North Carolina

North Carolina, nicknamed the Tar Heel State, is a state in the Southeastern Region of the United States of America. It was the 12th state admitted to the United States of America on November 21, 1789. North Carolina is the 11th most populous state in the United States, with a population of 9,061,032 (2007 estimate), and ranks 28th in land area, totaling 53,821 Square Miles. North Carolina is part of America's Eastern Seaboard, and bordering states are South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, and Virginia to the north.

North Carolina's State Motto is: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem)

Climate
North Carolina has a humid, subtropical climate. Winters are short and mild, while summers are usually very sultry.

Politics
The current Governor is Democrat Bev Perdue. North Carolina is dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Democrat Barack Obama won the state, but by a very narrow margin.

Education
North Carolina is home to many notable colleges, including The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, Duke Univeristy, and East Carolina University.