Regions of NC

Mountain Region

• Location: Between Piedmont and Tennessee• Characteristics: Mountains, Smoky Mountains

(Western by Tennessee), Blue Ridge (Eastern), Mount Mitchell= highest summit in Eastern NC, Black Mountains= most important

• Soil Type: Rocky, natural resources= minerals, stones

• Economy: Tourism, mining, apples, Christmas trees• Major Cities: Asheville, Boone• Universities: UNC-Asheville, WCU

Mountain Region Cont.

• Historical Sites: Biltmore Estate( largest privately owned home in NC), Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherokee Reservations

• Facts: Takes up about 10% of the state, home to Cherokee Indians, least populated

• Eastern Continental Divide: Imaginary line that determines flow of water East of divide it flows into Atlantic Ocean, West it flows into Gulf of Mexico

Mountain Region

Piedmont Region

• Location: Between Mountain region and Fall Line (Inner Coastal Plain)

• Characteristics: “Piedmont”= foothill of the mountains, rolling hills, swift streams, hardwood forests, lumber and livestock=natural resources

• Economy: manufacturing (textiles), furniture, tobacco (RJR), banking (triangle park) Big 3

• Cities: Charlotte, Winston Salem, Raleigh, Greensboro

Piedmont Region Cont.

• Universities: NC State, UNC, Duke, UNCC, Wake Forest• Soil Type: Rich, red clay (bricks)• Historical Sites: State museums (Raleigh), Old Salem,

NC Zoo• Fall Line: “drop off” point between Piedmont and ICP

waterfalls, difference in rocks and soil• Facts: 45% of state, most urban and populated, GREAT

WAGON ROAD (the path to the Carolinasas supply of land grows short, move South. Moravians Salem, Bethabra

Piedmont Region

Inner Coastal Plain

• Location: Between Fall Line (Piedmont) and Tidewater

• Characteristics: Sandhills• Economy: Tobacco, textiles, paper, agriculture,

cotton, soybeans, peanuts• Cities: Greenville, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount• Universities: ECU, UNC-Pembroke• Soil Type: Sand rich• Historical Sites: Golf Hall of Fame• Facts: About the size of piedmont, NC military bases

Inner Coastal Plain

Tidewater

• Location: Between Inner Coastal Plain and Atlantic Ocean

• 20-30 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean• Characteristics: Salt marshes, swamps, Outer

Banks, sound, BEACH, all natural lakes• Economy: Tourism, fishing (large scale),

recreation, • Cities: Wilmington, Morehead City, New Bern

Tidewater Cont.

• Universities: UNCW (the best), Elizabeth City State University

• Soil Type: Sandy• Historical Sites: USS NC battleship, Fort Fisher• Facts: 30 ft above sea level, Barrier Islands=

islands that protect mainland Outer Banks, 1st explored and colonized, 2nd largest populated, mildest climate

Tidewater

Effects of Geography

• Piedmont’s rivers (Catawba, Yadkin, Pee-Dee) flow southeast which discouraged settlers from moving west into the interior

• Due to Piedmont’s clay and drier climate farms were smaller, but streams and rivers helped build major industries

• Cities develop where industries are • Heavily forested mountains were last to be settled by

Europeans = least populated • Early growth of coastal cities lack of natural harbors,

winds shifted barrier islands, shallow