Discover the Only 2 Presidents Ever Born in North Carolina

Forty-five men have served as President of the United States. They all come from different backgrounds and their lives have been shaped in unique manners. Every presidency is marked with a crowning achievement, but there are a few that don’t have any. And when it comes to historical rankings, some score at the top and others at the bottom. When it comes to birthplaces, eight presidents have been born in Virginia. But only two have been born in North Carolina.

Let’s explore the only two presidents ever born in North Carolina and where they were raised. We’ll also include some facts about both presidents and the places in North Carolina where they lived.

The Only Two Presidents Ever Born in North Carolina

James K. Polk

James K. Polk, who served as the 11th President from 1845-1849, was born on November 2, 1795 in Pineville, NC. When Polk was a child, his family moved to Tennessee and he only returned when he attended university in Chapel Hill, NC.

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, who served as the 17th President from 1865-1869, was born on December 29, 1808 in Raleigh, NC. Johnson grew up in Raleigh and eventually moved to Carthage, NC with his brother. He was only there for a few months and he left for South Carolina and eventually settled in Tennessee.

About James K. Polk

Polk started his political career in the Tennessee State Legislature in 1823. Two years later he became a Congressman in the US House of Representatives. He rose quickly up in the ranks with the help of President Andrew Jackson and in 1835, he became Speaker of the House of Representatives. He then ran for Governor of Tennessee and won handily in 1839. After being defeated twice for governor, he retreated to his home.

But in 1844, in a huge comeback, he got the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He won and became president. He served for only one term and moved back to Tennessee. But Polk was exhausted and his ill health after his presidency took a turn for the worst. He died on June 15, 1849.

Polk Presidency’s Major Achievements

Throughout his presidency, James K. Polk had some major achievements. It is important to note that although James K. Polk is seen as a successful president, he was a slave owner and had racist views that guided his presidency and personal life. Let’s take a look at some highlighting accomplishments in his presidency.

• Polk was a champion for manifest destiny and during his tenure as President, the US doubled in size due to the annexation of several territories.
• The Mexican-American War started in 1846 and ended in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo where the US annexed about 55% of Mexican territory (much of today’s American Southwest).
• He reestablished an independent treasury system and reduced tariffs.

About Pineville, North Carolina

Pineville, NC is a town in southwestern North Carolina that straddles the border with South Carolina. The city was incorporated in 1873 and has a current population of just over 10,000. It is now a suburb of Charlotte, NC, and one of the fastest-growing towns. Let’s take a look at Pineville, NC back in 1795 when James K. Polk was born and Pineville today.

Pineville in 1795

Known as Morrow’s Turnout, Pineville became a mule trading center in the late 1790s. During that time, people from all over the US flocked to Charlotte because gold had been found. Eventually, the town became populated enough to become incorporated (and renamed into something more modern).

Pineville Today

Pineville remains a small town, but it is part of the Charlotte suburbs and is one of the fastest-growing towns today. There are several parks in the region to hike and get a glimpse of the diverse wildlife.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

James K. Polk also lived in Chapel Hill, NC when he studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university is an important part of the economy for the city, which today has a population of almost 62,000.

About Andrew Johnson

Johnson started his political career in the Tennessee State Legislature in 1835. He was defeated two years later but reclaimed his seat in 1839. He became a Tennessee Senator in 1841 and became a US Congressman in 1843. From there, he rose quickly and established a name for himself. He became Governor of Tennessee in 1853, serving four years. He was then appointed US Senator for Tennessee and served until 1862.

His political career took an interesting turn. As the country battled each other over slavery and tensions mounted, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the US government. He was a pro-slavery individual, though. When the South seceded upon Abraham Lincoln’s election, he was the only Senator from a seceded state that remained. Lincoln appointed him Military Governor of Tennessee in 1862.

He became Vice President to Lincoln in 1865 and upon Lincoln’s assassination, he became President of the United States. Johnson served during a tumultuous time in American history and only served one term. He retreated to Tennessee and eventually became Senator again in 1875. This was short-lived, however. Johnson died on July 31, 1875, at age 66.

Johnson Presidency’s Major Achievements

Throughout his presidency, Andrew Johnson had some achievements. It is important to note that Andrew Johnson, although against secession, was a slave owner and had racist views that guided his presidency and personal life. Let’s take a look at some highlighting accomplishments in his presidency.

• In 1867, Johnson acquired Alaska from the Russian Empire for 7.2 million in gold.
• Johnson presided over Reconstruction, which was a time in American history that paved the way for Southern states to join the United States again. Congress passed much of his Reconstruction Plan.
• A new Republican Congress in 1867 passed more “radical laws” known as the Radical Reconstruction plan, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution were ratified during his term. Johnson opposed all of this.

About Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina with a population of 476,000. It is also the capital of the state. The city is known for its many oak trees, and thus acquired the nickname the “City of Oaks.” Raleigh was a planned city that was incorporated in 1792 after North Carolinians chose the area as its capital. It was named after Sir William Raleigh, who attempted to establish Roanoke, the first English settlement in North America.  Let’s take a look at Raleigh, NC back in 1808 when Andrew Johnson was born and Raleigh today.

Raleigh in 1808

Raleigh’s population in 1808 was about 1,600, which grew from nearly 700 people after the 1800 Census. At the time of Andrew Johnson’s birth, Raleigh was a new city. A water supply network was established in the city in 1818, although there were system failures that prevented the project from getting going. A volunteer fire brigade was established in 1819 and it became permanent and full-time two years later.

Raleigh Today

Raleigh has grown substantially in the past few hundred years. The city’s NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes, won the Stanley Cup in 2006. At the turn of the century, Raleigh was featured in various magazines as one of the best cities to live in in the country.  

Carthage, North Carolina

Andrew Johnson also lived in Carthage, NC when he moved with his brother as a young man. The city is known for having a cart and buggy factory, which the town still celebrates every year. Today, Carthage has a population of just under 3,000.

Conclusion

And there you have it, the only two presidents ever born in North Carolina were James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson. They served as the 11th and 17th Presidents, respectively. Their legacies are a mixed bag, especially Johnson as he is consistently ranked near last in historical rankings. But both men shaped American history drastically and will be remembered as such.