North Carolina Cities and Towns
The Tarheel State  12th State

Climate & Weather:

North Carolina has four distinct seasons statewide, but the differences in elevation can create quite a contrast between the mountains and lowlands at any time of year. In general, expect the mountains to be cooler by 5-10 degrees F/2-5 C. All areas get plenty of rain in the summer, and the mountains see plenty of snow (50 in/127 cm or more) in winter, when skiing is possible. Skiers can expect temperatures from 22 to 42 F/-5 to 5 C in January. May temperatures range 45-76 F/6-24 C in the mountains and 57-81 F/14-27 C along the coast. Central North Carolina can get very hot and humid in midsummer, but is pleasant in spring and fall. July is the wettest summer month everywhere -- some localized thunderstorms can be quite severe. Expect water temperatures in July to be near 80 F/26 C along the coast. Fall is the driest season, with comfortable humidity and temperatures ranging 64-82 F/12-27 C, cooler in the mountains

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Firsts, Facts, Trivia:  

46 out of North Carolina's 56 counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile. No state has as many different species of mammals as North Carolina.

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Featured Tourist Spots:

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad -  With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in a spectacular region of eastern America called the Great Smoky Mountains.

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North Carolina History:

At the time of the first European contact, North Carolina was inhabited by a number of native tribes sharing some cultural traits, but also distinguished by regional and linguistic variations. Three major language families were represented in North Carolina: Iroquoian, Siouan, and Algonquian.

The first known European exploration of North Carolina occurred during the summer of 1524. A Florentine navigator named Giovanni da Verrazano, in the service of France, explored the coastal area of North Carolina between the Cape Fear River area and Kitty Hawk. A report of his findings was sent to Francis I and published in Richard Hakluyt's Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America. No attempt was made to colonize the area.

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