North Carolina

North Carolina is a Southern U.S. state in the United States. North Carolina is one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2004, North Carolina's population was 8,541,221.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The racial makeup of the state is:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 70.2% White Non-Hispanic
• 21.6% Black
• 4.7% Hispanic
• 1.4% Asian
• 1.2% Native American
• 1.3% Mixed race

The five largest ancestry groups in North Carolina are: African American (21.6%), American (13.9%), English (9.5%), German (9.5%), Irish (7.4%). It is probable that most of those claiming "American" descent are descended from the early Scots-Irish settlers who settled primarily in the Piedmont and the mountains.

Related Topics:
African American - American - English - German - Irish - Scots-Irish

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

African-Americans are concentrated in the state's eastern Coastal Plain and in parts of the Piedmont Plateau where plantation agriculture was most dominant (See "History"). Until the mid 1860s, North Carolina had more small farms and fewer plantations than adjacent South Carolina and Virginia. These farmers were called "Yeoman" farmers who were non-slave owning,private land owners of tracts of aproximately 500 acres.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

North Carolinians of British ancestry are concentrated in the western mountains, coastal areas, and Piedmont areas. Residents who claim American descent are most prevalent in the rural areas of the central Piedmont and most of the mountains. The tri-racial Lumbee Indians, who claim descent from the Lost Colony survivors, live primarily in Robeson county, and the Cherokee Indians live in western Swain county. The state has one of the fastest growing Latino and Asian populations in the country; these populations have nearly quintupled and tripled respectively between 1990 and 2002.

Related Topics:
British ancestry - Lumbee Indians - Cherokee Indians - 1990 - 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

6.7% of North Carolina's population were reported as under 5, 24.4% under 18, and 12.0% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51% of the population.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Religion

North Carolina, like other Southern states, is overwhelmingly Protestant, with the largest Protestant denomination being the Baptists. The current religious affiliations of the people of North Carolina are shown below:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Christian – 88%
• Protestant – 77%
• Baptist – 40%
• Methodist – 10%
• Presbyterian – 3%
• Other Protestant or general Protestant – 24%
• Roman Catholic – 10%
• Other Christian – 1% (Eastern Orthodox, etc.)
• Other Religions – 1% (Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.)
• Non-Religious – 11% (atheists, agnostics, etc.)