North Carolina

North Carolina entered the Union on November 21, 1789 as the 12th state. North Carolina’s history spans colonial settlement, plantation agriculture, mountain and coastal regionalism, the civil-rights era, and the modern growth of banking and research centers. Today its state government is centered in Raleigh and follows the bicameral model with a governor and a General Assembly made up of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Median household income$70,804
Poverty rate12.8%
Median age39.4
GovernorJosh Stein (Democratic)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026

Government & Representation

Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.

North Carolina organizes state government through an elected governor and a bicameral General Assembly that includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. Its statewide institutions balance fast-growing metro regions with smaller cities and rural counties, making district representation a central political force.