1655

The first permanent European settlement in present-day North Carolina was established on the Coastal Plain
Original Image from Documenting the American South

1712

North Carolina became a separate colony
Original Image from the North Carolina Collection

1775

(April 19th) The battles of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War
Original Image from Documenting the American South

1776

(April 12th) The North Carolina colony became the first to vote for independence from Britain

1780

(October 7th) Through a victory at Kings Mountain, NC, the colonists who favored American independence gained the advantage in the American Revolutionary War

1783

(September 3rd) The Treaty of Paris marked the end of the American Revolutionary War and recognized the sovereignty of the United States territory east of the Mississippi River

1784

The first white settlers established residence in the mountains of western North Carolina

1795

The trail from Warm Springs (now Hot Springs) into Tennessee was improved to create the first route by which wagons could travel through the North Carolina mountains
Original Image from Documenting the American South