Tar Heels, cardinals and shag dancing: What are NC state symbols and their origins?
North Carolina is known for its picturesque mountains, beaches, accomplished college basketball teams and legendary barbecue.
The state also has some pretty distinct symbols. You may know -- or not -- the state flag and the state bird, but how did they come to be?
Using the online encyclopedia NCpedia, managed by the State Library of North Carolina, here is a look at the origins of a few of those symbols.
How did North Carolina get its name?
The word “Carolina” comes from Carolus, the Latin form of the name Charles.
In 1629, King Charles I granted territory in America to his attorney general, Sir Robert Heath, to be named Carolina. The original boundary for the colony included much of what is now Georgia.
The colony was divided into North Carolina and South Carolina in 1710, after a governor was appointed to lead the northern portion of the territory. Soon after, the nickname “Old North State” was coined.
Where did the ‘Tarheel State’ nickname come from?
There are differing opinions on where the nickname comes from, but most historians agree the “Tarheel State” is derived from North Carolina’s long history as a producer of tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine, all of which were mined from the state’s pine forests.
The state flag
The current NC state flag was not established until 1885, when a design featuring the same colors as the American flag was adopted.
The date in the top left corner of the flag that reads, “May 20th, 1775” refers to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The date in the bottom left corner, “April 12th, 1776,” commemorates the Halifax Resolves, the first official statement by an American Colony calling for a united declaration of independence from British rule.
The state bird
North Carolina designated the cardinal as its official state bird in 1943, according to NCpedia.
The North Carolina Bird Club started the campaign to choose a bird as a state symbol, and publicized it in newspapers and schools. More than 23,000 votes were cast and 26 candidates were suggested, including the red-winged blackbird, wild turkey and scarlet tanager.
The cardinal is the state bird of six other states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
The state motto
The General Assembly of 1893 adopted the Latin words “Esse Quam Videri,” which translates to “To be rather than to seem,” according to NCpedia. The motto was placed on the seal, along with the date, “May 20, 1775.”
North Carolina was one of the last states that did not have a motto before then, NCpedia says.
What is the Shag?
The Shag – a dance designated as the official popular state dance in 2005 – is a type of swing dance developed during the 1930’s. It combines nimble footwork with upbeat rhythm and blues.
The dance originated at open air beach parties on the North and South Carolina coasts. South Carolina also recognizes the shag as a state symbol.
What about state colors, beverage and fish?
Many of North Carolina’s state symbols, including the state salamander and freshwater fish, were adopted in the last 20 years, according to NCpedia.
Here are some other symbols of North Carolina:
State colors: red and blue
State berries: strawberry and blueberry
State art medium: clay
State beverage: milk
State carnivorous plant: Venus flytrap
State Christmas tree: Fraser fir
State flower: dogwood
State horse: Colonial Spanish Mustang
State insect: honeybee
State mammal: gray squirrel
State marsupial: Virginia opossum
State mineral: gold
State precious stone: emerald
State reptile: Eastern box turtle
State rock: granite
State salamander: marbled salamander
State saltwater fish: channel bass
State sport: stock car racing
State tree: pine tree
State vegetable: sweet potato
State wildflower: Carolina lily
