The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh.
The Postal Code for North Carolina: NC
The typical abbreviation for North Carolina: N.C.
Time Zone:
The state of North Carolina is in the Eastern Time (EST/EDT) zone and observes daylight saving time.
| Note: |
Starting in 2007, Daylight Savings Time will be begin 3 weeks earlier and end 1 week later.
Click here for details. |
When the people of North Carolina refer to themselves: North Carolinian
Population: According to the 2006 Census estimates, North Carolina has a population of 8,856,505 people.
This represents 2.96% of the national total, making it the 10th most populous state.
The following are population changes since the last Census. The population counts after year 2000 are estimates.
| Year | Population | Change |
| 2006 | 8,856,505 | +2.12% since 2005 |
| 2005 | 8,672,459 | +1.66% since 2004 |
| 2004 | 8,531,040 | +1.30% since 2003 |
| 2003 | 8,421,190 | +1.30% since 2002 |
| 2002 | 8,313,494 | +1.39% since 2001 |
| 2001 | 8,199,541 | +1.87% since 2000 |
| 2000 | 8,049,313 | Last Census Count |
Area:
The area of North Carolina is 53,819 square miles (139,390.57 km²).
This represents 1.42% of the national total.
North Carolina ranks as the 28th largest state.
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Density:
The population density of North Carolina is 181.82 people per square mile (70.20 people/km²).
North Carolina ranks 15th in population density.
Nicknames for North Carolina: "The Tar Heel State"; "Old North State"
State Motto: "Esse Quam Videri" (To be rather than to seem)
State Bird: Cardinal (cardinalis cardinalis)
State Tree: Longleaf Pine (pinus palustris)
State Flower: American Dogwood (cornus florida)
State Song: "The Old North State"
Statehood:
North Carolina became the 12th state on Nov 21, 1789.
It was the 10th state to secede from the Union (on May 20, 1861)
and following the Civil War, it was the 4th Confederate state to be re-admitted (on July 4, 1868).
Useful State Links
The state website for North Carolina can be found at:
The portal for North Carolina tourism:
For information about North Carolina fishing regulations and licenses requirements:
For information about North Carolina hunting regulations and licenses requirements:
Communities Ranked by Population (Top-15)
 
| Rank | City | 2005
Population | National
Rank |
| 1 | Charlotte | 610,949 | 23 |
| 2 | Raleigh | 341,530 | 59 |
| 3 | Greensboro | 231,962 | 79 |
| 4 | Durham | 204,845 | 106 |
| 5 | Winston-Salem | 193,755 | 109 |
| 6 | Fayetteville | 129,928 | 167 |
| 7 | Cary | 106,439 | |
| 8 | Wilmington | 95,476 | |
| 9 | High Point | 95,086 | |
| 10 | Asheville | 72,231 | |
| 11 | Gastonia | 68,964 | |
| 12 | Jacksonville | 62,628 | |
| 13 | Greenville | 69,517 | |
| 14 | Concord | 61,092 | |
| 15 | Rocky Mount | 56,626 | |
Other Roadside Stops
Miscellaneous Information
| Census Region: 3 (South) |
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| Census Division: 5 (South Atlantic) |
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| State FIPS-55 Code: 37 |
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| Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Region IV / Region 4 |
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| ISO-3166-2 Code: US-NC |
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