What is North Carolina Known For? 12 Things North Carolinians Love About Themselves

Known for its diverse regions with distinct climates, gorgeous beaches, and exceptional educational systems, North Carolina is a fantastic place to live. Those who live in this state value the hospitality and southern charm their fellow North Carolinians exude. In this article, we’ve put together what North Carolinians love about themselves and what their charming state is known for.

1. Spectacular Outdoors

Whether you love hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, or fishing, North Carolina has everything you need. The state is known for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Uwharrie National Forest, and Hanging Rock State Park, to name a few natural beauties. North Carolinians love keeping active with the recreational opportunities and activities afforded them.

2. Southern Hospitality

Whether it’s a friendly hello to strangers or just plain politeness, North Carolinians are proud of their southern hospitality. In fact, North Carolina may be one of the few states in which you’ll still hear “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir.” Being polite to each other and to strangers is part of what we often call that southern charm or southern hospitality.

3. Good Food

From tantalizing North Carolina barbecue to Calabash seafood to fried green tomatoes, North Carolinians love their tantalizingly delicious food. Not only do many of them love cooking, grilling, and dining in local restaurants, but they also enjoy sharing their meals with others. In fact southern hospitality is closely linked to their love of sharing meals with family, friends, and even newcomers.

4. North Carolina History

While Civil War — or the War Between the States — history is a large party of the state’s history, there’s so much more to North Carolina’s past. In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew their Wright Flyer in Kitty Hawk, which was the first manned flight. Also, the state has an intriguing pirate narrative, which includes the exploits of Blackbeard right off the coast of North Carolina.

5. Sports, Sports, Sports

North Carolians love their sports. College teams, such as the UNC Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils, along with professional sports of all sorts excite and energize people in this state. In addition to baseball, basketball, NASCAR racing, soccer, and football, there’s USGA golf as well. North Carolina has a reputation for its irst-class sports.

6. Prestigious Education Systems

One of the many points of pride for North Carolinians is the excellent educational opportunities the state provides. Prestigious universities such as UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and UNC Charlotte are just a few these distinguished institutions. However, the first-rate educational opportunities aren’t limited to their colleges and universities. The public K-12 education system is highly esteemed as well.

7. Fantastic Weather

North Carolinians love that they get four distinct seasons, all of which are beautiful. North Carolina’s humid subtropical climate in the eastern and coastal areas brings plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. The humid continental climate of the western region brings temperate weather as well. Summers are very warm, and winters are moderately cold.

8. Exceptional Entertainment

Musicians like Arthel “Doc” Watson and Blind Boy Fuller were street musicians from the 1930s and 1940s who are now part of North Carolina’s music history and landscape. Street performer continue to add to the richness of North Carolina culture still today. Not only street performers, but live music in general is still something that locals take pride in. In addition, there are abundant local dance and film festivals for all tastes.

9. Small Town Pride

When you walk up and down the streets of many of North Carolina’s small towns, you can’t help but notice how well-kept they are. Not only that, they’re so charming and picturesque, they look like something out of a movie. North Carolina definitely has its share of idyllic little towns.

10. Best Beaches

From Carova Beach with its wild horses roaming the sands to Cape Lookout, North Carolina has more than its share of gorgeous beaches. Each one has a unique feature that makes North Carolinians proud. For instance, Bald Head Island has over 12,000 acres of undeveloped, pristine shoreline. In contrast, Nags Head has multiple fishing piers, a skateboard park, and other amenities. No matter what you appreciate in a beach, chances are that North Carolina has the ideal beach for you.

11. Safety and Low Crime Rate

When it comes to safety, Charlotte and Raleigh are the eighth and eleventh safest large U.S. cities, according to statistics. Moreover, North Carolina has a statewide crime rate lower than many other states. In fact, since 2022, the crime rates have decreased by 1.4%, making the crime rate even lower.

12. Robust Economy

North Carolinians enjoy a robust economy. Healthcare, technology, education, and manufacturing are just some of the major industries that are growing significantly in the state. The job market is healthy and growing in several sectors and for workers at all levels. Not surprisingly, hospitality is a booming industry as well.

Summary of What North Carolina is Known For

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