Last updated: August 15, 2023

As we made our way through the winding backroads of Tennessee to visit Georgia’s highpoint, we unexpectedly came across the welcome sign for Georgia and North Carolina.

Let’s Learn About North Carolina

As I visit each state, I truly enjoy learning about the state and their culture.

• Population – 10,439,388
• Largest city – Charlotte
• Capitol – Raleigh
• 28th largest state
• Nickname – Tarheel State, Old North State
• Motto – To be, rather than to seem
• 12th state to be admitted to the Union (11/21/1789)
• Median household income – $52,752
• Beverage – Milk
• Colors – Red and blue
• Dance – Shag
• Food – Scuppernong grape and sweet potato
• Gemstone – Emerald
• Song – The Old North State
• Bird – Cardinal
• Butterfly – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• Flower – Flowering Dogwood
• Insect – Western honeybee
• Reptile – Eastern box turtle
• Marsupial- Virginia opossum
• Mammal – Eastern gray squirrel
• Three precedents are from North Carolina:
  • Andrew Jackson (7th; 1829 – 1837
  • James K. Polk (11th; 1845 to 1849)
  • Andrew Johnson (16th; 1865-1869). Interestingly, this is up for debate as South Carolina also claims him.

It was dusk when we stopped, so the photos are a bit dark, but we got them!

Here’s to snapping more photos with state welcome signs and hopefully posting my 50th photo one day!