North Carolina 2014
North Carolina’s capital city is Raleigh, which is located in the Piedmont region of the state. It is home to a population of just over 474,000 and is a major educational and cultural hub for the region. The city has numerous museums, galleries, parks and other attractions, including the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Pullen Park and Marbles Kids Museum. It also hosts several festivals throughout the year, such as Hopscotch Music Festival and SPARKCon. According to countryaah.com, the largest city in North Carolina is Charlotte with a population of 859,095 as of 2019. Charlotte is known for its vibrant culture and entertainment offerings such as professional sports teams like NFL’s Panthers and NBA’s Hornets. It also boasts some impressive landmarks like the Bank of America Stadium and NASCAR Hall of Fame. Charlotte has something for everyone with its art galleries, shopping districts, breweries, restaurants and more.
Politics of North Carolina in 2014
In 2014, North Carolina was in the midst of a period of political change. The state had recently seen a shift in power from Democrat to Republican, with Republicans gaining control of both the governorship and the legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. This shift was largely due to an influx of new voters from out-of-state and an increase in conservative voting patterns. As a result, North Carolina politics saw major changes in both policy and rhetoric throughout 2014.
The year began with Republican Governor Pat McCrory taking office after narrowly defeating incumbent Democrat Bev Perdue. McCrory promised to bring a “Carolina Comeback” by focusing on job creation and economic growth, but his tenure was quickly marked by controversy over his support for controversial policies such as voter ID laws and cutting taxes for the wealthy while raising taxes on working families.
The Republican-controlled legislature also made headlines throughout 2014 with its efforts to pass various pieces of legislation that were widely seen as being hostile towards women, minorities, and the LGBT community. These included bills that would have restricted women’s access to abortion services and allowed businesses to discriminate against certain customers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Ultimately, these bills failed due to public outcry and legal challenges from advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Despite these controversies, there were some areas where Republicans were able to make progress in 2014. They passed legislation that provided tax credits for businesses that created jobs in rural areas, increased funding for K-12 education, raised teacher salaries, and reduced regulations on businesses operating within the state. These measures helped boost economic growth while also providing much needed relief for struggling families across North Carolina.
Overall, 2014 saw a period of significant change in North Carolina politics as Republicans gained control of state government after decades of Democratic rule. This resulted in both positive steps forward such as increased funding for education and job creation incentives as well as controversial measures such as restrictive abortion laws which ultimately failed due to public opposition.
Population of North Carolina in 2014
According to beautyphoon, the population of North Carolina in 2014 was estimated to be around 9.9 million people. Of this, the majority (68%) were white non-Hispanic while 22% were African American and 8% Latino. The median age was 37, with a slightly higher percentage of females than males (50.4% to 49.6%).
The largest cities in the state in 2014 were Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham and Winston-Salem, all of which had populations over 200,000 at the time. These five cities accounted for nearly 30% of North Carolina’s total population in 2014. In terms of rural areas, the Appalachian Mountains region was home to a large number of small towns and villages while other parts of the state were mainly agricultural areas with small farming communities scattered throughout.
The economy in North Carolina was largely based on agriculture and manufacturing at the time with some service sector jobs also available. The unemployment rate in 2014 was 7%, slightly lower than the national average at that time. However, there were still many people who struggled financially due to low wages or underemployment.
Education levels among adults were relatively high with 84% having completed high school or higher education and 34% having a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification. The poverty rate for individuals aged 18 or older was 13%, slightly below the national average at that time but still significantly higher than wealthier states such as New Jersey or Massachusetts where poverty rates hovered around 10%.
Overall, North Carolina had a diverse population in 2014 with a mix of urban and rural areas as well as highly educated individuals living alongside those who struggled financially due to low wages or underemployment. Despite this diversity however, there was still significant inequality between different groups within society which had been exacerbated by controversial policies passed by Republican-controlled state government during that year.
Economy of North Carolina in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, the economy of North Carolina was largely based on agriculture and manufacturing. Agriculture accounted for around 24% of the state’s total GDP in 2014, with major crops such as tobacco, cotton, soybeans, corn and wheat providing employment to many farmers in rural areas. Manufacturing also played a large role in the state’s economy at that time, accounting for nearly 20% of the total GDP. This sector was particularly concentrated in the Charlotte area where companies such as Bank of America and Duke Energy were based.
In addition to these two main sectors, service industries also provided employment opportunities for many North Carolinians in 2014. These jobs included healthcare, retail, education and hospitality services among others. In terms of government spending, North Carolina was ranked 26th among all states in terms of per capita spending on public services at that time.
The unemployment rate in 2014 was 7%, slightly lower than the national average at that time. However, there were still many people who struggled financially due to low wages or underemployment particularly those living in rural areas or working in manual labor positions such as construction or farming. The median household income was $45,717 which was lower than both the national median income ($51,939) and other wealthier states such as New Jersey ($63,656).
Despite this inequality However, there were still a number of initiatives being taken by state government to improve the economic situation within North Carolina. These included tax relief measures aimed at businesses and individuals as well as incentives for companies investing into rural areas or creating new jobs within certain sectors such as technology or renewable energy.
Overall, then it can be seen that North Carolina had a diverse economy in 2014 with agriculture and manufacturing being key contributors to its GDP while service industries provided employment opportunities for many citizens living within the state at that time. Despite some progress being made However, there were still significant inequalities between different parts of society which had been exacerbated by controversial policies passed by Republican-controlled state government during that year.
Events Held in North Carolina in 2014
In 2014, North Carolina was home to a variety of events that attracted tourists from all around the world. From music festivals to sporting events, there was something for everyone in the Tar Heel State.
The summer months were filled with music festivals such as the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh and the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Pittsboro. These festivals featured some of the biggest names in bluegrass and Americana music, including The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Alison Krauss. Other musical events included the MerleFest in Wilkesboro and Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh.
Sports fans were also well catered for throughout 2014 as North Carolina hosted some prestigious events. The Barclays Golf Tournament took place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte while NASCAR held two races at Charlotte Motor Speedway – the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America 500. In addition to these events, professional basketball returned to Charlotte when the Charlotte Hornets were reborn after a seven-year absence from the NBA.
The year 2014 also saw North Carolina host some major cultural events such as ArtPop Street Gallery’s ‘Highway Beautification Project’ which aimed to transform highways into art galleries by displaying large pieces of artwork along highways across North Carolina. The city of Raleigh hosted its first ever ‘Raleigh Mardi Gras’ event which brought thousands of people downtown for a day of live music, food trucks, costume contests, and plenty more fun activities.
Finally, 2014 saw a number of conventions take place throughout North Carolina including Gen Con (gaming convention), High Point Furniture Market (furniture industry convention), Comic Con (comic book convention) and more. These conventions brought thousands of people together from all over the world to celebrate their hobbies and passions while networking with like-minded professionals.
Overall, then it can be seen that 2014 was an exciting year for North Carolina with many different kinds of events taking place throughout the state which attracted tourists from around the world. From music festivals to sporting tournaments and cultural celebrations there was something for everyone during this time period making it one of North Carolina’s most memorable years yet.