History of North Carolina in Timeline

North Carolina, located in the Southeastern United States, is the 28th-largest and 9th-most populous state. It is bordered by Virginia, the Atlantic Ocean, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Raleigh is the capital, while Charlotte is the most populous and fastest-growing city, serving as a major banking center after New York City. The Charlotte metropolitan area is the state's largest. The Research Triangle, another significant metropolitan area, hosts Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the U.S.

December 17, 1903: First sustained flight

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

1914: Camels 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, Mount Olive Pickle Company was founded in Mount Olive, North Carolina.

1954: Hurricane Hazel

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in North Carolina and was the strongest storm to ever hit the state.

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 near Goldsboro

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

1964: Civil Rights Act

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

1965: Voting Rights Act

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

1968: "Carolina in My Mind" release

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

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1973: Golden Corral Founded

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

1974: NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Greensboro

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

1976: Carter's Victory

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

1980: Life expectancy Data

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.

1988: Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise

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, Cook Out, a fast-food chain, was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina.

1990: Hispanic population growth

The Hispanic population in North Carolina began growing rapidly with increased agriculture, manufacturing, or military work after 1990.

1992: Clinton came close to winning the state

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

1992: First African American U.S. Representative

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 Charlotte

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

1995: Carolina Panthers NFL franchise

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) became based in Charlotte.

1996: SAT scores ranking

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

1996: Clinton lost narrowly

In 1996, Bill Clinton only narrowly lost the state.

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.

1997: Carolina Hurricanes NHL franchise

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

2000: Bush victory

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush easily won the state by more than 13 points.

2000: U.S. District Court ruling on 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.

2000: Hispanic population growth

The Hispanic population more than doubled in size in North Carolina between 1990 and 2000.

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

In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Eastern District of North Carolina in the case Easley v. Cromartie, ruling that the 12th district boundaries were not racially based but was a partisan gerrymander. They stated this was a political question that the courts should not rule upon.

2001: Growth of STEM industries

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) industries in the area surrounding North Carolina's capital have grown 17.9 percent since 2001.

2002: USDA survey on agriculture

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

2004: SAT Usage

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

2006: The Charlotte Observer Acquisition

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

2006: Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup

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

2007: USDA survey on agriculture

In 2007, the USDA survey ranked North Carolina 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: Obama Victory in North Carolina

In 2008, Barack Obama won North Carolina, becoming the first Democrat to win the state since 1976.

2008: Obama's Victory

In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama narrowly won the state of North Carolina.

2009: Education 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, L'institut International aux Arts Gastronomiques recognized North Carolina as an international hub for truffles.

2010: Racial composition at 2010 census

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

2010: American Community Survey Data

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

2010: Languages 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.

2010: Forbes and CEO Magazine rankings

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: Total gross state product in 2010

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, with 4,241 churches and 1,513,000 members.

2010: Republican Majority in Legislature

In the 2010 midterms, Tarheel voters elected a bicameral Republican majority legislature for the first time in more than a century.

April 2011: Worst tornado outbreak

In April 2011, North Carolina experienced its worst tornado outbreak, with thirty confirmed tornadoes causing at least 24 deaths.

2011: Civilian labor force

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

November 2012: State debt in November 2012

In November 2012, North Carolina's state debt totaled $2.4 billion according to one source, and $57.8 billion according to another.

2012: Birthplace of North Carolina Residents in 2012

Based on numbers in 2012 of the people residing in North Carolina 58.5% were born there; 33.1% were born in another state; 1.0% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. island areas, or born abroad to American parent(s); and 7.4% were foreign-born.

2012: Republican gains in North Carolina

In 2012, North Carolina elected a Republican governor (Pat McCrory) and lieutenant governor (Dan Forest) for the first time in over two decades. The Republicans also gained veto-proof majorities in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. Several U.S. House of Representatives seats flipped control, resulting in the Republicans holding nine seats to the Democrats' four in 2012.

2012: Competitive Swing State

In 2012, North Carolina was considered a competitive swing state; however, Mitt Romney won the state.

2012: ACT Requirement

In 2012, state law in North Carolina changed, requiring 11th-grade students to take the ACT.

2012: USDA survey on agriculture

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

2013: Employment gains

According to a Forbes article written in 2013, employment in North Carolina gained many different industry sectors.

2013: Durham-Chapel Hill Named "Tastiest City"

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

2013: Safety Mechanisms on Bomb Failed

In 2013, it was revealed that in the 1961 Goldsboro incident, three safety mechanisms on one nuclear bomb had failed.

2013: Park Visitation

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

2014: Pew Research Center's Study

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

2014: American Community Survey Data

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

2014: Life Expectancy Data

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 wins the 7th congressional district seat

In the 2014 midterm elections, Republican David Rouzer won North Carolina's 7th congressional district seat. This increased the Republican congressional delegation party split to 10–3.

2015: Federal Courts ordered redistricting

In 2015, federal courts again ordered redistricting in North Carolina. This decision followed lawsuits challenging the state's congressional district map, initiated by voters, the state Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters, and Common Cause. The plaintiffs argued that the redistricting deliberately under-represented a substantial portion of voters.

2016: Roy Cooper elected as governor

In 2016, Democrat Roy Cooper was elected as governor of North Carolina, despite Donald Trump winning the state. This was partially attributed to an unpopular law (HB2) passed by the former governor.

2016: Trump Carries State

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

2017: Life Expectancy by County

Using 2017-2019 data, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calculated that life expectancy for North Carolina counties ranged from 71.4 years for Swain County to 82.3 years for Orange County.

2018: Top countries of origin for immigrants

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

2018: Charlotte Visitation

In 2018, Charlotte attracted 28.3 million visitors, making it the most-visited city in North Carolina.

2018: Total gross state product

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

March 2019: U.S. Supreme Court hearing on redistricting case

In March 2019, the North Carolina redistricting case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was heard alongside a related partisan gerrymandering case from Maryland.

September 2019: Hurricane Dorian

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian hit North Carolina.

2019: Languages spoken at home

In 2019, 87.7% of the population aged 5 and older in North Carolina spoke English and 12.3% spoke another language. The most common non-English language was Spanish.

2019: SAT Testing Rate

In 2019, the SAT testing rate in North Carolina fell to 46% due to changes in testing requirements.

2019: Life Expectancy by County

Using 2017-2019 data, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calculated that life expectancy for North Carolina counties ranged from 71.4 years for Swain County to 82.3 years for Orange County.

January 1, 2020: Newspaper Count

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

2020: Population at 2020 census

According to the 2020 United States Census Bureau, the population of North Carolina was 10,439,388.

2020: Wake County becomes most populous

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

2020: North Carolina gains a seat in Congress

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

2020: Trump Carries State

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

2020: Roy Cooper re-elected as Governor

In 2020, Roy Cooper won re-election as governor, even though Donald Trump narrowly won the state again against Joe Biden. Also, the congressional delegation party split narrowed to 8-5 in favor of the GOP.

2020: Largest Christian denomination in 2020

In 2020, the Southern Baptists remained the largest Christian denomination in North Carolina with 1,324,747 adherents.

2020: Voting Accessibility Ranking

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

2020: Raleigh ranked third best city for technology

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

2021: Life Expectancy Calculation

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: North Carolina Supreme Court strikes down congressional and legislative district 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 in a 4–3 ruling.

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: Judicial Elections

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

April 28, 2023: North Carolina Supreme Court overturns gerrymandering ruling

On April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court, with a newly-elected Republican majority, overturned a previous ruling against gerrymandering in a 5–2 decision. This cleared the way for gerrymandering in the next redistricting cycle.

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

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

November 2023: Lawsuit filed against North Carolina 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 the map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

December 2023: Two lawsuits filed challenging congressional districts

In December 2023, two lawsuits were filed in the Middle District of North Carolina. The first challenged the 1st, 6th, 12th, and 14th congressional districts in the map, and the second challenged multiple specific districts in all three maps, as racial gerrymanders.

2023: Combined statistical areas

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

2023: Charlotte metropolitan area population

In 2023, the Charlotte metropolitan area had an estimated population of 2,805,115.

2023: 2023 population estimates

In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Charlotte had the largest population, while Raleigh had the second-largest population in North Carolina.

January 26, 2024: Preliminary injunction denied to block Senate district map

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 the Middle District of North Carolina

In March 2024, the two lawsuits filed in December 2023 were consolidated together in the Middle District of North Carolina.

March 28, 2024: Appeal upheld by U.S. Court of Appeals

On March 28, 2024, the ruling denying a preliminary injunction was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which upheld the lower court's decision. The lawsuit will continue in the district court, but no ruling will be made until after the 2024 elections.