Statehood:  November 21, 1789 (12^th State)

State song: "The Old North State " (1927)

State bird: cardinal (1943)

State tree: pine (1963)

State flower: flowering dogwood (1941)

State: Mammal: gray squirrel (1969);

State: Insect: honeybee (1973);

State: Reptile: eastern box turtle (1979);

State Gemstone: emerald (1973);

State Shell: scotch bonnet (1965);

State Historic boat: shad boat (1987);

State Beverage: milk (1987);

State Rock: granite (1979);

State Dog: plott hound (1989);

State Colors: red and blue (1945);

State Fruit: scuppernong grape (2001)

State Motto: "Esse Quam Videri" (To Be Rather Than to Seem)

State Nickname: "Tar Heel State"

Highest Point: The highest point in North Carolina is Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet above sea level.

Lowest Point: The lowest point in North Carolina is at the shore where North Carolina meets the Atlantic Ocean ; sea level.

Largest cities: Charlotte, 610,949; Raleigh, 341,530; Greensboro, 231,962; Durham, 204,845; Winston-Salem, 193,755; Fayetteville, 129,928; Cary, 106,439; Wilmington, 95,476; High Point, 95,086; Asheville, 72,231

Famous North Carolinians: Braxton Bragg soldier, Warrenton
Robert C. Byrd, politicianNorth Wilkesboro
David Brinkley TV newscaster, Wilmington
Howard Cosell sportscaster, Winston-Salem
Elizabeth Hanford Dole public official, Salisbury
James B. Duke industrialist, Durham
Donna Fargo country music, Mount Airy
Roberta Flack singer, Black Mountain
Ava Gardner actress, Smithfield

Population (Quick Facts): 8,856,505:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37000.html

Official State website:

http://www.state.nc.us/

State Legislature:

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/

Capital of North Carolina : Raleigh, North Carolina

United States Department of Agriculture:

http://www.ncagr.com/

Department of Public Safety:

http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/

Economy:

http://stats.bls.gov/eag/eag.nc.htm

Transportation:

http://www.ncdot.org/

International Trades:

http://www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/InternationalBusiness/

Natural Resources:

http://www.enr.state.nc.us/

Maps for the state of North Carolina:

http://geology.com/state-map/north-carolina.shtml

North Carolina State Job link:

http://www.north_carolina.jobopenings.net/

Tourism and Travel:

http://www.visitnc.com/

State Parks: 

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php

Museums:

http://www.ncmuseums.org/

Public Library Service:

http://www.publiclibraries.com/northcarolina.htm

Zip Codes:

http://www.zipcodes.addresses.com/zip_codes_by_state/NC/A.html

State Newspapers:

http://www.usnpl.com/ncnews.php