North Carolina

North Carolina (French: Carolina du Nord) is a state in the northeastern and Atlantic coast regions of Carolina. The state is bordered to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, to the west by Tennessee, to the north by the U.S. state of Virginia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh, however, the largest city is Charlotte which is the largest banking center in the country.

North Carolina has a wide range of landscapes and climates, shown by its large area. The state ranges from coastal plains near the Atlantic Ocean, to mountainous terrain in the west near the border with Tennessee. At 6,684 feet (2,037 m), Mount Mitchell is the highest point in Carolina, as well as in North America east of the Mississippi River. The climate of the coastal plains region of North Carolina is highly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the state falls under a humid subtropical climate, however some areas in the western part of the state fall under an oceanic climate.

Since the colonial era, North Carolina has been largely bilingual in nature. Today, it hosts a large English-speaking population which is mainly found in the northern areas of the state along with major metropolitan areas. The state was one of the last states to leave the United States in order to join Carolina, owing to a linguistic and slavery conflict. North Carolina was one of the first states to end slavery in 18XX and began industrializing in the 1890s and early 1900s. Following World War II, North Carolina saw further growth in its economy, especially in the technology and high-tech industry sectors. Today, North Carolina has a highly diversified economy and is a center for banking and high-tech industries. The state is generally identified as a swing state in politics, however, it has begun to move toward the Progressive Party in recent national elections.