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1941: North Carolina

North Carolina, one of the thirteen original states, ranks 27th in size among the states, with an area of 52,712 sq. mi., including 3,570 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th Census in 1940. In population it ranks 11th, numbering 3,571,623 according to the 1940 Census. The principal cities are Charlotte, 100,899; Winston-Salem, 79,815; Durham, 60,195; Greensboro, 59,319; Asheville, 51,310; Raleigh, the capital, 46,897; High Point, 38,495, and Wilmington, 33,407.

Education.

In 1940-41, the number of inhabitants of school age was 1,118,507; the number of elementary schools, 3,856; and of high schools, 975. Enrollment in the elementary schools totaled 687,690, and in high schools, 203,039.

The average annual salary for teachers in the elementary schools was $871.93; for teachers in the high schools, $931.29. The total expenditures in 1939-40 were $32,044,363.56.

Agriculture.

The chief money crops are cotton, tobacco and peanuts. Corn, the principal crop, is produced in every county, the output in 1940 was 44,733,000 bu. North Carolina has 278,276 farms, from which the cash income from farm products amounts to $219,861,000.

Industry.

North Carolina leads the nation in the manufacture of cotton goods and tobacco products. It is second in rayon manufacture and fourth in the production of furniture. The number of manufacturing establishments in 1940 was 3,225; number of wage earners, 270,210. Wages amounted to $199,289,500.

Mineral Resources.

North Carolina is the country's largest source of mica; the output in 1939 was 401,170 lb. Other important minerals include clay, talc, kaolin, and some gold, silver, copper, manganese, nickel, chromium, lead and zinc. The value of the state's mineral products in 1940 was $18,533,720.

Financial.

In the state's 43 national banks, deposits in 1941 were $100,223,000; in the 185 state banks and trust companies, deposits totaled $276,359,000.

The total budget appropriation for 1941 was $44,095,950. The amount paid out for old-age assistance and dependent children was $2,239,114.65.

Legislative Matters.

The outstanding legislation enacted by the 1941 General Assembly included: an act to provide old-age security for old or incapacitated teachers, and other state employees; an act authorizing the creation of a Home Guard, to function during the absence of the North Carolina National Guard during the emergency; the broadening of the Housing Authorities Act to include dwelling accommodations for farmers of low income; the extension of the public-school system to embrace twelve grades in school districts requesting them; authorizing the Governor to allot funds from vocational educational appropriations for the purpose of establishing a Textile Training School in North Carolina.

State Officers.

Governor, J. Melville Broughton; Lieutenant Governor, R. L. Harris; Secretary of State, Thad Eure; Treasurer, Charles M. Johnson; Auditor, George Ross Pou; Attorney General, Harry McMullan; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Clyde A. Erwin.

United States Senators:

Josiah W. Bailey, Robert Reynolds.

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