Moving to North Carolina?
North Carolina is a state of countless beautiful landscape, from the Appalachian Mountains in the western portion of the state, to the endless tobacco fields and the breathtaking sunsets that overtake the marshes and sand dunes of the Outer Banks and the sundrenched Atlantic coast.
The Appalachian mountain range, which stretches throughout the state, comprises the oldest mass of mountains in America. These mountains have never been submerged or subjected to glacier erosion. Some of the most popular mountains in the state include the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain, Balsam Mountains, Pisgah Mountains, and Great Smoky Mountain. North Carolina also has more than 300 waterfalls which include a 411-foot two-tiered cascade, which is the highest cascade one can find on the east coast.
North Carolina is a place where the Wright brothers made their first successful powered flight in 1903. The first miniature golf course was also built in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In addition, the state boasts the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation.
If you are moving to North Carolina, There are a lot of things you need to know, and luckily you are in the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to North Carolina
North Carolina Climate
The three principal physiographic divisions are well developed in North Carolina. The three divisions are coastal plain, the piedmont and the mountains. The most important single influence to the variability of climate in North Carolina is altitude. The average temperature varies more than 20F, and the temperature drops to 10 or 12 F about once during an average winter. In central North Carolina, the temperature ranges from some 10F warmer near the coast and 10 F colder in the upper mountain regions. The average relative humidity does not vary much and the relative humidity is about the same everywhere else in the state.
Registering your Car
There are two ways in which you can register your vehicle upon moving to North Carolina. You can register your vehicle within a 30-day window or when you have obtained gainful employment, whichever comes first. Once the initial 30-day period is up, however, it is necessary to register and title your cars in the state or North Carolina or you can risk for a citation.
Obtaining a North Carolina Driver’s License
To apply for a new driver’s license in North Carolina, here are the following steps one must take: Choose your license, take a driver’s education course, prepare for the test, take a division of motor vehicles, take the written test, get insurance and take the driving test.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, North Carolina was ranked 30th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of around 30 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
In the agriculture sector, livestock products and crops make up more than 50% of North Carolina’s agricultural income. Tobacco products are the leading agricultural products exported by the state of North Carolina. The most valuable mined product in the state is crushed stone, followed by trap rock and limestone. Finance, insurance and real estate make up the majority of North Carolina’s service industry. North Carolina ranks third in the United States in the wholesale and retail industry.
Employment Statistics
As of early 2012, the state of North Carolina had an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, currently one of the highest rates in the nation, despite avid job growth in various sectors. The job market is expected to rebound in many areas, however.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of North Carolina is $43,275, while the average per capita income for the state is $35,638.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in North Carolina is $278,919, while the median sales price is just over $136,149.The North Carolina Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of North Carolina.
Major landmarks and attractions
Appalachian Trail; Battleship North Carolina; Biltmore; Cape Hatteras National Seashore; Cherokee Indian Reservation; Great Smoky Mountains; Cameron Indoor Stadium; Chapel Hill
Largest Cities: Cary, Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Wilmington, Winston-Salem
Schools
North Carolina has one of the nations’ most renowned education systems. North Carolina ranks among the top four states for pre-kindergarten schooling, according to the National Institute for Early Education and Research. The state has research and education systems that partner with various companies and leaders of the industry. The education in North Carolina is providing its citizens with ample opportunities, which will help them to learn, grow, and thrive in today’s economy. There is an early education pre-kindergarten program, public schools, and higher education at various collegiate institutions around the state, such as the University of North Carolina, Duke University, Wake Forest University, North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, among many others.
National Parks
Blue Ridge National Park
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Guilford Courthouse National Park
Moores Creek National Battlefield
Wright Brothers National Memorial
State park System
The state park system of North Carolina has a huge range of parks that span the state from the coastline and the Outer Banks to the mountains in the western portion of the state. The parks feature picturesque waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and are the perfect place to enjoy a day in the outdoors. Some of them are, Bay Tree Lake State Park, Cape Hatteras State Park, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Crowders Mountain State Park, Daniel Boone State Park, Dismal Swamp State Park, Duke Powder, State Park, Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Park, Fort Macon State Park, Goose Creek State Park ,and Hammocks Beach State Park
Major Airports
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Fayetteville Regional Airport
Asheville Regional Airport