In 1901Governor Charles B．Aycock introduced a far－reaching program of education throughout the state，an event which marked an important turning point in the history of North Carolina．
In 1903the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk．The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates（纪念）their achievement．
After the war，huge plantations were divided and sold to tenant（出租）farmers．Tobacco manufacturing grew rapidly in Durham（达拉谟（英国地名），一种产自该地的有短角肉牛）while the furniture industry built factories in High Point．Textile mills flourished（繁荣，活跃，兴旺）along the rivers．By the end of the 1920s，North Carolina led the nation in production of cotton textiles，wooden furniture，and tobacco products．State leaders improved education and created the State Highway Commission to expand roadways with a pioneer road building program was instituted which ultimately（最后，终于）caused the state to be known as the “Good Roads State．”
The Great Depression（1929－1939）left thousands without work．North Carolina and the federal government created jobs expanding roads and cleaning up state parks．The state improved welfare and reduced state taxes．By the late 1930s，the economy was steadily improving．During the 1940s，construction began on Fontana and Kerr Dam．New medical centers were built and roadways continued to expand throughout the state．
During the 1890s，laws were passed that required racial segregation（种族隔离）of schools，restaurants，and public facilities．In 1960，four black students in Greensboro［格林斯博罗［美国北卡罗来纳州中北部城市］（或译格林斯巴勒）］held the nation’s first sit－in，by refusing to leave a restricted lunch counter．In 1964，the Civil Rights Act banned the segregation of public facilities．During the 1970s，schools also became integrated（综合的，完整的）．
Today，North Carolina continues to improve education and roadways．Traditional industries seem to be doing well，but state leaders are striving to attract new businesses to the state．
In recent years the state has emphasized（强调，着重）education，industry，and agricultural technology and in each area has achieved many notable successes．Established in 1959to enhance North Carolina’s economic growth，the Research Triangle Park is a unique complex for organizations engaged in institutional，governmental，and industrial research．Three major research universities—Duke University in Durham，North Carolina State University in Raleigh，and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill—are both the base and the capstone（顶点，（尤指成就的）顶点）of the Research Triangle Park．
Governor州长
在州长Michael F．Easley的领导下，北卡罗来纳州经济迅速繁荣发展起来。Easley州长采取措施控制政府财政开支，将这部分财政投资在教育和基层建设上，为本州吸引更多有实力的商业和工业。他的创新战略吸引许多新的商业投资。Easley注重教育，他提出4岁孩子上学前班的计划，对教育的投资不断增加。
Under Governor Michael F．Easley’s leadership，North Carolina’s top－ranked business climate prospers．Governor Easley has taken action to control spending growth and reduce the cost of government to finance increased investments in education and infrastructure（下部构造，基础下部组织）—key components to attracting quality business and industry to the state．Easley’s innovative（创新的，革新（主义）的）strategies have helped lure new and expanding businesses．General Electric，General Dynamics，and Merck Company have chosen to expand their presence in North Carolina in the past year．
Education is among Easley’s top priorities．He is working to reduce class size in grades K－3，and his “More at Four”pre－kindergarten program for at－risk four－year－olds ensures that children come to school prepared and ready to learn．The state’s growing investment in education is paying off．North Carolina’s national test scores are among the best in the nation and the state’s highly rated community college system is helping workers across the state transition（转变，转换，过渡）their skills to better market themselves in today’s global economy．
Easley’s inauguration（就职典礼，开幕式）as Governor followed nearly two decades of public service spent fighting crime，protecting children and the elderly，and standing up for working families．In 1982，he became district attorney（〈美〉律师，（业务或法律事务上的）代理人）for the 13th judicial district in Brunswick，Bladen and Columbus counties．One of the state’s youngest district attorneys ever，he was named among USA Today’s top “drug busters．”He was elected as North Carolina’s attorney general（首席检察官，司法部长）in 1992and reelected to a second term in 1996．As attorney general，he worked to remove the state’s prison cap and helped create an environmental crimes task force and a citizens’rights division to combat（搏斗，抗击）hate crimes，child abuse and elder abuse．He spearheaded（充当先锋）efforts to reach the historic national tobacco settlement and expanded the Child Victims Assistance Project，a program he started as district attorney．
Born in Nash County，North Carolina in 1950，Easley was raised on a tobacco farm the second of seven children．Easley received his B．A．in Political Science from the University of North Carolina in 1972with honors．In 1975，he earned his law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law，where his wife Mary now serves as a professor of law．He graduated cum laude（〈拉〉以优等，〈俚〉以优等成绩毕业者）from law school and also served as Managing Editor of the Law Review．He and his wife Mary have one child，Michael，Jr．
State Bird州鸟
北美红雀在1943年被选为北卡罗来纳州的州鸟。这种鸟也是这六个州的州鸟。红雀有时也被称为冬红雀，因为在冬天里它是目前惟一的红色鸟，最显而易见的。这种鸟常常出现在公园、草场和森林。雄鸟除了颈部和嘴的周遍部位的羽毛是黑色的，其余部位都是红色的。而雌鸟的羽毛颜色则与周遍自然环境相融，以便保护它们的卵和雏鸟。它们的羽毛颜色不会随着季节的改变而改变。
The Cardinal was selected by popular choice as the State Bird on March 4，1943．
The northern cardinal is also the state bird for six other states．These are Illinois，Indiana，Kentucky，Ohio，Virginia，and West Virginia．