North Carolina

North Carolina is located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the Southern United States.  The first permanent settlement in the area was from Spanish colonial forces when the Juan Pardo-led Expedition built Fort San Juan in 1567.  Eventually, North Carolina became one of the Thirteen Colonies and it was originally known as Province of Carolina.  It includes a large range of elevations, from sea level on the coast to 6,684 feet in the mountains.  North Carolina is a fast growing state, and was actually the third-fastest growing location in the United States between 2007 and 2008.