History of North Carolina in Timeline

North Carolina, located in the Southeastern and South Atlantic regions of the U.S., borders five other states and the Atlantic Ocean. As the 28th-largest and ninth-most populous state, it had a population of 10,439,388 in 2020. Raleigh is the capital, while Charlotte is the most populous and rapidly growing city, serving as a major banking center. The Charlotte metropolitan area is the 21st most populous in the U.S. The Research Triangle, another significant metropolitan area, hosts Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the country.

December 17, 1903: First flight at Kitty Hawk

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 in North Carolina's Outer Banks.

1914: RJR Sales

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

1926: Mount Olive Pickle Company Founded

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

1954: Hurricane Hazel in 1954

Hurricane Hazel, as a Category 4, became the strongest storm ever to make landfall in North Carolina in 1954.

1956: Meeting leading to creation of Research Triangle Park

In 1956, Governor Luther H. Hodges launched the transformation of his state by holding a meeting which helped lead to the creation of the Research Triangle Park.

1959: Establishment of Research Triangle Park

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

1960: Greensboro sit-ins

The Greensboro sit-ins in 1960 played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement.

January 24, 1961: B-52G Crash

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

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964

After the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, black citizens had no political voice in the state.

1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965

After the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, black citizens had no political voice in the state.

1968: "Carolina in My Mind"

James Taylor's 1968 song "Carolina in My Mind" has been called an unofficial anthem for the state.

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1973: Golden Corral Founded

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

1974: NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four

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

1976: First Democrat to win since 1976

Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win North Carolina since 1976.

1976: Jimmy Carter's victory

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

1986: Archaeological findings at Joara

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

1988: Charlotte Hornets franchise in 1988

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

1989: Cook Out Founded

In 1989, the Cook Out fast-food chain was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina.

1990: Hispanic population growth

Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population more than doubled in size.

1992: Bill Clinton came within a point of winning the state

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

1992: Election of African American U.S. Representative in 1992

It was not until 1992 that another African American was elected as a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.

1994: NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four

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

1995: Carolina Panthers franchise in 1995

The Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) became based in Charlotte in 1995, with their first season being that year.

1996: Bill Clinton narrowly lost the state

In 1996, Bill Clinton only narrowly lost the state of North Carolina.

1996: Discovery of Queen Anne's Revenge remains in 1996

In 1996, Intersal, Inc. discovered the remains of a vessel likely to be the Queen Anne's Revenge.

1996: SAT Scores

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

1997: Carolina Hurricanes moved to Raleigh in 1997

The Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL) moved to Raleigh in 1997.

2000: Hispanic population growth

Between 1990 and 2000, the Hispanic population more than doubled in size.

2000: George W. Bush easily won

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

2000: U.S. District Court ruled against the 12th congressional 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, there has been a clear division in the economic growth of North Carolina's urban and rural areas.

2001: U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Eastern District of North Carolina

In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Eastern District of North Carolina's ruling on the 12th district, stating it was a partisan gerrymander and a political question.

2002: USDA Survey

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

2004: SAT Participation

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

2006: Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup

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

2007: USDA Survey

In 2007 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 to victory in North Carolina

In 2008 demographic shifts, population growth, and increased liberalization propelled Barack Obama to victory in North Carolina.

2008: Barack Obama narrowly won the state

In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama narrowly won North Carolina in the presidential elections.

2009: School System 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: International hub for truffles

On January 15, 2010, North Carolina became an international hub for truffles.

2010: Racial composition at the 2010 census

At the 2010 census, the racial composition of North Carolina was 68.5% White and 21.5% Black or African American.

2010: Median Household Income

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

2010: Language Spoken at Home

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, and smaller percentages spoke French, German, and Chinese.

2010: North Carolina's total gross state product

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

2010: Christian Denominations

In 2010, the Southern Baptist Convention was the largest Christian denomination in North Carolina, followed by the Catholic Church and the United Methodist Church.

2010: Births and deaths in 2010

In 2010, there were 122,302 births and 78,604 deaths in North Carolina.

2010: Forbes Magazine Ranking

North Carolina was chosen as the third-best state by Forbes Magazine in 2010 for business.

2010: Tarheel voters elect a bicameral 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 April 2011

In April 2011, North Carolina experienced its worst tornado outbreak in history, with thirty confirmed tornadoes.

2011: Chief Executive Magazine Ranking

North Carolina was chosen as the second-best state by Chief Executive Magazine in 2011 for business.

November 2012: State Debt

In November 2012, North Carolina's state debt was reported as $2.4 billion by one source, and $57.8 billion by another.

2012: Birthplace statistics in 2012

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

2012: USDA Survey

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

2012: Republican governor and lieutenant governor elected

In 2012, North Carolina elected a Republican governor (Pat McCrory) and lieutenant governor (Dan Forest) for the first time in more than two decades, and Republicans gained veto-proof majorities in the State House and Senate.

2012: Competitive swing state

In 2012, North Carolina was considered a competitive swing state, and the Democratic National Convention was held in Charlotte.

2013: Employment in the "Old North State"

According to a Forbes article written in 2013, employment in the "Old North State" has gained many different industry sectors.

2013: Tastiest City

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

2013: Bomb Safety Mechanisms Failure

In 2013, it was revealed that three safety mechanisms on one bomb had failed on January 24, 1961, leaving just one low-voltage switch preventing detonation.

2014: Poverty Rate

Based on American Community Survey data from 2010-2014, North Carolina had the fourteenth highest poverty rate in the nation at 17.6%, with 13% of families that were below the poverty line.

2014: Life Expectancy in North Carolina

In 2014, the average life expectancy for males in North Carolina was 75.4 years, compared to the national average of 76.7 years. The average life expectancy for females in North Carolina was 80.2 years, compared to the national average of 81.5 years.

2014: Republican David Rouzer won the state's 7th congressional district seat

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 courts ordered redistricting

In 2015, federal courts ordered redistricting in North Carolina due to lawsuits challenging the state's congressional district map.

2016: Democrat Roy Cooper elected as governor

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

2016: Republican Donald Trump carried the state

Republican Donald Trump carried North Carolina in 2016.

2018: Top countries of origin for immigrants in 2018

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

2018: Charlotte Visitors

Charlotte attracted 28.3 million visitors in 2018.

2018: Gross State Product

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

March 2019: Case reached the U.S. Supreme Court

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

September 2019: Hurricane Dorian hit the area in September 2019

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian hit North Carolina.

2019: SAT Testing Rate

The SAT testing rate fell to 46% in 2019.

April 2020: Migration since April 2020

Between April 2020 and July 2024, North Carolina gained an estimated 573,000 residents through net migration, representing 95% of total population growth of that period.

2020: Wake County became the most populous county in 2020

After the 2020 census, Wake County became the most populous county in the state, overtaking Mecklenburg County.

2020: North Carolina gained another seat in the United States Congress

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

2020: Population at the 2020 census

At the 2020 census, North Carolina had a population of 10,439,388.

2020: Roy Cooper won re-election as governor

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

2020: Largest Denomination

In 2020, Southern Baptists remained the largest denomination with 1,324,747 adherents, although Methodists and other denominations were overtaken by non-denominational Protestants which numbered 1,053,564.

2020: Population by county in 2020

In 2020, Wake County reported 1,135,576 residents, and Mecklenburg County reported 1,118,967, making them the two most populous counties in North Carolina.

2020: Voting Easiest state

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

2020: Best city for technology

Raleigh ranked the third best city for technology in 2020 due to the state's growing technology sector.

2020: Republican Donald Trump carried the state

Republican Donald Trump carried North Carolina in 2020.

2021: Population increase from 2021 to 2024

Between 2021 and 2024, North Carolina's population increased from 10,551,162 to 11,046,024.

2021: Deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

Deaths in North Carolina increased to 118,040 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Age-structure shifts between 2021 and 2024

State population estimates indicate notable age-structure shifts between 2021 and 2024; for instance, the population of young children in North Carolina increased from 582,801 residents aged 0-4 in 2021 to 604,897 residents aged 0-4 in 2024.

2021: International Migration

While international migration represented less than 10% of net migration in 2020–2021, it accounted for 46% of net migration in 2023–2024.

February 4, 2022: North Carolina Supreme Court struck down congressional and state legislative district maps

On February 4, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the congressional and state legislative district maps due to partisan gerrymandering.

July 2022: Airport Ranking

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

2022: Homeless population in 2022

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

2022: Republicans gained a majority in the court following the 2022 judicial elections

In 2022, Republicans gained a majority in the court following the judicial elections.

2022: Annual births and deaths since 2022

Since 2022, annual births have averaged around 121,000, while deaths have remained near 109,000.

April 28, 2023: North Carolina Supreme Court Overturned Ruling

On April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned the same ruling in a 5–2 decision, which cleared the way for gerrymandering in the next redistricting cycle.

July 2023: Natural population increase

Between July 2023 and July 2024, the natural increase added approximately 12,000 residents, accounting for 8% of total population growth.

July 2023: Domestic migration

Between July 2023 and July 2024, the state gained 82,000 residents through net state-to-state migration.

October 25, 2023: New maps were approved by the General Assembly

On October 25, 2023, new maps were approved by the General Assembly and heavily favor the GOP, with allegations of racial bias made against the maps as well.

November 2023: Lawsuit filed against North Carolina Senate district map

In November 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the North Carolina Senate district map.

December 2023: Two lawsuits were filed in the Middle District of North Carolina

In December 2023, two lawsuits were filed in the Middle District of North Carolina challenging the congressional districts in the map and multiple specific districts in all three maps.

2023: Combined statistical areas in 2023

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

2023: Population estimate of the Research Triangle in 2023

In 2023, the Research Triangle was estimated to have a population of 2,368,947.

2023: 2023 population estimates

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

2023: Fourth-largest population gain nationally

North Carolina recorded the fourth-largest population gain nationally between 2023 and 2024, and it remains the ninth-most populous state in the country.

January 26, 2024: Preliminary 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: Both lawsuits were consolidated together

In March 2024, lawsuits challenging the congressional districts and maps were consolidated together.

March 28, 2024: U.S. Court of Appeals upheld lower court's decision

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the lower court's decision.

July 2024: Migration since April 2020

Between April 2020 and July 2024, North Carolina gained an estimated 573,000 residents through net migration, representing 95% of total population growth of that period.

July 2024: Natural population increase

Between July 2023 and July 2024, the natural increase added approximately 12,000 residents, accounting for 8% of total population growth.

2024: Representation after the 2024 elections

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

2024: MrBeast

As of 2024, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), from Greenville, is the most subscribed individual on YouTube.

2024: Population increase from 2021 to 2024

Between 2021 and 2024, North Carolina's population increased from 10,551,162 to 11,046,024.

2024: Catholic Church

In 2024, the Catholic Church was the second largest Christian denomination.

2024: Population estimate of Charlotte metropolitan area in 2024

In 2024, the Charlotte metropolitan area was estimated to have a population of 2,883,370.

2024: Census Bureau released 2023 population estimates for municipalities

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

2024: Republican Donald Trump carried the state

Republican Donald Trump carried North Carolina in 2024.

2024: Age-structure shifts between 2021 and 2024

2024: General Assembly would then redraw all three maps

The General Assembly would then redraw all three maps for the 2024 elections in the state.

May 2025: Unemployment Rate

As of May 2025, North Carolina's unemployment rate was 3.7%.

2025: Small Businesses

In 2025, 99.6% of North Carolina businesses were small businesses and employed 1.8 million people, or 44.2% of the state's work force.

2025: America's Number One State for Business

In 2025, CNBC ranked North Carolina as America's number one state for business based on factors such as workforce, business friendliness, and economy, among others.