History of North Carolina in Timeline

North Carolina is a Southeastern U.S. state, the 28th-largest and ninth-most populous. Bordered by Virginia, the Atlantic Ocean, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, it forms the Carolinas region with South Carolina. As of 2020, its population was 10,439,388. Raleigh is the capital, while Charlotte is the most populous and rapidly growing city, serving as a major banking center after New York City. The Charlotte metropolitan area had an estimated population of 2,883,370 in 2024. The Research Triangle is the second-most populous area, home to Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the U.S. The area had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.

December 17, 1903: Wright Brothers' First Flight

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully piloted the world's first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

1914: Camels Selling

By 1914, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was selling 425 million packs of Camels cigarettes a year.

1926: Mount Olive Pickle Company Founded

In 1926, the Mount Olive Pickle Company was founded in Mount Olive, North Carolina.

1954: Hurricane Hazel

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel hit North Carolina as a Category 4 storm, becoming the strongest storm ever to make landfall in the state.

1956: Meeting leading to the creation of Research Triangle Park

In 1956, Governor Luther H. Hodges held a meeting which helped lead to the creation of Research Triangle Park, transforming North Carolina's economy.

1959: Establishment of Research Triangle Park

In 1959, Research Triangle Park was established, becoming the largest research park in the United States.

1960: Greensboro Sit-ins

In 1960, the Greensboro sit-ins played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement to bring full equality to American blacks.

January 24, 1961: B-52G Crash Near Goldsboro

On January 24, 1961, a B-52G broke up in midair and crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina, dropping two nuclear bombs without detonation.

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed to enforce the constitutional rights of Black citizens in North Carolina, who had been disenfranchised since 1899.

1965: Voting Rights Act

In November 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the North Carolina Senate district map arguing it violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

1968: James Taylor Releases "Carolina in My Mind"

In 1968, James Taylor released the song "Carolina in My Mind," which has been called an unofficial anthem for the state of North Carolina.

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1973: Golden Corral Founded

In 1973, the Golden Corral restaurant chain was founded in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

1974: NCAA Final Four in Greensboro

In 1974, Greensboro hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.

1976: Jimmy Carter Victory

In 1976, Southern Democrat Jimmy Carter had a comfortable victory in North Carolina.

1976: Last Democratic win before Obama

In 1976, prior to Barack Obama's victory in 2008, was the last time a Democrat had won the state.

1980: Life Expectancy Increase

Between 1980 and 2014, male life expectancy in North Carolina increased by an average of 6.9 years, and female life expectancy increased by 3.2 years.

1986: Archaeological findings at Joara

Since 1986, archaeological findings at Joara have confirmed the 16th-century settlement initially documented by Pardo's scribe Bandera.

1988: Charlotte Hornets Franchise

In 1988, the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) became North Carolina's first professional sports franchise.

1989: Cook Out Founded

In 1989, the Cook Out fast-food chain, known for burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes, was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina.

1990: Growth of Hispanic Population in North Carolina

Between 1990 and 2000, North Carolina's Hispanic population more than doubled.

1992: Bill Clinton Came Within a Point of Winning

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton came within a point of winning North Carolina.

1992: Election of African American U.S. Representative

In 1992, North Carolina elected another African American as a U.S. Representative for the first time since disenfranchisement.

1994: NCAA Final Four in Charlotte

In 1994, Charlotte hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.

1995: Carolina Panthers Inaugural Season

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) had their first season, based in Charlotte.

1996: Bill Clinton Narrowly Lost

In 1996, Democrat Bill Clinton only narrowly lost North Carolina.

1996: Discovery of Queen Anne's Revenge remains

In 1996, Intersal, Inc. discovered the remains of a vessel likely to be the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's flagship, which ran aground in 1718. The shipwreck was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

1996: North Carolina SAT Scores

In 1996, North Carolina was 48th nationally in SAT scores.

1997: Carolina Hurricanes Move to Raleigh

In 1997, the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL) moved to Raleigh.

2000: Growth of Hispanic Population in North Carolina

Between 1990 and 2000, North Carolina's Hispanic population more than doubled.

2000: George W. Bush Victory

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush easily won North Carolina by more than 13 points.

2000: District Court ruling on 12th district

In 2000, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled that the 12th congressional district was an illegal racial gerrymander.

2000: Economic Growth Division

Since 2000, a division in economic growth has occurred between North Carolina's urban and rural areas, with urban areas prospering and rural areas declining.

2001: Supreme Court reverses district court

In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Eastern District of North Carolina's ruling and found that the 12th district was a partisan gerrymander, a political question the courts should not rule upon.

2001: STEM Industries Growth

Since 2001, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) industries in the area surrounding North Carolina's capital have grown 17.9 percent.

2002: USDA Survey on Agriculture

In the 2002 USDA survey, North Carolina ranked second in the production of Christmas trees.

2004: SAT Testing Rate

In 2004, 76% of North Carolina high school students took the SAT.

2006: Charlotte Observer Acquired

In 2006, The Charlotte Observer was acquired by The News and Observer company.

2006: Hurricanes win Stanley Cup

In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes captured the Stanley Cup, marking the only major professional sports team from North Carolina to have won a league championship.

2007: USDA Survey on Agriculture

In the 2007 USDA survey, North Carolina ranked second in the production of Christmas trees.

May 3, 2008: USS North Carolina Commissioned

On May 3, 2008, another USS North Carolina, a nuclear attack submarine, was commissioned in Wilmington.

2008: Barack Obama Victory

In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama narrowly won North Carolina.

2009: School Board Chairman Becomes CEO

In 2009, the chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education also became the "chief executive officer" for the state's school system.

January 15, 2010: L'institut International aux Arts Gastronomiques

On January 15, 2010, North Carolina became an international hub for truffles, as noted by "L'institut International aux Arts Gastronomiques: Conquerront Les Yanks les Truffes".

2010: Racial composition of North Carolina at 2010 census

At the 2010 census, the racial composition of North Carolina was 68.5% White, 21.5% Black or African American, 8.4% Latin and Hispanic American of any race, 4.3% some other race, 2.2% Multiracial American, 2.2% Asian American, and 1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.

2010: North Carolina median household income

Based on American Community Survey 2010–2014 data, North Carolina's median household income was $46,693.

2010: Languages Spoken in North Carolina in 2010

In 2010, 89.66% of North Carolina residents age five and older spoke English at home as a primary language, while 6.93% spoke Spanish.

2010: North Carolina Ranked Third-Best State for Business

In 2010, North Carolina was chosen as the third-best state for business by Forbes Magazine and the second-best state by chief executive officer Magazine.

2010: North Carolina's Total Gross State Product

In 2010, North Carolina's total gross state product was $424.9 billion.

2010: Largest Christian Denomination in 2010

In 2010, the Southern Baptist Convention was the single largest Christian denomination in North Carolina.

2010: Republican Majority Legislature

The 2010 midterms saw Tarheel voters elect a bicameral Republican majority legislature for the first time in more than a century.

April 2011: Tornado Outbreak in North Carolina

In April 2011, the worst tornado outbreak in North Carolina's history occurred, resulting in at least 24 deaths.

2011: Civilian Labor Force

In 2011, the civilian labor force was at around 4.5 million with employment near 4.1 million.

November 2012: State Debt

In November 2012, North Carolina's state debt was reported as either $2.4 billion or $57.8 billion, depending on the source.

2012: Birthplace of North Carolina Residents in 2012

Based on numbers in 2012, 58.5% of the people residing in North Carolina were born there.

2012: Republican gains

In 2012, North Carolina elected a Republican governor and lieutenant governor for the first time in over two decades. Republicans also gained veto-proof majorities in the State House and Senate, and flipped several U.S. House seats.

2012: Competitive swing state; Romney win

In 2012, North Carolina was considered a competitive swing state, even hosting the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. However, Mitt Romney ultimately won the state by two points.

2012: State Law Changed Requiring ACT Test

In 2012, a change in state law required 11th grade students to take the ACT.

2012: USDA Survey on Agriculture

In the 2012 USDA survey, North Carolina ranked second in the production of Christmas trees.

2013: Forbes Article on Employment

According to a Forbes article in 2013, North Carolina gained many different industry sectors, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

2013: Durham-Chapel Hill Named "Tastiest City"

In 2013, Southern Living named Durham–Chapel Hill the South's "Tastiest City".

2013: Goldsboro Bomb Safety Mechanisms Failure Revealed

In 2013, it was revealed that three safety mechanisms on one of the bombs dropped in Goldsboro on January 24, 1961, had failed, leaving just one switch preventing detonation.

2013: Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park Visitors

In 2013, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park had more than 25 million visitors, making them the two most visited national park and unit in the United States.

2014: Pew Research Center Study

According to the Pew Research Center's 2014 study, prominent Protestant groups in North Carolina include non/interdenominational Protestants and Pentecostalism.

2014: North Carolina median household income

Based on American Community Survey 2010–2014 data, North Carolina's median household income was $46,693.

2014: Life Expectancy

In 2014, males in North Carolina had an average life expectancy of 75.4 years, and females had an average life expectancy of 80.2 years.

2014: Republican congressional gains

In the 2014 midterm elections, Republican David Rouzer won North Carolina's 7th congressional district seat, increasing the Republican advantage in the congressional delegation to 10–3.

2015: Federal court orders redistricting

In 2015, federal courts again ordered redistricting in North Carolina due to challenges to the state congressional district map.

2016: Trump victory

In 2016, Donald Trump carried the state of North Carolina.

2016: Cooper elected governor

In 2016, despite Donald Trump winning the state, North Carolina voters elected Democrat Roy Cooper as governor.

2017: Life Expectancy for Swain County

Using 2017-2019 data, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calculated that life expectancy for Swain County was 71.4 years.

2018: Top countries of origin for immigrants in North Carolina

As of 2018, the top countries of origin for North Carolina's immigrants were Mexico, India, Honduras, China, and El Salvador.

2018: Charlotte Visitors

In 2018, Charlotte became the most-visited city in North Carolina, attracting 28.3 million visitors.

2018: North Carolina's 2018 Total Gross State Product

North Carolina's 2018 total gross state product was $496 billion.

March 2019: Case reaches Supreme Court

In March 2019, the North Carolina redistricting case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which also heard a related partisan gerrymandering case from Maryland.

September 2019: Hurricane Dorian Hits North Carolina

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian hit North Carolina.

2019: SAT Testing Rate Falls

By 2019, the SAT testing rate in North Carolina fell to 46%.

2019: Languages spoken in North Carolina in 2019

In 2019, 87.7% of the population aged 5 and older spoke English and 12.3% spoke another language in North Carolina.

2019: Life Expectancy for Orange County

Using 2017-2019 data, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calculated that life expectancy for Orange County was 82.3 years.

January 1, 2020: Number of Newspapers in Publication

As of January 1, 2020, there were approximately 240 newspapers in publication in the state of North Carolina.

2020: Wake County Becomes Most Populous

After the 2020 census, Wake County became the most populous county in North Carolina with a population of 1,129,410.

2020: Congressional seat gain

As a result of the 2020 census, North Carolina gained another seat in the 118th United States Congress, for a total of 14.

2020: Racial composition of North Carolina at 2020 census

At the 2020 census, the racial composition of North Carolina was 62.2% non-Hispanic whites, 20.5% Blacks or African Americans, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Natives, 3.3% Asians, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, 5.9% people from other race, and 6.8% multiracial Americans.

2020: Trump victory

In 2020, Donald Trump carried the state of North Carolina.

2020: Raleigh Ranked Third Best City for Technology

In 2020, Raleigh was ranked the third best city for technology due to North Carolina's growing technology sector.

2020: Cooper re-elected governor

In 2020, Roy Cooper won re-election as governor, despite Donald Trump narrowly winning the state again against Joe Biden.

2020: Largest Religious Group in 2020

In 2020, the Southern Baptists remained the largest with 1,324,747 adherents, though Methodists and others were collectively overtaken by non/interdenominational Protestants numbering 1,053,564 in North Carolina.

2020: Population at 2020 census

In 2020, the state of North Carolina had a population of 10,439,388 according to the census.

2020: Voting ease ranking

In a 2020 study, North Carolina was ranked as the 23rd easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Population of North Carolina at the 2020 census

The United States Census Bureau determined the population of North Carolina was 10,439,388 at the 2020 census.

2021: United States Life Expectancy

In 2021, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimated that life expectancy for the United States as a whole was 79.2 years.

February 4, 2022: NC Supreme Court strikes down maps

On February 4, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the congressional and state legislative district maps drawn by the GOP-controlled General Assembly, citing partisan gerrymandering.

July 2022: Charlotte Douglas International Airport Ranking

In July 2022, Charlotte Douglas International Airport ranked as the 11th busiest airport in the United States.

2022: Homeless Population in North Carolina

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 9,382 homeless people in North Carolina.

2022: Judicial elections

Following the 2022 judicial elections, Republicans gained a majority in the North Carolina Supreme Court.

April 28, 2023: NC Supreme Court overturns gerrymandering ruling

On April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned its previous ruling on gerrymandering, clearing the way for gerrymandering in the next redistricting cycle.

October 25, 2023: New maps approved

On October 25, 2023, new maps were approved by the General Assembly, heavily favoring the GOP, with allegations of racial bias.

November 2023: Lawsuit filed against Senate district map

In November 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the North Carolina Senate district map in the Eastern District of North Carolina, arguing it violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

December 2023: Two lawsuits filed

In December 2023, two lawsuits were filed in the Middle District of North Carolina challenging various congressional districts and alleging racial gerrymandering in all three maps.

2023: Major combined statistical areas

As of 2023, North Carolina has four major combined statistical areas (CSA) with a population over 1 million.

2023: Research Triangle Population in 2023

In 2023, the Research Triangle had an estimated population of 2,368,947, making it the second-most populous combined metropolitan area in the state.

2023: Population Estimates Release for Municipalities

In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2023 population estimates for municipalities in North Carolina.

January 26, 2024: Injunction denied

On January 26, 2024, a preliminary injunction to block the current North Carolina Senate district map was denied, citing the Purcell principle.

March 2024: Lawsuits consolidated

In March 2024, the two lawsuits filed in December 2023 were consolidated together.

March 28, 2024: Injunction denial upheld

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the lower court's decision to deny a preliminary injunction against the North Carolina Senate district map.

2024: Congressional representation

After the 2024 elections, North Carolina was represented by 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats in Congress.

2024: General Assembly to redraw maps

For the 2024 elections, the General Assembly was slated to redraw all three maps in the state.

2024: Trump victory

In 2024, Donald Trump carried the state of North Carolina.

2024: MrBeast Becomes Most Subscribed on YouTube

In 2024, Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, from Greenville, became the most subscribed individual on YouTube.

2024: High School Graduation Rate

In 2024, North Carolina's high school graduation rate was 87%, though just 36% of students met the state's benchmarks for "college and career readiness."

2024: Charlotte Metropolitan Area Population in 2024

In 2024, the Charlotte metropolitan area had an estimated population of 2,883,370, making it the most populous metropolitan area in North Carolina.

2024: US Census Bureau population estimates release

In 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2023 population estimates for municipalities in North Carolina, indicating Charlotte has the largest population.