Overhead Notes – Regions of NC http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds/1670

North Carolina is divided into 4 provinces or regions based on common features such as: landforms, soil types and plant/animal communities. From West to East they are:

 Blue Ridge (Mountains) – they are a part of the Appalachian chain that reaches from Alabama all the way to Canada. Mount Mitchell is located here and at 6,684 feet, is the highest point east of the Mississippi River in the United States! Cities include: Boone, Asheville, and Blowing Rock.

- the name means “foot of the mountain” and the land rises rapidly forming rolling hills. Since the land is easy to travel on foot or vehicle, the Native Americans and early Europeans had a good means of travel from Georgia all the way north to New York. Cities include: Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro.

 Inner Coastal Plain – the land here has loose soil and warm climate, which makes it the most productive region for farming in NC. The area ranges up to around 300 feet above sea level. One of its most interesting features are the Sand Hills, which are a large deposit of sand far from the coast. At one time, the long leaf pines grew in abundance here. Cities include: Fayetteville, Greenville, and Goldsboro.

 Outer Coastal Plain – aka as the “”, is the area along our coast. This area is less than 20 feet above sea level and it is here where estuaries appear. Estuaries are the names for where salt and fresh water mix together. Cities include: Wilmington, , Nags Head.

 There are 100 counties in . The 4 largest (by population) are: 1. Mecklenberg County – has 1.012 million people and covers 524 sq. miles. Cities include: Charlotte and Matthews. 2. Wake County – has 998,000 people and covers 835 sq. miles. Cities include: Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. 3. Guilford County – has 495,000 people and covers 658 sq. miles. Cities include: Greensboro and High Point. 4. Forsyth County – has 355,000 people and covers 413 sq. miles. Cities include: Winston-Salem and Clemmons.