North Carolina Regions

1. North Carolina Regions 8th Grade Soc. St.

2. There Are four regions • Tidewater • Coastal Plain • Piedmont • Mountains

3. 1 tidewater • What is the Tidewater Region? • Barrier Islands- Narrow strip of land b/w the Atlantic Ocean and sounds • Some of the mainland is in the Tidewater region as well. The southern area is no more than 30 mls. wide, the northern area is larger and 50 mls. wide in some areas. • The land is influenced by the tides/current • Sounds are inland bodies of water…a mix of salt and fresh water. • The mixture of the water distinguishes it from other regions • Most of the land is wetlands/salt marshes …shellfish live and breed.

4. tidewater… barrier islands • What are barrier islands? • in the Tidewater area • Roanoke Island is in this area…. 1st English settlement attempt. • Barriers are mostly strips of sand…long ridge of sand spread along the ocean floor • The tips are what we see (like an iceberg) • Most are less than 2 miles across/others are wider • Highest point is Jockey’s Ridge. Near Kitty Hawk- the Wright Bros. flew off of this ridge. • Most famous is the Outer Banks

5. Continued…Barrier Islands • Inlets allow seawater to come in and out with the tides • Because the ocean is continuously turning and churning…..inlets open and close. • Cape Hatteras is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. (fridgid waters colliding with the Gulf Stream) • Cape Fear River runs directly to the Atlantic Ocean. Other rivers dump into the sounds.

6. Tidewater …..sounds • 5 major sounds • Currituck • Albermarle • Pamlico • Core • Bogue • ½ the tidewater is water bodies • Some of NC’s oldest towns are located at the mouths of rivers or on the sounds • Trade was important in this area • Wilmington has the only direct outlet to sea

7. Continued • Wilmington has had the largest town through most of history

8. Tidewater…swamps/lakes • Pocosins: indian name for a particular wetland….stands for “swamp on a hill” • Found from Albermarle Sound to Cape Fear

9. Swamps/lakes • Savannahs- tall grasses mixes other types of pines • Most of the natural lakes are in the Tidewater Region • Largest lake is Lake Mattamuskeet: 15 miles across and only 6 ft. avg. in depth • Major landing pt. for migrating birds and wildlife refuge • It has been the lowest populated area through time • Some locals still speak with an accent. Similar to old English brogue

10. Continue….. • Examples: • These are phrases you may use if you are speaking in Old English Brogue: • Outsider of the community- called a dingbatter • Being full after a meal- gut full of food • Being nauseous- quamished in my gut

11. 2 Coastal plain • Richest soil in the state • Takes 1/3 of the states land area • 100 miles in width • Farming is and has been successful due to the flat land and the rich soil • Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse rivers flow into the Tidewater region • Cape Fear River is the longest river in NC • Tobacco was the largest crop in NC- tobacco towns grew (Rocky Mt., Wilson, Greenville, and Goldsboro) provided for the marketing outlets

12. Coatal plain…continued • Each tobacco town had more than ½ dozen tobacco warehouses • In the early 1900s almost every town had 1 warehouse (height of tobacco popularity) • Fewer and fewer people grow tobacco now • 2 factors • 1. Health risk • 2. Government cut off guaranteeing the sale for profit (longleaf pines were the most popular crop before tobacco)

13. Coastal plain…carolina bays • 100s of elongated depressions in the ground • Located in the Southern part of the Coastal Plain • .5 to 2 miles in length and .5 mile wide • No one really knows how or why they are there • White Lake and Singletary Lake are bays • They provide some of the richest soil and animal habitats in the state

14. Coastal plain…sandhills • NW of the Carolina Bays • Variety of ethnic groups in this area of NC • Whites-descendents of English settlers • African-Americans- descendents of slaves • Migrants- Latinos that come to farm • Lumbee- Indians from Roberson Co. Largest population of Native Americans in the state • Poorest Soil in the state • Used for 2 things in NC • Golf Courses (like Pinehurst) • Military (Ft. Bragg)

15. 3 Piedmont • More than ½ is forest • Most well known feature- red clay (iron rich) • Kudzu planting in the 1930s has helped with erosion… it has now taken over in many areas and is now known as the “Monster that ate NC” • Kudzu on a hot wet day can grow inches at a time. • Can find it from the hilly areas of NC to the Mtns.

16. Fall line…piedmont • Divides the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont • Fall line is from No. near Roanoke Rapids to SW past Raleigh and Fayetteville • Fall line is used to separate NC from E to W • Ridge Line divides the Mtns. from the Piedmont • 2 major rivers area ….. Yadkin-PeeDee and the Catawba. Travel to SC and go to the ocean by way Charleston, SC • Sectionalism grew due to the lack of connections to the rivers in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

17. Piedmont… farms & factories • Farming has been a struggle in this region, but has been done. • Livestock has been a source of incomes for families • Farming has declined over time and factories/industries have been successful in this area. • Factories were used to process cotton, tobacco, and wood. • Areas with textile industries include: Kannapolis and Gastonia • Areas with tobacco industry include: Durham, Winston-Salem, Reidsville

18. Piedmont…cont. • Areas with furniture industry include: Lenoir, Hickory, and High Point • These 3 industries took a decline in the 1990s; due to overseas factories could do the work cheaper. Thousands lost their jobs.

19. Piedmont… • Many cities have had to adjust and find other economic avenues • Charlotte is home of international banking with Bank of America and Wachovia (headquarters are located there) • Charlotte is also the home of NASCAR • Wake Forest University and Duke have world-class medical facilities and schools • Food Lion is the largest private employer in the state…in Salisbury • Growth in Computers, Technology, etc. has been in RTP in Raleigh.

20. Piedmont…cont • Uwharrie Mountains- very distinctive landmark of the Piedmont region. It is a cluster of monadnocks. They are located South of Greensboro and East of Salisbury • Monadnocks –is a point of land that sticks out because all the land around it has eroded • Most famous monadnock is Pilot Mountain

21. 4 Mountain Region • Most well known features are: • The Blue Ridge….one long land form much like the barrier islands. • Along the top is a national highway – Blue Ridge Parkway…some of the most beautiful views in the US • Forms the eastern boundary of the Appalachian Mtns. • Rivers on the eastern side of the slopes eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean • Rivers on the western side of the slopes empty into the tributaries of the Mississippi • Runs from NJ into the deep south

22. Mountains…cont. • Appalachian Mountains run from NY to AL, but the highest peaks are in NC • 43 mtn. tops are in NC that are 6,000 feet above sea level • The highest pt. east of the Rockies is Mt. Mitchell…6,684 feet….Black Mountain Range • Some of the most notable mtn. ranges are … • Black Mtns. –west of the blue ridge • Great Smokies

23. Mountains…cont. • Coastal Plain rivers run east, Piedmont rivers run south, Mtn. rivers run north and west. • Asheville is the largest city in the Mtns. • More than 100 lakes in the mtns., but they are manmade. • Lake Lure is known to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world • Some of the best features in the NC mtns: • Fontana Lake and Fontana Dam • Blowing Rock • Chimney Rock • Grandfather Mtn. – swinging bridge • Nantahala River – white water rafting

24. Mountains…economy • Historically less populated and developed than the rest of the state • Early on they made their living by grazing livestock…due to the rich natural vegetation • More recent tourism has contributed to the economy…retirement and vacation homes are popular in this area • The most recent economic booster is the Christmas Tree industry