North Carolina is the nation's second leading hog producer. Its furniture and fabric manufacturing sectors are under pressure from Asian imports. In 2004, the federal government bought out tobacco allotments, and farmers are turning to perishables like blueberries, but tobacco remains the state's leading cash crop. The other top four: live animals and meat, poultry and products, and cotton and linters.