North Carolina Living

OnTheAvenues SEO

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Great place for information related to SEO, search engine optimization as it relates to web sites, blogs, and using SEO techniques for social networking and more. Latest news, processes and answers to questions to help you perform better on the internet by knowing how to use the proper resources

in reference to: Facebook | OnTheAvenues (view on Google Sidewiki)

Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews.

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Unbiased Forex Software Reviews, Forex Program Reviews. Using the best Forex software will net you more in forex returns!

in reference to:

"Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews.Unbiased Forex Software Reviews, Forex Program Reviews. Using the best Forex software will net you more in forex returns!"
- Best Forex Program Reviews. Top Forex Software Reviews. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Trailer Life. RV Living

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:15:00 +0000

For People On The Road! Resource Guide For Trailers, 5th Wheels, MotorCoach. Trailer Living honors those folks who enjoy the freedom of being able to pick up and go whenever they wish. From trailer humor, trailer park living tips to useful RV, 5th wheel, motorcoach info to trailer parks and National parks information, RV cooking and so much more. We make trailer living and RV-ing hip, cool and fun.

in reference to: Trailer Life. RV, 5th Wheel, Motorcoach Resources. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Trailer Life. RV Living

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:15:00 +0000

in reference to: Trailer Life. RV, 5th Wheel, Motorcoach Resources. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Real Estate Info. Phoenix AZ

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Helpful group of realtor's from The Cutty Group providing insight into the real estate market, home loans, home buying, foreclosures,bank owned,short sales, home market news and all things real estate

in reference to: Facebook | The Cutty Group (view on Google Sidewiki)

Trading Forex Free Training Videos. Forex Profits Engine

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Forex Profits Income Engine Free Access. Forex Training and Trading Videos
This is just a courtesy reminder to let you know that the free Forex Profit Accelerator members website preview subscription I gave you access to yesterday will expire next week, on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009.

There's still time to get access to over a dozen Forex training and trading videos by clicking here.

You will gain a deeper understanding about how the foreign exchange market works, what factors affect currency movements, which currencies are the most popular and most viable to trade, and how you can make a profit by ensuring you get a wide spread margin from the trades you make. There are very specific terminology, such as “bid price” and “ask price”, “pips” and “spread” that you will do well to learn about to make it easier for you to trade.

After you login into the free Forex Profit Accelerator, you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the info on that website. If that's the case, start with these 2 videos which are found in the "Pip Vault" section:

Trade video #14, which is a day-by-day 'diary' of a EUR/USD trade that just openened on March 5th and shows 385+ pips so far. Watch how easy it is to monitor this trade in just a few minutes a night. You can do this, too.

How to identify trending Forex pairs - this 14 minute, 3 second video reveals how to use a simple indicator to quickly help identify which Forex pairs are trending, which can give you a huge edge over other traders, and help shield you from risk when placing a trade.

Both of these videos, along with over a dozen more, can be found on the Forex Profit Accelerator members website preview in the "Pip Vault" section.

(Remember, the entire preview website expires next Tuesday, March 24th, when limited copies of Bill Poulos's Forex Profit Accelerator home study course are re-released... so, until then, make sure you get your hands on all the complimentary training material waiting for you inside.)

Good Trading,
Bonnie Burns

p.s. I'd also take a close look at the up-to-date daily "Pip Feeder" reports found on the site. Normally $197/mo, you get them all 'on the house'... at least through next Tuesday.

To see all the exceptional Bill Poulos Forex and Stock Market training tools and programs that are proven to make you successful in the Forex and Stock market Click Here

2009 Bill Poulos Forex Profits Accelerator

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Forex Profit Accelerator. Investing Safely With Forex How well does your Forex broker "Score"

Part 3 of the 'Forex 4-Pack' was just activated last night just after midnight Eastern (New York) time and already thousands of traders have flocked to it.

It's called "The Forex Risk Shield".

(You may have even caught an early glimpse of it if you happened to be on the '4-Pack' page when it refreshed.)

Anyway, here's the direct access page for Free Forex Profits Acceletator

* If you knew when the market odds were almost certainly AGAINST you, how many Forex trades would you place?

Hopefully you said, "NONE!"

In this free Forex 20 minute video, you'll see 4 specific market conditions where the odds ARE against you. When you know what these are, this is a quick and effortless way to practically eradicate risk.

I hope you enjoy Part 3. This was a favorite of the traders who got a 'sneak peek' glimpse at the 'Forex 4-Pack' last week.

When you're done with Part 3, MAKE SURE you check out Part 2, and especially Part 1, the 100-page "Power Forex Profit Principles" report with a special section on the current state of the Forex market that you won't want to miss. See it here:

Finally, at 10am Eastern on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009, I'll be re-releasing my Forex Profit Accelerator home study course to another limited group of independent traders. This is the same course that reveals how you can maximize your pip potential in just 20 minutes a night.

Even if you're not ready to join my existing group of students on March 24th who are learning to become Master Forex Traders, I've prepared a special collection of FREE training materials I call the 'Forex 4-Pack'. I think you'll agree that the information revealed in this '4-Pack' is more valuable than many Forex courses you'd have to pay for.

After you check out the 'Forex 4-Pack', if you have any interest in grabbing a copy of the complete Forex Profit Accelerator home study course on March 24th, I urge you to join my 'Priority Pip Pullers' list immediately. Click here for free forex profit accelerator videos

To see all the exceptional Bill Poulos Forex and Stock Market training tools and programs that are proven to make you successful in the Forex and Stock market Click Here

Ready to find a home at a great price in the Phoenix Metro Area. Speak To A Professional RE/MAX Phoenix Realtor NOW....Call : 623-979-8888. We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Phoenix AZ MLS for free at http://www.buyphoenixazhomes.com/

Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:17:00 +0000

The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009
Builder, in conjunction with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, debuts its metric for determining markets with the best and least potential.
By: Boyce Thompson

With most economists and builders expecting a national market decline this year, this may not seem like the best time to be selecting the "healthiest" markets in the country. Virtually every market was down last year. But a close look at the numbers reveals that some markets have way outperformed others during the last four years and are likely to continue to do so this year.

When the housing market stages its official recovery, the markets listed on the following pages are likely to lead the parade. It may take a year or more for the weakest markets--where burgeoning foreclosure sales are still pounding new home values, making building and selling new homes an exercise in futility-- to finally stage a turnaround. We’ll present that list next week.

The healthiest markets have many things in common. Most of them are great places to live, either close to the ocean, mountains, or major universities. Most of them didn’t have a huge run-up in prices during the boom and aren’t experiencing rampant deflation during the bust.

To compile these lists, we analyzed the top 75 housing markets in the country. We ranked them based on population trends and job growth, perennial drivers of housing demand. We also examined what’s happened with home prices; many of the healthiest markets have managed to hold the line on home values. And finally, we considered the rate building permits, which may be the single best ongoing indicator of builder confidence in a market. We combined all these metrics to produce a score for each market. Here are the top 15, in reverse order.

15. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,211

Though permit activity dropped sharply last year, Myrtle Beach remains one of the hottest markets in the country, especially when you analyze the number of permits pulled per resident. Only 263,287 people live in the Myrtle Beach metro area, which until recently had been growing its population by nearly 5 percent a year. That means builders pulled one permit for every 82 residents. A steady influx of people, many of them retirees, are drawn by close proximity to the ocean and 117 golf courses at last count. That has helped keep home prices steady; they fell only 10 percent last year to a very affordable $174,800. Most of the home building is split between Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Jobs are dependent on the tourist industry, though, and the metro area was rocked last year when a $400 million rock-and-roll themed amusement part, Hard Rock Park, opened and then filed for bankruptcy. Myrtle Beach added jobs last year, but as of December employment was decreasing at a 4.2 percent rate compared to a year earlier.

14. Wilmington, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 3,551

Wilmington has the second highest ratio of permits pulled per resident, behind only Myrtle Beach. The population here, 352,919 by Census estimates, has been growing at a 4 percent annual rate for the last five years, well above the national average. Primary residents are drawn by a four-season climate, close proximity to Atlantic beaches, and affordable housing. Median home prices, at $198,700, are just about the national average. The area gave back 1,000 jobs last year, after gaining 19,000 the previous three years. Wilmington has had a 60 percent decline in permit activity since 2005, around the national average, but its track record for population growth helps it make this list.

13. Charlotte, N.C.
2008 total building permits: 12,231

People and businesses must love Charlotte, because they are moving there at a high rate. The metro area of 1.74 million has grown its residents by 4 percent annually over the last five years, one of the highest rates in the country. They are drawn by relatively affordable housing for the east coast—median home prices are only $210,900, and they’ve only "corrected" downward by only 4.2 percent in the last year. A strong fourth quarter helped Charlotte record 12,231 permits last year, only a 44 percent decline since 2005. Charlotte’s strength relative to other markets led the investment banking firm UBS to predict last year that it would be one of the first markets to recover from the housing downturn. Charlotte is still a single-family market, with 62 percent of the residential activity in stand-alone homes. The job market in this banking hub contracted last year, after growing 3 to 5 percent annually the previous three years.

12. Denver, Col. 2008 total building permits: 8,800

Denver has been all over the home building news of late, with Beazer and Centex leaving town, then Village Homes of Colorado declaring bankruptcy. But the market hasn’t been hit as hard by the home building recession as other Western markets, in part because it didn’t experience rampant price appreciation during the boom. That’s partly because there’s lots of land available to develop in Denver. The median price of an existing home here was still an affordable $225,100 in the third quarter of last year, down only 11.4 percent in the last year (through 3Q 08). Denver enjoys one of the highest population growth rates in the country--2 percent annually for each of the last five years. Builders pulled 8,800 permits in Denver last year, down from 20,864 in 2005, a percentage decline that’s close to the national average. Denver is buoyed by a strong commercial real estate market.

11. Nashville, Tenn. 2008 total building permits: 8,142

Nashville, the 20th largest home building market, operated under the radar of the national housing boom. It didn’t ramp up wildly during the boom years, and it’s not contracting viciously during the bust. Median home prices remain an affordable $152,100, propped up by a growing job base. Eighty percent of the residential construction is single-family. Some of the market’s resilience stems from above-average population growth of about 2.3 percent a year. Back in the day, 2005, Nashville accounted for 16,654 permits; it now runs at about half that level. But that’s a better performance than most major markets.

10. Washington DC 2008 total building permits: 11,693

Washington D.C. showed signs last summer that it might be emerging from the downturn, then it turned south again. Even so, the area produces a ton of jobs—an estimated 35,000 in the last year—that fuel a vibrant housing market, the 11th largest in the country. Many of the jobs stem from contracts with the federal government. Washington D.C. remains a relatively unaffordable place to live, with a median home price of $332,700 in the third quarter of last year. But values have fallen only 24 percent in the last year in part because the population continues to grow—an average of 1 percent annually over the last five years. Home building patterns have changed dramatically in the nation’s capital with builders mothballing subdivisions well beyond the beltway and focusing on infill opportunities. The region remains one of the worst in the nation for commuters.

9. Fayetteville, Ark. 2008 total building permits: 2,989

Fayetteville has made some important lists in recent years. Located in the foothills of the Ozarks and within an easy drive of Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters, it has recently been named one of the best places to live (by Kiplinger) and to do business (by Inc.). Employment, which had been strongly positive since 2005, dropped somewhat in the fourth quarter of last year. Recent layoffs at Wal-Mart’s corporate office sent tremors through the market. But several Fortune 500 companies that sell products to Wal-Mart have established offices here, and they have helped Fayetteville achieve one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, 4.1 percent in the fourth quarter. The University of Arkansas is also located in Fayetteville, and it has helped attract start-up businesses. Residents are drawn by an affordable housing stock; median prices average only $139,400, below the national average, and they’ve lost only 2.4 percent of their value in the last year. Builders pulled only 2,989 residential permits last year, down from 7, 449 in 2005.

8. Indianapolis, Ind. 2008 total building permits: 7,004

Builders are still pulling permits at a relatively healthy rate in Indianapolis, despite a virtually flat job market. Unlike other major markets that have become multifamily-oriented, single family still accounts for two-thirds of home building activity. Ultra-affordable housing accounts for some of the activity—the median price of a home here is only $117,900, making it one of the most affordable markets in the country. As a result, home prices have declined only 4.5 percent in the last year. At the top of the market in 2005, builders in Indianapolis took down 15,619 permits, so activity is down 55 percent, slightly better than the national average. Unfortunately, the relative health of the market wasn’t enough to keep Davis Homes, one of the area’s largest private builders, from going out of business last year.

7. Seattle, Wash. 2008 total building permits: 13,021

Seattle, a city of 3.4 million people, last year weighed in as the eighth largest home building market. Residential construction activity here, as measured by permits, is off only 50 percent since 2005, much better than most markets. Seattle has steadily transitioned during the last 10 years from an affordable to an upscale housing market, with the median price of an existing home reaching above $350,000. Even so, existing home prices fell only 11 percent in the last year. One of the secrets to Seattle’s success is that it has added lots of jobs in recent years; and held on to them last year. Some builders there have even stepped up their land buying in anticipation of a market recovery. As the city has become more urban, the share of single family to multifamily permits has reversed; multifamily now accounts for 58 percent of activity.

6. Raleigh, N.C. 2008 total building permits: 11,386

Another state capital with multiple universities, Raleigh was still adding jobs at a 1.9 percent annual rate though the third quarter of last year. With a population of more than 1 million, it also has one of the highest rates of population growth of any top metro market in the country over the last five years: nearly 5 percent annually. Though the price of a median home here, $221,900, is above the national average, it is well below other cities in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The metro area has added roughly 68,000 jobs since 2005, and employment held steady last year. With a glut of national builders in the market, locals such as Dixon Kirby have experimented with different looks and styles to keep sales alive.

5. Dallas, Texas 2008 total building permits: 26,145

In a year when permits declined 35 percent nationally, Dallas only experienced a 9 percent fall-off. With a population of 4.2 million, Dallas was the third largest home building market last year, as measured in permits pulled. Employers in Dallas, a popular place for corporate relocation and expansion, added 42,000 jobs last year, a growth rate of 2 percent. Existing home prices have held steady, falling a paltry 2.3 percent in the last year, Interestingly, the face of residential construction has changed dramatically in Dallas in recent years; 58 percent of the activity last year was in multifamily, compared to a five-year average of 23 percent. The relative stability of the market, though, wasn’t enough to prevent Wall Homes from filing for bankruptcy earlier this year. On the other hand, former Meritage co-CEO John Landon recently started a new Dallas-based home building company.

4. San Antonio, Texas 2008 total building permits: 10,261

San Antonio is another Texas market that is still adding jobs, about 15,000 last year. A city of more than 2 million people now, its population is also growing, at a 2.8 percent annual clip through the third quarter of last year. Existing home prices are barely declining in San Antonio, down only 1.8 percent in the last year, leaving the median price of an existing single-family home at an affordable $154,400, 25 percent below the national average of $200,500, according to the National Association of Realtors. The upper end of the housing market was hurt recently when AT&T announced it would be moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas.

3. Fort Worth, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 10,388

Fort Worth, always operating in the shadow of higher profile Dallas, nevertheless can currently claim to have a slightly healthier housing market, based on its employment growth, relatively strong permit activity, and inexpensive housing. Now the 14th largest home building market in the country, Ft. Worth’s builders pulled 10,388 permits last year, roughly two-thirds of them single-family. That may be half as many as 2005, but many other major markets showed much sharper drop-offs. The relative strength of the Fort Worth market in recent years stems from its ties to the oil and gas industries, which has fueled above-average job growth. The metro area added 17,300 jobs last year.

2. Austin, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 14,250

Nine years ago, during the tech bust, some builders felt that Austin was too crowded and left. The bloom is back on Austin’s yellow rose now; it moved up the leader board to become the sixth largest home building market last year. Job creation explains the move. While other markets lost employment, Austin added 17,400 jobs last year, 2.31 percent growth rate. It helps that Austin is home to both a major university, The University of Texas, and the state capital. Existing homes cost a little bit more in Austin than other Texas markets, roughly $190,900, but that’s still below the national average. Also, Austin is one of the few metro areas in the country where median prices actually rose in 2008--1.4 percent through the first three quarters of the year. Amazingly, Austin now generates more home building activity than Chicago, which has six times more people.

1. Houston, Texas 2008 Total Building Permits: 42,697
They like to do things big in Houston. Now the metro area, home to nearly 5.8 million people, can lay claim to being the largest home building market in the country, with 42,697 building permits. The market is still benefiting from an influx of population and jobs and rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Employment rose 2.2 percent last year, representing the addition of an incredible 57,000 jobs. Home building activity in Houston has only fallen 31 percent since 2005. Also, existing home prices actually rose in Houston last year, 2.8 percent, to $160,200, still a very affordable level. Roughly one third of the home building action is in Harris County, followed by Houston proper and Fort Bend County. One of Houston’s largest builders, Royce Homes, shut down last year, and Kimball Hill, one of the biggest builders in Texas, closed its doors this year after it failed to find a buyer.

North Carolina Insurance Agents - Buying Insurance in NC

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:32:00 +0000

North Carolina Insurance Agents

Buying insurance in NC should be no different from making any other major purchase, such as a car or house. Before making the purchase, you should determine what features you really need. This is important to assure that you get what you expect at a reasonable cost.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSURANCE

Insurance is a tool used to help manage financial risk. Financial risk can take many forms. There are risks to our investments, liabilities for our actions, and risks to our ability to earn income. There is insurance to manage all these risks. There are many types of insurance to help you manage financial risk, from loss of property to loss of income. Some insurance helps provide cash flow when income and savings are insufficient. You

Property and casualty insurance. Investments in real property and hard assets are at risk for theft or destruction by natural causes, accident, or mischief (generally, acts of war and terrorism are not covered by property and casualty insurance). Property and casualty insurance helps manage these risks. Property and casualty insurance is available in the form of home insurance, automobile insurance, boat insurance, business property insurance, etc. It protects specific assets from many forms of loss and insures the property owner against liability for damages resulting from the asset's use. The cost of property and casualty insurance is based upon the value of the insured assets and the environment in which the assets are located. For example, auto insurance rates vary depending on the area in which the automobile is located. Communities with high rates of auto theft and accidents will have higher auto insurance rates. Auto insurance also takes driving records and the insured's age into consideration when pricing policies. Some of the types of auto insurance coverage include: liability, medical payments coverage (or personal injury protection), comprehensive physical damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorists' collision.

Errors and omissions, professional malpractice insurance, professional liability insurance. Many occupations and professions risk causing damage to others that can result in financial awards against them. If one were sued for malpractice, this would cause financial hardship when one had to liquidate assets or assign future income to pay the awards. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, construction workers, and anyone else whose occupation can inadvertently cause harm to others or others' property may be liable for financial damages. Financial damages, whether paid from assets, future income, or both, can be daunting and pose a severe financial hardship. There is specific insurance that helps manage these risks arising from one's occupation. Premiums for such insurance are based upon industry statistics and the history of the insured person. Sometimes claims against a person may not be made for years after the occurrence of the action causing the claim, so it is important to know the conditions under which the policy will cover claims.

Health and long-term care insurance. We all know people who have high medical care costs. Often paid by employer contributions, healthcare insurance is essential to assure an adequate level of medical care. Yet, there are many Americans who have inadequate or no health care insurance at all. There are many forms of health care insurance programs available, including fee-for-services plans, hospital and medical service plans, and managed care plans (prepaid health plans that provide comprehensive health to members, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, exclusive provider organizations, and point-of-service plans). Premiums are based upon group statistics and levels of care provided. With the aging of America, there is a strong need for long-term health care insurance to cover costs of nursing homes and assisted living care for the elderly. For eligible individuals, federal Medicare and state-sponsored Medicaid insurance help defray the high cost of medical care.

Life and disability insurance. If a family were to lose its income due to the death or disability of the principal earners, it would face financial hardship. While no one can put a monetary value on human life, one can put a value on his or her earning ability. Life insurance and disability insurance pay benefits to replace lost earnings due to death or disability. The premiums for this insurance are based upon statistics for the age, health, and occupation of the insured, as well as the amount of benefits to be paid. While both life and disability insurance are available through groups, such as employer plans, individuals can buy policies tailored to their specific needs. Life insurance is so versatile that many individuals use it for advanced financial planning purposes, such as retirement planning and savings, as well as for death benefits.

Special forms of insurance are available to cover almost any other financial risks. For example, there is unemployment insurance, investment insurance, and dismemberment insurance (for loss of a body part). Some high-fashion models are even insured against loss of income due to loss of their good looks. Premiums for such insurance are also based upon the likelihood of an event occurring and the amount of benefits to be paid.

Sometimes having the wrong insurance can be worse than having no insurance.

Source: Educated Advisor

How To Pick An Attorney In North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:26:00 +0000

How To Pick An Attorney In North Carolina

All attorneys are not created equal. Selecting an attorney must begin by finding one that is qualified to work in family court, criminal, dwi, divorce, and so on. The best way to find a good attorney is from someone who has had personal experience with the attorney and can give you a positive recommendation. This is still a good way to learn about an attorney's reputation. Anyway, be cautious and take your time in finding the right attorney.

Always look for an attorney who is experienced in the particular area of law that is needed. Though the competent attorney's hourly rate is usually higher, I have learned that by the time the case is completed, the competent attorney costs were usually cheaper.

Remember you are paying for good representation and not specific results. Be suspicious of any attorney who makes promises about the outcome of your case.

Select an attorney who has a proven track record in the county where your case will be heard. Ask how many divorce cases they have had in the past year.

Usually a friend who has had experience with a particular attorney in a case similar to yours is an excellent source for getting the name of an attorney.

The local bar association will help you by giving three names of local attorneys. Keep in mind that the bar association will give you names of attorneys specializing in domestic relations and have an office close to where you live or work. The names do not take into consideration the attorney's reputation or competency.

It is important to be cautious when hiring a big-name attorney for a divorce case. These attorneys usually have a reputation because they specialize in criminal law and may require expensive retainers. Your reason for hiring a high profile attorney may be to intimidate your spouse or his attorney. The strategy rarely works.

You should interview the prospective attorney before deciding to hire him. After all, the attorney will be interviewing you to see if he or she can work with you and if you have the money to pay your bill.

Look for an attorney who is interested, empathetic and knowledgeable of the law.

Going through any litigation is stressful, even if you have a strong case and are the plaintiff. In fact, the one thing you will learn from going to court is to avoid, if at all possible, going to court. Even so called winners find the experience emotionally grueling. To lessen the stress, you may want your attorney's reassurance that he or she will win your case. Though your feelings are understandable, your attorney can only represent you on the strength of the evidence and the law. They cannot guarantee you that the judge will decide in your favor.

Because you are angry, you may think that hiring a big-name attorney will intimidate your spouse or the other attorney. This rarely happens. Most experienced attorneys know each other and are not intimidated by the opposing attorney. Any intimidation is usually the client's illusion and not shared by the attorney. In fact, be cautious when hiring a big-name attorney for a divorce case. Most big-name attorneys have gained their reputation from criminal rather than divorce cases. If the attorney takes your case, he or she will be very expensive and may have little interest in your case. I once watched a big-name attorney mistake the client's girlfriend as his client. He was embarrassed and apologized.

Know in Advance How Fees Are Determined. The least expensive hourly rate is not always the cheapest attorney. Ask the attorney about their hourly fees and what you are getting for the money. Many attorneys will charge for their time on the phone, doing research, or standing in line to file papers. You should know ahead of time what you are paying for so you are not surprised when you get the bill. Remember that attorneys are in business to make a living and are not a charitable institution

North Carolina Fishing Holes

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:05:00 +0000

North Carolina Fishing Holes

North Carolina offers world-class fishing in diverse settings such as icy mountain streams, sprawling Piedmont reservoirs and rolling coastal rivers. The NCWRC has made finding a fishing hole easy by maintaining Public Fishing Areas (PFA) and Community Fishing Program (CFP) sites. Check out these sites and the mountain trout maps, to find your next fishing spot!

Public Fishing Areas (PFA) have been created throughout the state to provide free fishing opportunities from the banks of North Carolina's lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs. The Wildlife Resources Commission has enhanced fishing opportunities at PFAs by clearing banks of underbrush, and in some cases, by constructing handicapped-accessible fishing piers, creating graveled or paved parking lots, installing fish attractors, or baiting the areas with grain or fish feed.

Community Fishing Program (CFP) sites are located primarily in city- or county-owned parks, providing urban anglers fishing opportunities in intensively managed bodies of water. Community Fishing Program sites feature solar-powered fish feeders, handicapped-accessible fishing piers (at most CFPs), and periodic stockings of harvestable-sized channel catfish from April through September.

North Carolina Designated Public Mountain Trout WatersThese maps are provided to give anglers a guide to fishing regulations in effect on specific streams. They also provide locations of all waters open to public trout fishing. Designated waters are shown in thick colored lines that correspond to colors of existing signs conspicuously posted at major access areas to trout waters. Undesignated waters are shown as thin light blue lines. As an additional guide, game lands boundaries are also displayed. Please consult the current NC Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Regulations Digest or see the trout regulations for further information. Also see Fishing News.

Coldwater Stocking by County
Coldwater Weekly Stocking Update
Warmwater Stocking List
Community Fishing Program Stocking List
Stocking your lake or pond
Fish Stocking Permit: Required for stocking fish, mollusks or crustaceans in inland, public fishing waters (public freshwaters).
How does the Wildlife Commission make decisions about stocking?
Fishing Seasons

Visit The Carolina Community Resources Website for North Carolina businesses, Services and Real Estate Needs

North Carolina Zoo Events

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:59:00 +0000

North Carolina Zoo Events Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

Visit The North Carolina Zoo website

Special Events
KidZone ► Opening March 27, 2007 -
Hey kids! Do you enjoy looking for bugs, climbing and running or making mud pies? Would you like to learn how to grow and eat your name? Well, check out all the fun things you can do at the kidZone - a special place just for KIDS opening this spring at the North Carolina Zoo.

ZooFest ► October Saturdays, 2007 -
Fall festivals at the NC Zoo! Celebrations of the exotic, the endangered, and the mysterious for the young -- and young at heart

October 6 - Native American Art, Dance, Music and MysteryOctober 13 - African Art, Dance, Music and MysteryOctober 20 - HOWL-O-Ween – Hear the howls and tales of the Red Wolves.

October 27- 28 - BOO at the ZOO - A magical weekend featuring, games, music, face painting, treats, costume contest and plenty of Halloween fun.

Feb. 2
GROUNDHOG DAY
Join the fun as our groundhog predicts winter weather.

March 22
EGG-STRAVAGANZA
Watch Zoo animals search for holiday treats!

March 29 & 30
S.O.S. Save Our Snakes!
Come ssssssssee why snakes are so sssssssspecial!

April Saturdays
ZooFLING
Roar into Spring at the NC Zoo! Meet Zoo Keepers and discover the secrets to animal appetites, creature comforts, and wild lifestyles.

April 5, 6
Watani Grasslands Grand Opening Celebration – Have tons of fun exploring the new Elephant and Rhinoceros exhibit!

April 12
Feast of the Beasts

April 19, 20
Earth Day Celebration

April 26
Creature Comforts

May 10 & 11
BIRDS AND BLOOMS Not your garden variety Mother’s Day weekend!

May 10
Celebrate NC Zoo’s International Migratory Bird Day and explore more than 60,000 beautiful plants.

May 11
Bring Mom to the Zoo with online discount admission.

June Saturdays
BEE A BEAR
Explore life as a bear and catch the latest buzz on bees.

June 7
Polar Paws & Claws

June 14
Grizzly Walks and Talks

June 21, 22
Black Bears & Bees
Father’s Day
Bring Papa Bear to the Zoowith online discount admission.

June 28
Teddy Bear Fair
Bring your Teddy Bear for a check up with our zoo veterinarians.

August 9 & 10
ZooCOOL
Forecasters are calling for snow at the NC Zoo! Chill out as we show you how Zoo animals beat the heat.

ZooFEST
October Saturdays

Fall festivals at the NC Zoo!
Celebrations of the exotic, the endangered, and the mysterious.

October 4 - Native American Art, Dance, Music and Mystery

October 11 - African Art, Dance, Music and Mystery

October 18 - HOWL-O-Ween – Hearthe howls and tales of the Red Wolves.

October 25, 26 BOO at the ZOO - A magical weekend featuring games, music, face painting, treats, costume contests and plenty of Halloween fun.

BATOLOGY

November 1 & 2
Discover the good nature of bats at Sonora Desert . Watch Zoo Keepers feed the bats.

Visit The Carolina Community Resources Website for North Carolina businesses, Services and Real Estate Needs

North Carolina State Fairground Events

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:44:00 +0000

North Carolina State Fairground Events Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

NC State Fair Webcam

Source NC DA&CS: 2007- 2008 CalendarThis is a listing of the events staged at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on a monthly basis. Included is the name of the event and building location. For more information please contact the Event promoter listed with the event or the Fairgrounds office at 919-821-7400 - Events Information Line - Extension 22 or Facility Rentals - Extension 4501. All events are subject to last minute changes.

October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
Hunt Horse Complex 2007 Calendar
Hunt Horse Complex 2008 Calendar

N.C. State Fair opening ceremony set for 11 a.m. Friday in Heritage Circle
(10-11-07)
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and Fair Manager Wesley Wyatt will officially open the 2007 N.C. State Fair at 11 a.m. Friday at the old tobacco barn in Heritage Circle. The ceremony will feature music by the Wells Family.

N.C. State Fair has a green feel (10-10-07)
RALEIGH – During the N.C. State Fair, the fairgrounds in West Raleigh can best be compared to a small city. With good weather, more than 750,000 people will likely cross through the gates during the Fair’s 10-day run. Like most cities in North Carolina today, the Fair will be doing its part for water conservation, and it will also feature a number of other environmentally friendly measures. Read More>>

Pittsboro mother-son crafters will be featured at the N.C. State Fair (10-2-07)
RALEIGH—Similar to a colonial village of years gone by, the Village of Yesteryear crafters gather at the N.C. State Fair each year to showcase their wares. This family reunion of sorts is bound by a love for craftsmanship and early American working handicrafts. Among the many items available for sale and display are Native American pottery, carvings, beadwork, stained glass, wooden utensils, toys, woven goods and more. Read More>>

Alternative transportation information updated (9-24-07)
Just added! Ride TTA to the Fair on Saturdays from Chapel Hill or RTP!

Seriously Twisted Fun planned for 2007 State Fair (9-13-07)
RALEIGH – Fairgoers will find plenty of tried-and-true attractions to go along with some new twists on fun at the N.C. State Fair Oct. 12-21. Read More>>

Subway, N.C. State Fair launch Seriously Twisted Sub contest (9-13-07)
N.C. State Fair plans to recognize seniors, military; hosting several special events (8-30-07)

Visit The Carolina Community Resources Website for North Carolina businesses, Services and Real Estate Needs

North Carolina Newspapers

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:59:00 +0000

North Carolina Newspapers

Ahoskie Roanoke-Chowan News Herald
Albemarle The Stanly News & Press
Andrews The Andrews Journal
Asheboro The Courier Tribune
Asheville Asheville Citizen-Times
Asheville Mountain Xpress
Asheville W. Carolina Business Journal
Black Mountain Black Mountain News
Boone The Mountain Times
Boone Watauga Democrat
Bryson City Smoky Mountain Times
Burlington Times-News
Carolina Beach Island Gazette
Cary The Cary News
Cashiers Crossroads Chronicle
Chapel Hill Chapel Hill News
Charlotte Business Journal of Charlotte
Charlotte Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Charlotte Post
Charlotte Charlotte Weekly
Charlotte Creative Loafing
Charlotte La Noticia
Charlotte Mecklenburg Times
Charlotte Periódico Mi Gente
Charlotte Que Pasa
Charlotte Rhino Times
Clayton The Clayton News-Star
Clemmons The Clemmons Courier
Clinton The Sampson Independent
Columbus Polk County News-Journal
Concord Independent Tribune
Creedmoor Butner-Creedmoor News
Denton The Denton Orator
Denver http://www.newsatnorman.com/
Dunn The Daily Record
Durham The Herald-Sun
Durham The Independent
Eden Daily News
Elizabeth City The Daily Advance
Elizabethtown The Bladen Journal
Elkin The Tribune (
Fayetteville Acento Latino
Fayetteville Fayetteville Observer
Forest City Daily Courier
Franklin Macon County News
Franklin The Franklin Press
Fremont Wayne Wilson News Leader
Fuquay Varina Fuquay-Varina Independent
Garner The Garner News
Gastonia The Gaston Gazette
Goldsboro The News-Argus
Greensboro Carolina Peacemaker
Greensboro The Business Journal
Greensboro The News and Record
Greensboro Yes! Weekly
Greenville The Daily Reflector
Hampstead Topsail Voice
Havelock Havelock News
Henderson The Daily Dispatch
Hendersonville Times News
Hickory Hickory Daily Record
High Point High Point Enterprise
Highlands The Highlander
Hillsborough The News of Orange County
Huntersville Huntersville Herald
Jacksonville Jacksonville Daily News
Jamestown The Jamestown News
Kannapolis Independent Tribune
Kenly The Kenly News
Kernersville Kernersville News
Kinston The Free Press
Laurinburg Laurinburg Exchange
Lenoir Lenoir News Topic
Lexington The Dispatch
Lincolnton Lincoln Times-News
Locust The Weekly Post
Lumberton The Robesonian
Madison The Madison Messenger
Marion McDowell News
Mebane Mebane Enterprise
Mocksville The Enterprise-Record(A) (C)
Monroe The Enquirer-Journal
Mooresville Lake Norman Times
Mooresville Mooresville Tribune
Morehead City Carteret Co News-Times
Morganton The News Herald
Mount Airy Mount Airy News
Mount Olive Mount Olive Tribune
Murphy The Cherokee Scout
Nags Head Outer Banks Sentinel
New Bern Sun Journal
Newland Avery Journal
Newton Observer News Enterprise
North Wilkesboro The Record
North Wilkesboro Wilkes Journal-Patriot
Oriental The Pamlico News
Pittsboro Chatham Journal
Princeton Princeton News Leader
Raeford The News-Journal
Raleigh News and Observer
Raleigh Que Pasa
Raleigh The Raleigh Chronicle
Raleigh Triangle Business Journal
Reidsville The Reidsville Review
Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald
Robbinsville The Graham Star
Rockingham Richmond County Daily Journal
Rocky Mount Rocky Mount Telegram
Roxboro Courier Times
Salisbury Salisbury Post
Sanford The Sanford Herald
Shallotte The Brunswick Beacon
Shelby The Shelby Star
Siler City The Chatham News
Smithfield The Smithfield Herald
Southern Pines The Pilot
Sparta The Alleghany News
Spruce Pine News-Journal
Statesville Statesville Record & Landmark
Swansboro Tideland News
Sylva Herald and Ruralite
Tarboro The Daily Southerner
Taylorsville Taylorsville Times
Thomasville Thomasville Times
Troy The Montgomery Herald
Tryon The Tryon Daily Bulletin
Wadesboro The Anson Record
Wadesboro The Express Newspaper
Wake Forest The Wake Weekly
Warrenton The Warren Record
Washington Daily News
Waynesville Smoky Mountain News
Waynesville The Mountaineer
West Jefferson Jefferson Post
Whiteville The News Reporter
Wilmington Star-News Online
Wilson Wilson Daily Times
Winston Salem Que Pasa
Winston Salem The Chronicle
Winston Salem Winston-Salem Journal
Wrightsville Beach The Lumina News
Yadkinville The Yadkin Ripple
Yanceyville The Caswell Messenger
Zebulon Eastern Wake News

College Newspapers
A & T State The A & T Register
Appalachian State The Appalachian
Chowan College Chowan Connections
Davidson College The Davidsonian
Duke Univ The Chronicle
E. Carolina Univ Greenville East Carolinian
Elon College The Pendulum
Guilford College The Guilfordian
Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhynean
Mars Hill College The Hilltop
Montreat College The Whetstone
NC Central University Campus Echo
NC State Raleigh Technician Online
Univ NC Asheville The Blue Banner
Univ NC Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel
Univ NC Charlotte The Niner Online
Univ NC Pembroke The Pine Needle
Univ NC Wilmington The Seahawk
Wake Forest Old Gold and Black
Western Carolina Univ Western Carolinian

Magazines
Appalachian Highways
Sportfishing Report
Up & Coming Weekly

NC Online Directory Website
North Carolina Community Resources

Best Hiking Trails In North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:05:00 +0000

Best Hiking Trails In North Carolina

#1. Black Mountain Crest
An inspiring overnight backpack or shorter day hike across the Black Mountains, with summits all well above 6.000 feet. Views are astounding along this sparsely vegetated ridge, plummeting 4000 feet

From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Asheville, NC - Hiking - 12 miles (About Top Trails)

#2. Mount Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell—the highest peak east of the Mississippi—is a crowning part of the Blue Ridge Parkway experience. The only motorized access to the mountain is from the Parkway, at Milepost 355.3,
From the guidebook "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway"
Asheville, NC - Hiking - 12 miles (About Top Trails)

#3. Uwharrie National Forest
Wonderful, woodsy circuit hikes in Uwharrie National Forest, some of substantial length. The Uwharrie and Dutchmans Creek trails form a figure eight
From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Asheboro, NC - Hiking - 20.1 miles (About Top Trails)

#4. Mount Pisgah Area Trails
Driving the Parkway from Asheville to Mt. Pisgah is a humbling experience —especially if you stopped by Biltmore House and Gardens on the way through town.

From the guidebook "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway"
Brevard, NC - Hiking - 6.4 miles (About Top Trails)

#5. Appalachian Trail: Clingmans Dome to Spence Field
This hike is a long, difficult, beautiful hike, and by the end, you will have your own definition of a southern Appalachian knob.

From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Cades Cove, NC - Hiking - 22.1 miles (About Top Trails)

#6. Appalachian Trail - Southern Balds Section
An inspiring hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) over the mountaintop meadows called the Southern Balds. As a whole, this is a wonderful but strenuous backpacking trip. Hikers can also make day hikes
From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Bakersville, NC - Hiking - 13 miles (About Top Trails)

#7. Appalachian Trail: Allen Gap to Devil Fork Gap
The northern half of this hike borders the Bald Mountain Ridge Scenic Area in the Cherokee National Forest, and the AT runs along a rugged, isolated crest. Outstanding view

From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Hot Springs, NC - Hiking - 20.2 miles (About Top Trails)

#8. Gregory Bald Overnight Loop
This hike combines the best that the high and low country have to offer. First, you'll travel up the Twentymile Trail past Twentymile Cascades to the Upper Flats streamside camp.

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
Fontana Village, NC - Hiking - 15.7 miles (About Top Trails)

#9. Craggy Gardens
A more than mile-high area of crags and bald mountains with a variety of hikes, easy to moderate, with spectacular vistas and a waterfall. General location: Blue Ridge Parkway

From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Asheville, NC - Hiking - 6.2 miles (About Top Trails)

#10. Shining Rock Wilderness
Hikes to bald summits and evergreen forests of the Shining Rock wilderness. Most of these hikes begin on the Graveyard Trail, a less-used and scenic route. General location: Blue Ridge Parkway
From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Asheville, NC - Hiking - 9 miles (About Top Trails)

#11. Linville Gorge Wilderness
A 12,002-acre tract of designated wilderness, Linville Gorge lies between Jonas Ridge to the east and Linville Mountain to the west. The Blue Ridge Parkway skirts the head of the gorge From the guidebook "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway"
Crossnore, NC - Hiking - 14 miles (About Top Trails)

#12. Andrews Bald
This is one of the Smokies' finest hikes. The trip passes through an extraordinary spruce-fir forest to the grassy field of Andrews Bald. Resplendent with stunning view

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
Cherokee, NC - Hiking - 3.6 miles (About Top Trails)

#13. Shining Rock Wilderness
As you drive south out of Asheville and climb past Mt. Pisgah, the Shining Rock Wilderness can’t help but catch your attention.

From the guidebook "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway"
Brevard, NC - Hiking - 8.8 miles (About Top Trails)

#14. Bartram Trail
An outstanding ridge walk, perfect for backpacking or day hiking. The graded trail traverses a rarely visited ridge and spectacular summits. General location: North of Highlands....
From the guidebook "Hiking North Carolina"
Highlands, NC - Hiking - 8.5 miles (About Top Trails)

#15. Appalachian Trail:

Carvers Gap to Roan High Bluff & Rhododendron Gardens
Roan Mountain is a place of mystery, legend, wild beauty, and superlatives. The largest of the southern Appalachian grassy balds

From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Bakersville, NC - Hiking - 5.6 miles (About Top Trails)

#16. Appalachian Trail: Carvers Gap to US 19E
Wide-open spaces, miles of waving grass, alpine wildflowers … Is this the southern Appalachians? Botanist Asa Gray observed in the 1880s that he could ride his horse for 14 miles on Roan Mountain
From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Roan Mountain, TN - Hiking - 13.4 miles (About Top Trails)

#17. Appalachian Trail: Davenport Gap to Max Patch
Because of distance and several long ups and downs, the rating on this hike is "strenuous," but in general the grade is good with no difficult or rough spots. From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Waterville, NC - Hiking - 16 miles (About Top Trails)

#18. Graveyard Fields Loop Trail
A loop that reaches two waterfalls and explores a high, alpine-like valley. A second circuit involves a new portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

From the guidebook "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway"
Brevard, NC - Hiking - 9.5 miles

#19. Fontana Lake Overnight Loop
If you like a combination of mountains and lakes, this moderate hike is for you and any younger or inexperienced backpackers you may wish to bring along.

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
Fontana Village, NC - Hiking - 17.7 miles

#20. Appalachian Trail: Deep Gap to Timber Ridge Trail
At 5498 feet, Standing Indian Mountain is the highest point south of the Smokies and the southernmost mile-high peak on the AT. However, the trail climbs gradually with switchbacks
From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Southern Appalachians"
Franklin, NC - Hiking - 10.4 miles

Source: http://www.trails.com

North Carolina- NC- Top 20 Best Scenic Drives

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:48:00 +0000

North Carolina- NC- Top 20 Best Scenic Drives

#1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This park is close to major population centers, but its lush greenery and pleasantly rounded peaks create a soothing aura of tranquillity.

#2. Blue Ridge Parkway: Asheville to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A 75-mile paved section of one of the most famous routes in America, following the dramatic crest of the Pisgah and Great Balsam Mountains to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Asheville, NC - Scenic Drives - 75 miles (About Top Trails)

#3. Uwharrie Mountains: Uwharrie National Forest
A 34-mile paved and gravel route that winds through the ancient Uwharrie Mountains and the Uwharrie National Forest, past rivers, a lake, a covered bridge, and many hiking opportunities. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Eldorado, NC - Scenic Drives - 34 miles

#4. Mountain Waters Scenic Byway
A 61.3-mile paved route through the southern Appalachian Mountains, with whitewater river gorges, hardwood forests, and rural farm country. The Mountain Waters Scenic Byway traverses beautiful mountains. From the guidebook "National Forest Scenic Byways East & South"

Highlands, NC - Scenic Drives - 61.3 miles

#5. Mountain Waters Scenic Byway: Highlands to the Nantahala River Gorge
A 61-mile paved route that winds through some of the most spectacular country in the Nantahala National Forest, including multiple waterfalls, a roaring whitewater river, and tremendous mountaintop views. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Franklin, NC - Scenic Drives - 61 miles

#6. Whitewater Falls: Highlands to Rosman
A 41-mile paved route through the resort towns of Highlands, Cashiers, and Lake Toxaway via Whitewater Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Cashiers, NC - Scenic Drives - 41 miles

#7. Bentonville Battleground: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park to Bentonville Battleground
A 33-mile paved route from a state park with cliffs (surprising for the coastal plain) to Bentonville Battleground, the site of the last major Confederate offensive of the Civil War. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Goldsboro, NC - Scenic Drives - 33 miles

#8. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest to Tennessee State Line
A 25-mile paved road through beautiful, undeveloped Nantahala National Forest, including old-growth trees at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and tremendous views from the crest of the Unicoi Mountains. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Robbinsville, NC - Scenic Drives - 25 miles

#9. Crowders Mountain: Kings Mountain National Military Park, SC to Crowders Mountain
A short, paved 10-mile route chock-full of interesting sights, including a Revolutionary War battlefield, two state parks, a living history farm just over the border in South Carolina. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Gastonia, NC - Scenic Drives - 10 miles

#10. Linville Gorge: Pisgah National Forest near Linville Falls
A 19-mile gravel and paved route that encircles rugged Linville Gorge. This drive partially encircles Linville Gorge, a yawning chasm where the Linville River tumbles 2,000 feet in 14 miles. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Linville Falls, NC - Scenic Drives - 19 miles

#11. Blowing Rock: Blowing Rock to Roseboro
A 26-mile paved and gravel road from the busy resort town of Blowing Rock deep into the tranquil Pisgah National Forest and past the tiny communities of Globe, Edgemont, Mortimer, and Roseboro. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Blowing Rock, NC - Scenic Drives - 26 miles

#12. Newfound Gap & Clingmans Dome: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A 24-mile paved road that climbs from the base of the Great Smoky Mountains to the highest peak, past historic sites, rushing mountain streams, numerous overlooks, and lush forest. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Bryson City, NC - Scenic Drives - 24 miles

#13. Hanging Rock: Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock
A 24-mile paved road between two prominent remnants of the ancient Sauratown Mountains, often called “the mountains away from the mountains” because of their isolation from the Blue Ridge. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Mount Airy, NC - Scenic Drives - 24 miles

#14. Green Swamp: Clarkton to Supply
A 44-mile drive across a very lightly developed area of the coastal plain, past the interesting Green Swamp. This is a low-key trip across a very lightly developed section of the coastal plain. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Supply, NC - Scenic Drives - 44 miles

#15. Heintooga-Round Bottom Road: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A 35-mile paved and gravel road through a scenic but lightly visited part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Cherokee, NC - Scenic Drives - 35 miles

#16. Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to Hatteras
A 48-mile drive past the seemingly endless beaches and dunes of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with a visit to a wildlife refuge and what is probably the best-known lighthouse in America. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Waves, NC - Scenic Drives - 48 miles

#17. Overhill Skyway
A winding, 44-mile paved route through the southern Appalachian Mountains, through the ancestral territories of the Cherokee Indian nation. This route is also called the Cherohala Skyway. From the guidebook "National Forest Scenic Byways East & South"

Tellico Plains, TN - Scenic Drives - 44 miles

#18. Elk Falls: Vilas to Elk Falls
A 25-mile mostly paved road through rugged mountains, past a historic general store to a large, accessible waterfall. This drive follows a winding route through the mountains west of Boone. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Banner Elk, NC - Scenic Drives - 25 miles

#19. Forest Heritage Scenic Drive: Pisgah National Forest near Brevard
A 65-mile paved road through the heart of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, past waterfalls, historic sites, mountain overlooks, and miles of lush, undeveloped forest. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Brevard, NC - Scenic Drives - 65 miles

#20. Roan Mountain: Spruce Pine to Roan Mountain
A 25-mile paved route from the historic mining town of Spruce Pine to the extensive rhododendron gardens on the summit of Roan Mountain. From the guidebook "Scenic Driving North Carolina"

Spruce Pine, NC - Scenic Drives - 25 miles

Forest City North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:28:00 +0000

Forest City North Carolina

Forest City is located six miles east of Rutherfordton, the county seat, and is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. The town is interconnected by three US highways, 74, 221, 64, and one state highway 108. Forest City is a wonderful community with a colorful history and a bright future.

What is now Forest City began as a crossroads on the Shelby-Rutherfordton and Spartanburg-Lincolnton Roads. Originally, the town was incorporated as Burnt Chimney in 1877. A replica near the site of the original chimney adorns the public square today. The "chimney" was the remains of the McArthur home that marked the crossroads.

The name was changed to Forest City in 1887, named after a prominent citizen, Forest Davis. The 1880 census counted 110 residents in the small crossroads town. By 1890, 419 people lived in Forest City - the increase was primarily due to the coming of the railroad and the building of the Florence Mill. By 1910, Forest City was a flourishing community with 1,090 residents with electric lights and water and 12 passenger trains daily.

In 1914, the Forest City Betterment Club embarked on a project to beautify the town's Main Street and today the original landscaped medians and fountain still exist. In 1927, the town was selected as one of the ten most beautiful and best planned towns in the United States by the US Department of Agriculture. By 1940, Forest City had 4,068 residents and had established itself as the commercial hub of the county.

Today, the population of Forest City NC is 7,450. The town remains the commercial hub, and the legacy of "community betterment" can still be seen in the pride the town and its residents take in keeping Forest City a beautiful and livable community
Source Forest City NC

Find Premiere Forest City NC Real Estate Agents

Archdale North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:20:00 +0000

Archdale North Carolina

The City of Archdale is conveniently located in the middle of the Piedmont Triad. We are a forward thinking and forward moving community. Our location along Interstate 85 and the new Interstate 74 provides quick and easy travel to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Piedmont Triad International Airport, and all points in between.

Our schools continue to excel at educating our future leaders. Our three elementary schools have achieved the “School of Excellence” award for the last two years. Creekside Park offers over 100 acres of recreational amenities, including: ball fields, greenways, tennis courts, and a recreational center. Our city also supports a state-of-art library and an active Senior Citizens Center. Our City Council and Chamber of Commerce are dedicated to attracting new economic development opportunities to our community.

While Archdale has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years, we have still managed to preserve the quaint, small town feel of our community. Whether you are a newcomer, visitor, or long time resident, we know you will find our community will meet your needs.

In the last five years the City has acquired several tracts of open space and natural areas adjacent to its Creekside Park creating approximately 100 acres of ballfields, greenways, natural areas, and other recreational facilities. The City has plans to construct miles of greenway in a system that will eventually connect to the yet-to-be-completed Randleman Lake. There also are several institutions of higher education with in easy access of Archdale. There are the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A & T University, and Greensboro College all of which are located in Greensboro, Guilford College (15 miles), High Point University (10 miles), campuses of Guilford Technical Community College within 5 miles at Jamestown and High Point, and a campus of Randolph Community College located at Creekside Park itself. Medical facilities include High Point Regional Health System which is located just 7 miles away in downtown High Point. Cornerstone Health Care and its wide-ranging medical services have various facilities located in both High Point and Archdale. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital is located in Greensboro and internationally-recognized Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is just 25 miles away in Winston-Salem. In addition, Duke University Hospital in Durham and UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill are located a mere one-hour drive away.
Source Archdale NC

Find Premiere Archdale NC Real Estate Agents

Wrightsville Beach North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:35:00 +0000

Wrightsville Beach North Carolina

The town of Wrightsville Beach occupies one of the chain of barrier islands along North Carolina's southeastern coast. These islands, geologically relatively young, presented prior to urban development a combination of wide sandy beaches, dunes, and marine forests.

Westward of the long and narrow barrier islands are the sounds and marshlands where sea water continually flows in and out across waterways and wetlands. The barrier islands are in a state of constant transition because of natural forces.

The island of Wrightsville Beach today is 1,000-5,000 feet in width and stretches almost four miles from Masonboro inlet on the south to Mason inlet on the north.

This is a man-made configuration that may not stand the test of time. When North Carolinians named the island it was called New Hanover Banks, a sandy barrier cut by shallow Moor's Inlet. The northern portion was called Shell Island.

Today, Moore's Inlet is bulldozed and closed, and Lumina Avenue and a magnificent wide beach run the length of Wrightsville Beach.

On the mainland side of Wrightsville Beach European settlers encountered a sound nearly two miles wide, a stretch of waterways, marsh and small islands.

Dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway earlier in the 20th century produced sand and clay which were compacted to form a sizable island in the sound that was originally called The Hammocks--now Harbor Island--between the barrier island and the western shore of the sound, which is punctuated by creeks, tidal flats and marshlands.

The entire habitat--ocean and barrier island, sound and creeks, was originally rich with salt water and anadromous fish along with turtles, raccoons and even alligators.

The city limits of the town of Wrightsville Beach today encompass not only the barrier island but also Harbor Island and a small portion of mainland. "The Beach," or the island itself, once owned by the State of North Carolina and known as New Hanover Banks. It was transferred into private hands in three separate grants between 1791 and 1881.

Development, however, was slow, impeded by distance and lack of transportation other than by boat. The established port city of Wilmington on the lower Cape Fear River, a municipality founded in 1740, sits ten miles by land to the Southwest, but the early owners of portions of New Hanover Banks could only reach the area by traveling on oar-driven skiffs or sailing craft down to the mouth of the Cape Fear River and then northeastward up the sounds or coast.

For a century after the beach passed into private hands there were no residents, and the only visitors were fishermen, drawn to the area by the great numbers of Spanish Mackerel and Blue Fish, and hunters who used marsh lands to the west to hunt game hen and game birds.

Sailing became a popular pastime in the area, and frequent races led to the founding of the Carolina Yacht Club in April, 1853. Club members erected a clubhouse, the first structure on what began to be called Wrightsville Beach (after the Wright family who owned land on the nearby mainland) as their meeting place. The Carolina Yacht Club held dozens of races every year, and is now recognized as the third oldest yacht club in the United States.

The Civil War disrupted these events for a few years, as many members of the club and their boats went into military service. The waterways adjacent to Cape Fear were busy with traffic during the war, with blockade runners making their dangerous, usually nocturnal dash from the Atlantic into the mouth of the river on their way to the port of Wilmington.

At least three blockade runners are said to have foundered on Wrightsville Beach itself, one allegedly carrying a sword covered in jewels, meant for the Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

The inaccessibility of the area began to change in 1875, when a charter was granted for the construction of a turnpike connecting Wilmington to Wrightsville Sound. The passage was completed in 1887, completely topped by oyster shells, thus earning the nickname "the Shell Road."

Later that year a charter was granted to the Wilmington Seacoast Railroad Company to build a track to extend from Wilmington all the way to the Hammocks. With rail transportation to the Hammocks and a footbridge to Wrightsville Beach, development of the island began to accelerate.

Another yacht club was erected, two hotels and several beach cottages, the first apparently built by Col. F. W. Foster. The Hammocks attracted a popular hotel, the Island Beach, in 1897, and in 1889 the rail line was extended across the Hammocks and Bank's Channel to Wrightsville Beach where it then ran southward along a route now marked by South Lumina Avenue.

Hundreds of visitors from around the state of North Carolina began to arrive each summer. From 10th and Princess streets in downtown Wilmington the train (after 1902, electric trolley) ride to the beach took thirty minutes. Until the automobile era the "Beach Car" trolley was "the lifeline of Wrightsville Beach," in one resident's recollection. (4) On July 4, 1907, for example, 8,700 passengers were carried to the beach on the popular line.

On March 6, 1899, the residents incorporated the Town of Wrightsville Beach. The population at this time cannot be determined with accuracy, but probably was not more than 40 or 50, most of them seasonal dwellers who did not live on the beach year-round.

Their civic commitment was soon tested. The great hurricane of 1899 swept in from the Atlantic and destroyed virtually everything on Wrightsville Beach, including the train tracks that connected it to the mainland. Like Hazel in 1954, the storm struck during the exact hour of high tide, and sent huge waves across the beaches, inundating the island.

The spirit of the people of Wrightsville Beach rose to the occasion. The railroad was rebuilt the very next year, and the electric trolley cars (after 1902) carried thousands of visitors to a beach that was fast becoming a main attraction not only for the people of Wilmington and much of North Carolina but for tourists from New York and other eastern cities.

Hugh MacRae, president of the Tide Water Power Company, the parent company of the trolley line, added to the enticements of sun and sand by building an immense public pavilion at the final stop on the line.

Lumina was constructed on 200 feet of ocean frontage at Station #7, the end of the line, and opened on June 3, 1905. Costing $7,000 to build--a very large sum in that day-- Lumina's 12,500 square foot complex presented visitors with three levels of games and activities.

A bowling alley, shooting gallery and snack shop occupied the ground floor, and a broad staircase led up to the dance hall with balcony for the band and onlookers.

The instantly-popular Lumina was enlarged several times to accommodate the crowds, and a movie screen was erected fifty feet into the surf.

In 1911, over 600 tungsten lights were placed along Lumina's exterior, and television news commentator David Brinkley, born and raised in Wilmington, remembers in the late 1930s changing light bulbs in the eight-foot high sign LUMINA on the roof, making the facility a glittering landmark easily seen from the mainland or from ships at sea.

In 1935 the trolley era gave way to the automobile, when a two-lane bridge was built across the Intracoastal Waterway to Harbor Island and then over Bank's Channel to the beach.

The Great Fire of Wrightsville Beach, Jan. 28, 1934, destroyed over one hundred cottages as well as the Oceanic Hotel, though Lumina survived.

Her lights went out during World War II, as naval authorities feared that allied shipping might be silhouetted against the brightly illuminated building, to the benefit of German submarines.

But Wrightsville Beach was far from the sea lanes, protected from submarines by shallow offshore waters. German U-boat Commander Erich Cremer, interviewed in 1984, recalled the waters off Wrightsville Beach as "a shallow grave" that protected the area from the coastal U-boat activity that raised anxieties at other points on the Atlantic shore.

A population of approximately 110 year-round residents in 1930 grew to 1500 in 1945. David Brinkley tells us in his autobiography, David Brinkley: A Memoir, that Wrightsville was not a place only for the rich, like some of the beaches of Long Island, Florida, and elsewhere. "Wilmington residents of even modest prosperity could have a house in town and a shingled cottage built up on stilts on the beach....For a schoolboy with a summer job at the beach making a little money working as a soda jerk...with girls all around in swimsuits that then seemed skimpy, the beach, the surf, Lumina with big bands playing every night, it was heaven."

Mostly heaven. But nature had a way of punctuating the good life at the beach. On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck the mainland at the North Carolina-South Carolina border,hitting at high tide and at full moon with estimated winds between 125-140 MPH at Wrightsville Beach.
A storm surge of 12-14 feet above mean low water mark destroyed between 100-250 houses--estimates vary-- and damaged 500 more, again tearing out the Carolina Yacht Club and the town sewer plant.

Again, Wrightsville residents rebuilt. The seven-story Blockade Runner Motor Hotel open in 1964, reflecting confidence in the future of tourism at the beach.

Lumina era, however, was coming to a close. Crowds had diminished with the end of the trolley line, the building deteriorated, and was judged unsafe and condemned by town officials in 1972.

Historian Rupert Benson reminisced: "The finest orchestras of the country...the Sunday school picnics...pictures over the water in the evening for everyone to enjoy, a grand era of good enjoyment passed on. The auto changed all this and what a mess."

There was no Wrightsville Beach Preservation Society or other group to mobilize public support for at least the documentation of the famous landmark, if not the preservation of part or all of it, and Lumina was demolished in 1973.

Recent decades have seen a gradual in-filling of development until few vacant lots are left. A towering Shell Island Resort with attached parking garage was constructed at the edge of the inlet on the north end of the island in 1984--too towering, many residents thought of the awkward, ungraceful structure, and too close to the inlet, it was learned in 1996 as Mason Inlet began to migrate southward and threatened to erode the building's foundations.

Three thousand people now live on the island during the off-season, and the arrival of warm weather greatly increases that number. What brings them to cherish this place, whether as residents or visitors for the weekend?

Wrightsville resident and historian Rupert Benson gave an apt description when he wrote of the mid-century years: "Sky and sea are ablaze with sunset splendor and the snowy crest of the breakers tipped with the colors of the sunset...makes one feel God left his hand here."

The Lord Giveth, but occasionally, even on the beach, the Lord Taketh Away. In the summer of 1996, two large hurricanes made landfall near the mouth of the Cape Fear River--Bertha, on July 12 and Fran, on September 5. Both the island's piers were sheared back, hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged, and the imposing dunes topped by seat oats were leveled all along the coast.

Again, Wrightsville Beach citizens regrouped, and rebuilt their community between the broad white beach and the marshes, waterways, and glowing sunsets to the west.

Benson captured this resurgent spirit when he wrote in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1934: "Public minded citizens of the Beach rose up and sought a new day.
Source: Wrightsville Beach NC

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Spring Lake North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:31:00 +0000

Spring Lake North Carolina

Spring Lake is a pleasant little town located in the northwestern end of Cumberland County, nestled between Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. In the early 1920’s, the Town became a bedroom community for Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.

Spring Lake NC is now more than twice its original size. The Fayetteville Technical Community College just opened their Spring Lake Center. Wal-Mart recently opened a new Super Center, and there are many other projects in the works. The Town is moving forward. No matter what part of the world you are from, you will find a piece of home in our diverse restaurants and shops of every ethnic variety. Diversity is our strength. There is a wide array of cultural and recreational opportunities as well. We are a small community with a big heart and offer a small town atmosphere, located only a short distance from the Research Triangle Area. We have an eye on the future to make Spring Lake the best place to live, work, and play.
Source: Spring Lake NC

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Rocky Mount North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:31:00 +0000

Rocky Mount North Carolina

Remarkable Rocky Mount NC, twice recognized as an All-American city, guarantees to make you feel right at home with a wide variety of restaurants - from unbelievably tasty home cookin' to the very best of the national chains, ample hotel accommodations in all price ranges, and a touch of "good ole southern charm." Remarkable... You bet!

Whether you're a lifelong resident of Nash county or a first-time resident, we want to help guide you to the many exciting activities, attractions, festivals, and special events the area has to offer. Remarkable Rocky Mount NC and the charming small towns of Nash county offer an interesting blend of recreational opportunities, historical sites worth exploring, sports events, plus arts and cultural experiences.

Rocky Mount, Nash county NC location is both convenient and easily accessible from all directions, making it the perfect spot for sports tournaments, family reunions, business meetings, seminars, conferences, and all kinds of special events as well as the best stop for I-95 and US 64 travelers.

The "New South" was emerging, and Rocky Mount was ready. A "Chamber of Commerce" was formed in 1904 and tobacco and "King Cotton" were staples of a booming economy.

In fact, by 1960 Rocky Mount boasted its ranking as the world's largest bright leaf tobacco market. It was also during this time that the area's economy diversified for the first time, spawning new industry and new job opportunities.

Nothing impacted the area more than the founding of Hardee's Food Systems in 1961. Formed by Rocky Mount natives Jim Gardner and Leonard Rawls, Hardee's grew to become a giant in the fast food business.

Today, Rocky Mount NC is home to major manufacturers in the fields of aeronautics (Honeywell), pharmaceuticals (Hospira), and diesel engines (Consolidated Diesel Co.). The area also boasts fast food franchising (Boddie-Noell Enterprises), food distribution (MBM Corp.), food preparation (Cheesecake Factory Bakery), agribusiness (Dale Bone Farms), and egg production (Braswell Foods), and residential development (Ford's Colony of Rocky Mount).

Source: Rocky Mount

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Mecklenburg County NC

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:42:00 +0000

Mecklenburg County NC

Mecklenburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2006, the population was 827,445. Its county seat is Charlotte6. It is the most populous county in the state.

History
Mecklenburg County was formed in 1762 from the western part of Anson County. It was named for the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), who had become queen consort of King George III the previous year. She is also the eponym of Mecklenburg County's county seat and largest city, Charlotte.

In 1768 the part of Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River became Tryon County. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was allegedly signed on May 20, 1775; if the document is indeed genuine, Mecklenburg County was the first part of the Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. In 1792 the northeastern part of Mecklenburg County became Cabarrus County. Finally, in 1842 the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County was combined with the western part of Anson County to become Union County.

James Knox Polk, the eleventh President of the United States, was born here in 1795 in what is now Pineville.

Law and government
Mecklenburg County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.

The County has two governing bodies: the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. Both are nine member boards, with six district representatives and three representatives elected at-large by the entire county. The current chairman of the Mecklenburg BOCC is Jennifer Roberts.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,415 km² (546 mi²). 1,363 km² (526 mi²) of it is land and 52 km² (20 mi²) of it (3.65%) is water.

Municipalities
Mecklenburg County contains seven (7) municipalities including the City of Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville (north of Charlotte); and the towns of Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville (south and east of Charlotte). Extra-territorial jurisdictions within the county are annexed by municipalities as soon as they reach sufficient concentrations.

One common school district, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), serves the entire county.

Adjacent Counties
Iredell County, North Carolina - north
Cabarrus County, North Carolina - northeast
Union County, North Carolina - southeast
Lancaster County, South Carolina - south
York County, South Carolina - southwest
Gaston County, North Carolina - west
Lincoln County, North Carolina - northwest

Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 695,454 people, 273,416 households, and 174,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 510/km² (1,322/mi²). There were 292,780 housing units at an average density of 215/km² (556/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.02% White, 27.87% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 6.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, and growing. This is especially evident around the town of Pineville/South Blvd. and the area of Eastland/Central in Charlotte.

There were 273,416 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.00% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 36.40% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,579, and the median income for a family was $60,608. Males had a median income of $40,934 versus $30,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,352. About 6.60% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns
Charlotte
Cornelius
Davidson
Huntersville
Matthews
Mint Hill
Pineville

Original Townships of Mecklenburg County
In 1959, the North Carolina State Legislature revised laws that govern how cities may annex adjacent areas, allowing municipalities to annex unincorporated lands without permission of those residents.[1] Due to decades of an aggressive annexation policy, cities (especially Charlotte) have greatly expanded their borders,[2] diminishing or totally engulfing all of the original 15 Townships of Mecklenburg County. Although seldom mentioned by residents anymore, the U.S. Census still recognizes all of the Townships except Sharon Township.(see modern map).

Charlotte Township - completely annexed into the City of Charlotte
Mallard Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Crab Orchard Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Clear Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte and Mint Hill annexation
Morning Star Township - almost entirely annexed by Charlotte, Mint Hill, and Matthews
Sharon Township - completely annexed into Charlotte and eliminated
Providence Township - almost entirely annexed into Charlotte
Pineville Township - mostly annexed by the City of Pineville
Steele Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Berryhill Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Paw Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Long Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
Deweese Township - reduced by Davidson and Cornelius annexation
Huntersville Township - reduced by Huntersville annexation
Lemley Township - mostly beneath Lake Norman since it was created in 1963, and reduced by Huntersville annexation
Source: Wikipedia

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Wake County, North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:37:00 +0000

Wake County, North Carolina

Consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work in America, Wake County is home to NC State University, Research Triangle Park, the NC State Fair and 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Wake County is also the center of state government, with our Capitol Building, legislature and many government offices located in Raleigh.

Wake County, North Carolina, is consistently rated as one of the best places to live and work in America! With our welcoming climate, major universities, nationally recognized public schools, exciting sports teams, a variety of museums and parks, great shops and restaurants, and emphasis on history -- Wake County has become home to many people who relocate here each year and is one of the fastest growing areas in the state.

Wake County is the second-most populous County in North Carolina. The County consists of 12 municipalities and includes Raleigh, the county seat and state capital. A unique mix of urban and rural small towns distinguishes Wake County from other counties and provides something for every lifestyle. The County has a population of more than 750,000 residents. The County’s General Fund budget is currently $747 million, and the County has approximately 3,400 employees. The County has a seven-year capital plan totaling $1.2 billion and grants in excess of $100 million per year.

The weather in Wake County is defined as moderate. The area's average annual rainfall is 44.7 inches per year, with an inconsistent annual snowfall of less than 2 inches per year. The average low temperature is 47 degrees, and the average high temperature is 73 degrees. The area enjoys long spring, summer and fall seasons, with relatively short winters. Highs can reach into the 90s during the peak of the summer and around freezing during the winter months.

Wake County greets more than 10 million visitors every year! Tourism brings $1.13 billion to Wake County annually -- that's $3.1 million every day! It also helps with employment, contributing to 21,500 direct jobs in the hospitality, retail and other service sectors.
With our welcoming climate, exciting sports teams, a variety of museums and parks, great shops and restaurants, and emphasis on history, Wake County has something to offer everyone -- no matter whether you are young or a senior, whether you are single or have a large family.

Geographic Facts
The size of the County is 549,000 acres, or 860 sq. miles, or 2,212 sq. kilometers. From east to west, it measures 46 miles. From north to south, it measures 39 miles.

The highest point in the County, about 540 feet above sea level, is a quarter of a mile north of Leesville.

The lowest point in the County, about 160 feet above sea level, is a half of a mile southeast of Shotwell, where Marks Creek flows into Johnston County.

The geographic center of Wake County is in Raleigh, near Broughton High School.

The County is considered to be in a transitional zone between the Piedmont uplands and the coastal plain and, therefore, within the fall zone.

The Neuse River and its tributaries drain about 80% of the County, and the southwestern part is drained by tributaries of the Cape Fear River. The stream network generally flows in a southeasterly direction.

History

The county was formed in 1771 from parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County. It was named for Margaret Wake, wife of Governor William Tryon.

In 1881 parts of Wake County and Orange County were combined to form Durham County. In 1911 Cedar Fork Township of Wake County was transferred to Durham County and became Carr Township.

Politics
Wake County is the second most heavily populated county in North Carolina, with, as of July 2005, a population of approximately 750,000. Although Democratic presidential candidates have only won the county in three of the last 12 elections (Kennedy in 1960, Johnson in 1964 and Clinton in 1992), the races have almost always been close, such as in 1980, when Ronald Reagan won by a landslide nationwide, but by a mere 1% in Wake County. Recently, Republican George W. Bush won the county in 2000 with 53% and defeated John Kerry in 2004 by a slim 51% to 49%.

Recently, statewide Democrats have fared well here; in the 1998 Senate Race, Democrat John Edwards won in Wake County, which helped him in his defeat of incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth. In 2000 Democrat Governor Mike Easley won here with 55% of the vote. In 2004, Easley won again in Wake County by nearly 20%, winning with 59% to 40% for opponent Patrick Ballantine. Democratic candidate for US Senate Erskine Bowles won in Wake County with 52 percent, despite losing statewide to Richard Burr by the same margin. In 2002, however, Republican Elizabeth Dole defeated Bowles with 55% of the vote here, and won by a large margin statewide.

Democratic voters are mainly located in the city of Raleigh, while Republicans are the majority in the rural areas in the north and western parts of the county. The outskirts of Raleigh, and the cities of Cary and Apex are where most of the swing voters are located.

Townships
The county is divided into twenty townships: Bartons Creek, Buckhorn, Cary, Cedar Fork, Holly Springs, House Creek, Leesville, Little River, Marks Creek, Meredith, Middle Creek, Neuse, New Light, Panther Branch, Raleigh, St. Mary's, St. Matthew's, Swift Creek, Wake Forest, and White Oak.

Adjacent Counties
Granville County, North Carolina - north
Franklin County, North Carolina - northeast
Nash County, North Carolina - east
Johnston County, North Carolina - southeast
Harnett County, North Carolina - southwest
Chatham County, North Carolina - west
Durham County, North Carolina - northwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 627,846 people, 242,040 households, and 158,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 291/km² (755/mi²). There were 258,953 housing units at an average density of 120/km² (311/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.40% White, 19.72% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 3.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 5.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 242,040 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 36.50% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,988, and the median income for a family was $67,149. Males had a median income of $44,472 versus $31,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,004. About 4.90% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities
Apex
Cary
Fuquay-Varina
Garner
Holly Springs
Knightdale
Morrisville
Raleigh
Rolesville
Wake Forest
Wendell
Zebulon

Unincorporated communities
Auburn
Bonsal
Carpenter
Feltonville
Green Level
Kennebec
Lizard Lick
New Hill
Swift Creek

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Southern Pines North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:13:00 +0000

Southern Pines North Carolina

The town of Southern Pines is located in Moore County on the fringe of the Piedmont section of the state in an area known as the Sandhills. Incorporated in 1887, the town has a current population of approximately 11,586 and encompasses 16.241 square miles.

What makes Southern Pines special among similar North Carolina towns is its unique combination of small-town ambience and big-city attractions. Retired folks, active duty military personnel, working families, singles -- all make up a diverse population.

Varied tastes and interests support a range of cultural events, from musical and theatrical performances to art exhibits and lecture series. Our local community college offers many continuing education classes, as well as opportunities for instruction from basic skills to advanced degrees.

A moderate climate -- daytime highs average in the 40s in winter and in the 80s in summer -- means that outdoor activities are possible twelve months a year. Residents and visitors alike enjoy golf, tennis, hiking, horseback riding, etc. From youth soccer tournaments to summer softball leagues to Senior Games in the Pines, there is something for every age and interest.

The economy of Southern Pines balances manufacturing, tourism, health services, education, and retirement. Tourism continues to show growth trends, with meeting/convention business remaining strong. The area is the site of past and future major golf championship play, as well as a destination for those shopping for pottery and antiques. Southern Pines has a vibrant downtown area as well as outlying shopping districts. A big plus is the variety of hotels, meeting sites, and restaurants available.

Besides all these local attractions, our central geographical position in the state puts us within easy driving distance to Charlotte, Fayetteville, and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle. Or, a drive of a few hours can lead west to the Appalachian Mountains or east to the Atlantic seashore.

Southern Pines NC is proud of its rich heritage. Early settlers in the area were Highland Scots. Sandy soil produced few crops and made travel in the area difficult. However, the coming of the railroad allowed first for the export of harvested pine trees, then for the import of visitors to resort hotels! The Town's founder, John T. Patrick, bought the first 675 acres of land for the town in 1884 on a place known as Shaw's Ridge for the sum of $1,265. He called it Vineland, but soon changed the name to Southern Pines. Originally conceived of as a health resort, Patrick saw the climate as the area's biggest asset. Parallel to the development of "East" Southern Pines was "West Southern Pines", which was one of the few -- and among the first -- incorporated African American towns in North Carolina. The two communities were merged through its annexation into Southern Pines in 1931. The town has flourished over the years, surviving World Wars and the Depression and changing economies to become the active community it is today.

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Kinston North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Bonnie) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:13:00 +0000

Kinston North Carolina

Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. It was the county seat of Dobbs County from 1779 to 1791, and has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. It is the home of the Kinston Indians baseball club of the Carolina League. Kinston is served by the Kinston Regional Jetport. Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. Whether you are a long time resident, newcomer or thinking of relocating to Kinston, we hope you will find everything you are looking

Prior to the establishment of the city, the area was known as Atkins Bank, which referred to a bluff just above the Neuse River once owned by Robert Atkins. Atkins Bank was the site of farms, a tobacco warehouse, and a Church of England mission. Prior to English settlement, the area was inhabited by the Neusiok Indians.

Kinston NC was created by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly in December of 1762 as Kingston, in honor of King George III who had just recently ascended to the throne. The bill to incorporate it was introduced by Richard Caswell, who made his home there and later served as the first Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780. The conclusion of the American Revolution brought a change of name to Kinston in 1784 in order to show the population's new distaste with royalty. In 1833, Kinston briefly became Caswell, in honor of the governor, but reverted to Kinston the following year.

Once created, commissioners appointed to design the town began to accept "subscriptions" for numbered lots. To keep a lot, subscribers were required to build brick homes of specific dimensions within three years or lose their rights to the property. The town was laid out with border streets named East, North, and South, with the western border of the town being comprised of the Neuse River. The two principal roads within these borders were named for King George and Queen Charlotte, and they remain King and Queen Street to this day. Other streets were named in honor of Governor Dobbs (later renamed Independent Street) and the commissioners.

In December of 1791, an act was passed in the General Assembly abolishing Dobbs County and forming Lenoir County and Glasgow County. At that time, Kinston was named the county seat for Lenoir County.

Throughout this period, Kinston NC was an unincorporated town, but it finally became incorporated through an act of the legislature in January of 1849. Following incorporation, the population grew rapidly. In 1850, the population was estimated at 455 people, and just ten years later, it had more than doubled to over one thousand.

During the onset of the Civil War, Camp Campbell and Camp Johnston were established near the city as training camps, and a bakery on Queen Street was converted to produce hard tack in large quantities. There was also a factory for the production of shoes for the military located in Kinston. The Battle of Kinston took place in and around the city on December 14, 1862. The Battle of Southwest Creek (March 8, 1865) also occured very near the city. It was at this later battle that the Confederate Ram Neuse was destroyed. Remnants of this ship have been salvaged, and there is an effort underway for the construction of a replica vessel. Union forces occupied the city following the battle and remained through the Reconstruction.

Despite the hardships of war and Reconstruction, the population of the city continued to grow. By 1870, the population had increased to eleven hundred people and grew to more than seventeen hundred within a decade. The late nineteenth century saw expansion into new areas of industry, most notably the production of carriages. Kinston also became a major tobacco and cotton trading center. By the start of the twentieth century, more than five million pounds of tobacco were being sold in Kinston's warehouses annually. Along with the growth in population and industry was a growth in property values. Some parcels increased in value more than five fold within a twenty year period.

The twentieth century saw a variety of industries come to Kinston including lumber mills, cotton mills, and even professional sports in the form of a minor league baseball team. Later growth would come in the form of a Du Pont plant for the manufacture of polyester fibers as well as pharmaceutical factories. Growth finally slowed following the sixties, but there has been some effort to reinvigorate the economy through various means with success.

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