The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-01-04
| GEOGRAPHY OF NORTH CAROLINA

l Position.-North Carolina, some
times called the odd North State" !"
is situated in the southeastern part
of the United States. It is bounded
on the north by Virginia: on the
east. by the Atlantic Ocean on the
south by South Carolina and Geor
LA /: on the West by Tennessee.
II. kxtent.-Its area IS 5O,704
miles. which is little greater thai
that of New York, and almost exact.
ly that of England. Its greatest
length from east to west is 500 miles ;
its greatest bredth from north to
south is about 800 miles. 1t has 315
miles of sea coast. There are SO
counties in the State. Its popula.
Sion is l 100000.
III. Contour.-(a). Indentstions.
Its eastern boundary is indented
by three large sounds, Currituck, AL
bemarle and Pamlico. These sounds
are broad and shallow and abound in
lish.
(b). Projections.--Skirting the sea
coast are many long. narrow sand
aars. The projections from thes.
:'ars form dangerous capes, as Cap,
Hatteras, Cape Fear and Cape Look
out.
". Notwithstanding to heigh'
of the surface above the sea-level, the
State is divided into three sections,
the Eastern, Middle and Western
sections. The Eastern section lies
along the sea-coast and extends i'll.
land from 12O to $50 miles. and is
generally low and level. The Mid
die section is about 200 miles wide
and extends from the Eastern section
to the foot of the mountains in the
West. Its surface is undulatipg anu
hilly, varying in height from $50 fee,
TO 1900 feet. The Western section
is about 100 miles wide and extends
from the Ilue Ridge to the Smoky
Mountains. 1t is high plateau OF
1000 feet elevation containing sever.
al high peaks. Its highest peak is
Mount Mitchell, $500 feet high 1t
is the highest peak in the Appalach.
ian Mountains. Other high peaks
are Clingnan's Peak, Roam Mountain,
Bald Mountain and Grand Father
mountain.
V. Rocks.-(a). Soils.-The soil
of the Eastern section is generally
sandy and of moderate fertility. But
along the streams, bays and sounds
and extending inland the soil is ex.
ceeding fertile. In the Middle and
Western sections the soils are of ev.
cry variety of composition aud of ev.
cry degree of fertility. It is a re.
markable fact that the mountains are
covered with rich soil, and magnifi.
cent forest crown their very SUBMITS.
% Minerals.-The following min.
erals are foundin workable quantities
mari in rs counties; iron in 80 conn.
ties; gold in 20 counties; copper in
IL counties limestone in 20 counties,
coal in 5 counties. Mica is exten.
sively and profitably mined in the
mountains. Graphite, silver. lead,
zinc. manganese, corundum and
nany precious stones are found.
Beautiful and valuable building
stones exist in great abundance.
There is larger number of species
OF minerals found in the State than
In any other State of the Union.
vi. Rivers.-There are two rive,
systems represented in the State
!a). The Atlantic system, East of the
Blue Ridge. and (b) the Mississippi
system, West of the Blue Ridge.
(a). Atlantic Systcm.-There are
seven large rivers which flow in 8
southeastern direction through the
middle and Eastern sections, and
empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The
Roanoke empties into Albemarle