1. Eighth Grade Social Studies
North Carolina
The Lay of the Land
Ms. Polashock &
Mrs. Tyndall
Track 1
Eighth Grade Social Studies

2. BASIC FACTS Located in the southeastern United States. Bound
on the north by Virginia.
on the west by Tennessee.
on the south by Georgia and South Carolina.
on the east by Atlantic Ocean.

3. North Carolina’s Geographic Regions
Tidewater
Coastal Plain
Piedmont
Mountains

4. The Tidewater Region
Narrow strip of North Carolina (NC) along the Atlantic Ocean
30-50 miles wide.
Tides affect
the region’s
water.
Sounds:
inland bodies
of salt/fresh
water mix.
Contains a series of barrier islands that border the ocean known as the Outer Banks.

5. The Outer Banks

6. TIDEWATER Capes (parts of the islands that jut far out into ocean):
Cape Fear, Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras
“Graveyard of the Atlantic” -- shallow water off the shores causing ships to run aground
In 1800’s lighthouses were built to help warn ships away from dangerous waters.

7. Cape Lookout Lighthouse

8. Currituck Lighthouse

10. Maritime Forest of the Outer Coastal Plain

11. SOUNDS
West of the barrier islands is an almost tideless body of water that consists of 5 major sounds:
1. Currituck
2. Albemarle (Great Dismal Swamp is located between this sound and Norfolk, VA)
3. Pamlico (Lake Mattamuskeet is located between Pamlico & Albemarle Sounds)
4. Core
5. Bogue

12. Currituck Sound

13. Lake Mattamuskeet

14. Major Tidewater coastal towns:
Morehead City
New Bern
Edenton
Elizabeth City
Beaufort
Wilmington
Southport
Washington

15. The Coastal Plain Region
Stretches from Virginia to South Carolina and about 100 miles wide.
Covers about 1/3 of the state.
Rich soil and flat land make area good for farming.
Crossroads hamlets:
serve rural areas,
usually a one or two
stores, church,
school, etc.

16. The Coastal Plain is the prime agricultural region for :
Cotton
Tobacco
Hog Farming

17. Noted for its sandy soil.

18. The Sandhills Located northwest of the bays.
Sandy, rolling ridges left by ancient coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Very poor soil.
Used as the home
for golf courses
and Fort Bragg.

19. Major Inner COASTAL PLAIN towns
Fayetteville
Goldsboro
Wilson
Southern Pines
Rocky Mount
Greenville
Pinehurst

20. Greensboro
State Capitol
The Piedmont
Charlotte
Raleigh

21. PIEDMONT -Located between the fall line and the Blue Ridge Mts.
-Center of the state’s urban population:
Raleigh
Charlotte
Greensboro
Winston-Salem
Durham

22. PIEDMONT Center of state’s manufacturing:
Textiles
Tobacco
Furniture
Before 1849, NC was the country’s leading gold producing state
-(In Charlotte the federal government once minted gold coins)
Rich clay soil--variety of products

23. Restored Mine Tunnel at Reed

24. The Deep River, Lee County

26. The Haw River, Chatham County

28. Center of higher education!

29. Center of cultural activities
History Museum
Museum of Natural Science
Art Museum
Discovery Place

30. The Mountains

31. MOUNTAINS Located between Piedmont and Tennessee.
Covers 6,000 square miles.
Elevations from 1,500(east) to 6,684 ft.
Mount Mitchell--highest peak in eastern U.S.).
About 200 miles long and miles wide.

33. At the top of Mt. Mitchell—
elevation 6,684 feet above sea level

34. Mt Mitchell State Park

35. MOUNTAINS
Part of Appalachian chain (runs southwest to northeast--from Georgia to Quebec).
Blue Ridge Mountains--at eastern edge.
Great Smokey Mountains & Unakas--at western edge.
Black Mountain & Balsams--connecting the ranges.

36. The Appalachian Trail

39. BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

40. Creek on the Parkway

41. The Blue Ridge Parkway

43. The Mountains Economy Early settlers isolated from others
Farming, traveling, trading were more difficult
Towns developed in valley areas
Known for sales of local plants with medicinal properties.
Tourism is a major
industry.
Christmas tree is
a new and
growing industry;
Fraser firs are the
most popular.

44. Cherokee--state’s only Indian reservation.

45. Unto These Hills

46. Asheville--largest city in region.

47. State’s largest national forests Pisgah and Nantahala

48. Pisgah National Forest

49. Nantahala National Forest