1942: North Carolina

Area and Population.

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. The state's population in 1940 totaled 3,571,623, ranking it 11th in that regard. 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. The chief racial groups are whites, 2,567,635; Negroes, 981,298; and Indians, 22,546.

Education.

In 1941-42 the school population was 1,125,674, with an average daily attendance of 786,374 (69.9 per cent). The 3,769 public elementary schools had 11,470 teachers and 680,268 enrolled pupils, while the 982 public high schools had 7,530 teachers and principals and 207,880 pupils. State busses transported 341,135 children to and from school, a larger number than in any other state, at a cost of only $7.71 per child, the lowest in the Union. The total expenditure for public elementary and high schools was $34,195,798.

The average annual salaries of teachers (excluding principals, superintendents, and vocational teachers) were as follows: white elementary, $794; Negro elementary, $760; white high school, $975; Negro high school, $823. Formerly the school system was administered by the State Board of Education, the State School Commission, and other agencies, but in November 1942, the voters approved a constitutional amendment placing all administrative control in the State Board of Education, consisting of 'the Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and one member from each Congressional District to be appointed by the Governor.'

Agriculture.

The chief occupation of the people of the state is agriculture, and in 1940 there were 278,276 farms. The output of corn, the principal crop, was 52,096,000 bushels in 1941. The chief money crops are tobacco, cotton, corn, hay, and peanuts.

Industry.

North Carolina is the leading state in the manufacture of tobacco products and cotton goods. In 1939 there were 3,225 industrial establishments, employing 270,210 wage earners, who were paid $199,289,500. In the year ending July 31, 1940, a total of 5,640,030 active cotton spindles consumed 2,059,757 bales of cotton.

Minerals.

The state has a great variety of mineral resources, and is the nation's chief producer of mica (output, 1940, 1,000,000 pounds), feldspar (79,312 tons), and of bromine from sea water. Mineral products in 1940 were valued at about $20,000,000.

Political Events.

The Legislature did not meet in 1942. In the November election the Republicans made small gains, but the Democrats easily retained control of the Legislature and returned to Washington Senator Bailey, and eleven Congressmen.

Effects of the War.

Every phase of the state's life has been affected by the conflict with the Axis Powers. The number of men at Fort Bragg has been greatly increased, and new military reservations include Camp Davis, Camp Sutton, Camp Butner, New River Marine Base, and Cherry Point Marine Air Base. The war boom has caused the rapid growth of some cities, especially Wilmington, which has approximately doubled its population since 1940. On Sept. 15, 1942, the number of citizens registered under the Selective Service Act was 1,032,699, and the number of men in active military or naval service was 121,339.

Financial.

The state's total budget appropriation for 1942-43 was $90,995,474 (including $8,279,985 Federal funds for highways). In 1941 the number of weeks of total unemployment compensated for was 575,621; the total benefits paid for both total and partial unemployment was $3,508,827. The average weekly benefit paid for total unemployment was $5.90. On Apr. 30, 1942, there were in the state 44 national banks, with deposits of $161,713,000; and on June 30, 1942, there were 183 state banks and trust companies, with deposits of $529,551,000.

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 R. Reynolds.