List of North Carolina state symbols

Location of the state of North Carolina in the United States of America

The following is a list of official state symbols of the U.S. state of North Carolina, listed in the order adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly

Insignia

Type	Symbol	Year	Image
Flag	"That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the center of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription 'May 20, 1775,' and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: 'April 12, 1776.'"	1885
Motto	Esse quam videri ("To be, rather than to seem")	1893
Nicknames	*Old North State[1] Tar Heel State[1] Turpentine State[2]	n/a
Seal	The Seal of North Carolina	1871 (Revised in 1983)

Flora

Type	Symbol	Year	Image
Flower	American Dogwood (Cornus Florida)	1941[3]
State wildflower	Carolina Lily	2003[4]
State tree	Pine (Pinus)	1963[5]
State Christmas tree	Fraser Fir	2005[6]
State carnivorous plant	Venus Flytrap	2005[7]

Fauna

Type	Symbol	Year	Image
State bird	Cardinal	1943[8]
State horse	Colonial Spanish Mustang	2010
State mammal	Eastern Gray Squirrel	1969
State salt water fish	Channel Bass	1971[9]
State freshwater fish	Southern Appalachian brook trout (freshwater trout)	2005[9]
State reptile	Eastern Box Turtle	1979[3]
State insect	honey bee (Apis mellifera)	1973[3]
State Dog	Plott Hound	1989

Geology

Type	Symbol	Year	Image
State gemstone	Emerald	1973[3]
State rock	Granite	1979	Granite (1979)
State mineral	Gold	2011	Gold (2011)

Culture

Type	Symbol	Year	Image
State song	"The Old North State"	1927[10]
State colors	The red and blue of the North Carolina and the United States	1945[11]
State toast	The Tar Heel Toast	1957[12]
State beverage	Milk	1987[13]
State vegetable	Sweet potato	1995[14]
State red berry	Strawberry	2001[3]
State blue berry	Blueberry	2001[3]
State fruit	Scuppernong grape	2001[3]
State folk dance	Clogging	2005[15]
State popular dance	Shag	2005[16]
State historical boat	Shad Boat	1987[17]
State sport	Stock car racing	2011[18]

See also

• List of North Carolina-related topics
• Lists of United States state insignia
• State of North Carolina

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". State of North Carolina. http://ncpedia.org/history/nameandnicknames. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
2. ^ "Why We are Called Tar Heels". UNC Libraries. http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/tarheel.html. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library (State of North Carolina). http://ncpedia.org/symbols. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
4. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
5. ^ "State tree". North Carolina General Statutes § 145‑3. http://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_145/gs_145-3.html. 
6. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
7. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
8. ^ "North Carolina State Bird". Cardinal- North Carolina State Bird. NC Department of State. http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/pubsweb/symbols/sy-cardi.htm. 
9. ^ ^{a b} North Carolina State Symbols
10. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
11. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
12. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
13. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
14. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
15. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
16. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
17. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina
18. ^ Official State Symbols of North Carolina

External links

• Official State Symbols of North Carolina
• N.C.G.S. Chapter 145 - State Symbols and Other Official Adoptions