"North Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte.

North Carolina has a wide range of elevations, from sea level on the coast to almost 6,751 feet (2,042 m) in the mountains. The coastal plains are strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the state falls in the humid subtropical zone. More than 300 miles (500 km) from the coast, the western, mountainous part of the state has a subtropical highland climate.

As of 2008, North Carolina is the fourth-fastest growing state in the United States and the fastest growing state east of the Mississippi River."