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The Swiss and German settlement of New Bern was named in honor of the founder's home, Bern, Switzerland. When Bern, Switzerland was founded, it was named by a group of hunters. They named the city for the first animal they came upon on their hunting expedition. It was a bear. "Bern" is the old Germanic word for Bear, and the bear became the symbol of the city. It has been adopted by New Bern as well.

Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse ever to be moved due to erosion problems.

The World War II battleship 'North Carolina' is permanently berthed on the Cape Fear River at Wilmington. She was saved from the scrap heat in the 1960's by public subscription, including donations of dimes by schoolchildren.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is America's largest home and includes a 255-room chateau, an award-winning winery and extensive gardens.

The motto of the State of North Carolina is:

To be rather than to seem.

The present state constitution was adopted in 1971.

Between 1990 and 2000, there was an increase in the state’s general population of 22%, while the number of physicians in the state increased by 49.8 % from 1994 to 2001.

608 Medical Malpractice lawsuits were filed in North Carolina in 2002.