Piedmont Plateau

Region

Colleges and Universities

UNC School of the Arts

1946-1990

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is an arts school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Its courses include dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, and music. The school was established in 1963 when Governor Terry Sanford and writer John Erle worked together to create the first public arts conservatory in the United States.

Early America

Catawba Indians

1664-1775

Once an eminent Siouan tribe that thrived in the middle Carolinas, the Catawba Nation first encountered white settlers through the fur trade. Both war and European disease proved fatal to the Catawba, and by 1760, only 1,000 tribe members survived. The tribe, now numbering over 2,800 members, gained full federal recognition in 1993, and they live on a reservation near Rock Hill, South Carolina.

North Carolina Central University

1916-1945

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is a historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1910 by Dr. James E. Shepard, a philanthropist and one of the wealthiest black Americans of the time.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University (NC A&T)

1866-1915

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, more commonly known as NC A&T, is the largest historically black college or university (HBCU) in the country, with 13,885 students in the fall of 2023.

Battle of Guilford County Courthouse

1776-1835

The Battle of Guilford County Courthouse was formally a victory for the British but it so damaged Charles Cornwallis's army that it never recovered.

Commentary
Agriculture

Hog Farming in North Carolina: Its Importance, History, and Controversy

Hog farming is integral to the North Carolina economy. The industry brings in around $10 billion in economic output each year for the state and generates over 40,000 jobs. But hog waste is a significant problem.

African American

Sweet Potatoes in North Carolina History

1664-1775

North Carolina produces more sweet potatoes than any other state in the United States and has been a leader since 1971.[1] In 2021 its production represented 64 percent of total U.S. production.[2] The potatoes are grown primarily in central and eastern North Carolina. The largest producers are currently the counties of Sampson, Nash, Wilson, and...

Education

Thales College

1990-present

Thales College is one of North Carolina’s newest colleges. It opened its doors to undergraduates in Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 2022. Thales was founded in 2019 and started high school dual enrollment classes and a summer institute program in 2021. The continuing education program for a Certificate of Classical Education Philosophy began in 2023....

Colonial North Carolina

Enfield Riot (1759)

1664-1775

Leaving Halifax County on a wintry January day, approximately two dozen men travelled seventy miles to Edenton and kidnapped Francis Corbin.  The land agent was hauled back to Halifax County and sequestered in Enfield with his subordinate Joshua Bodley.  After four days, the two co-agents agreed to demands to be more transparent in their official operations, and the rioters were assuaged—at least temporarily.  What transpired those four days is known as the Enfield Riot (1759). 

Commentary
Cities

Names of Streets and Parks in Raleigh Loaded With History

1776-1835

Street signs can be much more than guideposts. They often can provide interesting clues into an area’s history.

Education

James Gloster Brehon (1740-1819)

1776-1835

James Gloster Brehon was an influential physician and scientist from Warrenton, North Carolina. Originally born in Ireland, he moved to the United States and participated in the Revolutionary War as a surgeon. One of Brehon’s great legacies was his role in the foundation of the Warrenton Academy in Warrenton, North Carolina.

Business and Industry

James Spencer Love (1896 – 1962)

1916-1945

  James Spencer Love was the founder of Burlington Industries, the biggest textile manufacturing company in the world by the mid-1950s. His entrepreneurship helped to expand the textile industry and provide funding for education.