English colonists, sent by Sir Walter
Raleigh, unsuccessfully attempted to settle Roanoke
Island in 1585 and 1587. Virginia Dare, born there
in 1587, was the first child of English parentage
born in America.
In 1653 the first permanent settlements were
established by English colonists from Virginia near
the Roanoke and Chowan rivers. The region was
established as an English proprietary colony in
1663–1665 and in its early history was the scene of
Culpepper's Rebellion (1677), the Quaker-led Cary
Rebellion (1708), the Tuscarora Indian War
(1711–1713), and many pirate raids.
During the American Revolution, there was relatively
little fighting within the state, but many North
Carolinians saw action elsewhere. Despite
considerable pro-Union, antislavery sentiment, North
Carolina joined the Confederacy during the Civil
War.
North Carolina is the nation's largest furniture,
tobacco, brick, and textile producer. Metalworking,
chemicals, and paper are also important industries.
The major agricultural products are tobacco, corn,
cotton, hay, peanuts, and vegetable crops. The state
is the country's leading producer of mica and
lithium.
Tourism is also important, with visitors spending
more than $1 billion annually. Sports include
year-round golfing, skiing at mountain resorts, both
fresh- and salt-water fishing, and hunting.
Among the major attractions are the Great Smoky
Mountains, the Blue Ridge National Parkway, the Cape
Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, the
Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk,
Guilford Courthouse and Moores Creek National
Military Parks, Carl Sandburg's home near
Hendersonville, and the Old Salem Restoration in
Winston-Salem. |
