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.

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.

1940: North Carolina

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original colonies, North Carolina was settled in 1650. The area is 52,426 sq. mi. The population, according to the census of 1940, is 3,571,623. The largest cities are: Charlotte, 100,890; 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, the number of inhabitants of school age was 1,121,912; the number of elementary schools, 3,973; and of high schools, 962. Enrollment in the elementary schools totaled 714,098, and in high schools, 178,445.

The average annual salary for teachers in the elementary schools was $954.06; for teachers in the high schools, $973.68. The total expenditures in 1939-40 were $30,459,126.15.

Agriculture.

The chief occupation of North Carolina is agriculture. The state leads in the production of tobacco, usually producing more than two-thirds of the nation's flue-cured crop, and over one-third of all tobacco grown in the United States. In 1938 production totaled 516,850,000 pounds, with a cash value of $119,297,000.

Corn, produced in every county, is the principal farm crop, the output in 1939 being 47,151,000 bu. from about 2,500,000 acres. The chief money crops are tobacco, cotton and peanuts.

Production of leading crops in 1939, aside from corn, was as follows: Cotton, 455,000 bales; peanuts, 285,200,000 pounds; wheat, 5,100,000 bu.; white potatoes, 8,091,000 bu.; sweet potatoes, 8,667,000 bu.; all tame hay, 894,000 tons; peaches, 1,395,000.

On Jan. 1, 1939, the farm animals included 310,000 mules, 70,000 horses, 664,000 cattle, 1,155,000 swine, 60,000 sheep, and 9,829,000 chickens.

Manufacturing.

North Carolina leads the nation in the manufacture of cotton goods and tobacco products, ranks second in rayon manufacture, and fourth in furniture.

Mineral Products.

More than 300 minerals are found in North Carolina, in varying quantities. The leading ones are clay, mica, talc, and building stone. The chief metals are gold, silver, copper, manganese, and lead. The total value of all minerals in 1938 was $14,959,228.

Political Events.

J. Melville Broughton, newly elected Democratic Governor, was inaugurated on Jan. 8, 1941. Among the high lights of the retiring Hoey Administration were that the budget was kept balanced, and a net reduction of $26,662,000 expected over and above all bonds issued. There was at the same time an increase in general government services and expenditures, including a $5,000,000 a year increase in school appropriations, the establishment of free text books for pupils of the elementary schools, and the completion of the largest public building program the state ever undertook.

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.

1939: North Carolina

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, North Carolina was settled as a colony in 1650. It is popularly known as the 'Old North State' to distinguish it from South Carolina, and as 'the Tar Heel State' from a designation attributed to Cornwallis's soldiers, who when crossing a river into which tar had been poured, emerged with the substance sticking to their heels. With an area of 52,426 sq. mi., the state ranks 27th in size.

In 1930 (U. S. Census) the population was 3,170,276, including 2,234,948 whites, 918,647 Negroes, 16,579 Indians, and 92 Asiatics. The estimated population in 1938 was 3,476,000, ranking the state 12th in population. In 1930 only .4 per cent of the population were foreign-born. This was the lowest percentage of foreign-born in the nation. The principal cities are Charlotte (82,675), Winston-Salem (75,274), Greensboro (53,508), Durham (52,037), Asheville (50,193), Raleigh, the capital (37,379), High Point (36,745) and Wilmington (32,270).

Education.

In 1939 the number of inhabitants of school age totaled 1,110,555; number of elementary schools, 4,058; high schools, 946. The enrollment in elementary schools was 700,672. The total expenditure for the current operation of public schools amounted to $29,151,402, and the average salary paid all teachers was $850.

Agriculture.

The chief occupation in North Carolina is agriculture. In 1935 the United States census showed 300,967 farms with 19,970,002 acres, and a total value of land and buildings of $622,834,983.

The state's income from crops in 1938 ranked it third among the states of the Union. Total cash farm income from all sources, including government payments, totaled $273,601,000, ranking North Carolina twelfth in that respect. Corn, produced in every county, is the principal crop, the output in 1938 being 46,398,000 bu. The chief money crops are tobacco, cotton and peanuts. North Carolina leads all states in the production of tobacco, usually producing more than two-thirds of the nation's flue-cured product, and over one-third of all the tobacco grown in the United States. The production of tobacco in 1938 amounted to 516,850,000 lbs.

On January 1, 1939, the state's farm animals included 310,000 mules, 70,000 horses, 664,000 cattle, 1,155,000 swine, 60,000 sheep and 9,829,000 chickens.

Industry.

The value of all manufactured products in 1937 was $1,384,737,686; the number of establishments, 2,896. Wage earners numbered 258,771, and wages paid amounted to $189,265,474. North Carolina leads all the states in the manufacture of cotton goods and tobacco products. It is second in the manufacture of rayon and fourth in furniture production. The active cotton mill spindles on July 31, 1939, numbered 5,802,170.

Natural Resources.

The earliest records of minerals in North Carolina were reported by the Ralph Lane Colony in 1785. They now include small quantities of iron, silver, gold, lead, zinc, tin, chromium, nickel, kaolin. North Carolina is the leading producer of mica in the United States.

Wild-life.

North Carolina ranks as one of the foremost states in the Union in the variety and abundance of wild-life. Included are deer, elk, bear, raccoon, squirrel, muskrat, turkey, grouse, pheasant and quail.

Fisheries.

In North Carolina 15,000 persons are dependent on the fisheries for a living. The 1934 catch amounted to 163,462,000 lb., valued at $1,672,200. This included crab, shrimp, menhaden, trout, mullet, blue fish, shad, pompano, oysters and terrapin.

Forests.

The forest regions of North Carolina fall into three divisions, the Southern Forest, Central Hardwoods and the Northern Forest. The merchantable trees include pine, oak, poplar, chestnut, gum and cypress.

Welfare and Correction.

The correctional institutions include the Eastern Carolina Training School, at Rocky Mount; Stonewall Jackson School, Concord; Home and Industrial School, Samarcand; School for Negro girls, Efland; Morrison Training School, Negro boys, Hoffman; Women's Industrial Farm Colony, Kinston.

The institutions for mental defectives are Caswell Training School, Kinston; State Hospitals for Insane at Raleigh and Morganton; State Hospital for Insane (Negroes), Goldsboro. Among welfare institutions are the School for Blind (White), Raleigh; School for Blind and Deaf (Negroes), Raleigh; and the School for Deaf (White), Morganton.

Government.

The General Assembly consists of a Senate with 50 members and a House of Representatives with 120 members. The state is represented in Congress by two Senators and 11 Congressmen.

Legislative Matters.

Legislation in 1939 included passage of three health laws: 1. Blood test examination for prospective mothers to further the prevention of syphilis in unborn children; 2. Physical examination before issuance of license to marry; 3. Diphtheria immunization of children.

Drastic changes were made in the election laws, including repeal of law permitting absentee voting in primary elections. A North Carolina food, drug and cosmetics act was passed, and provision was made for the establishment of a third hospital for the treatment of tubercular patients, and for increased appropriations for the public schools of the state.

State Officers.

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

United States Senators.

Josiah W. Bailey, Robert R. Reynolds.

1938: North Carolina

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, North Carolina ranks 27th in size among the states, with an area of 52,426 sq. mi. In population it ranks 12th, numbering 3,170,276 according to the census of 1930; 3,527,000 in 1938, according to an official estimate. The largest cities are Charlotte, 82,675 (1930 census); Winston-Salem, 75,274; Greensboro, 53,569; Durham, 52,037; Asheville, 50,193; Raleigh, the capital, 37,379.

Of the 1930 population, the whites numbered 2,234,948; native-born, 226,160; foreign-born, 8,788; Negroes, 918,647; other races, 16,681.

Agriculture.

North Carolina was one of the first states in the Union to adopt a systematic classification of mapping its soil resources. By 1935 more than four-fifths of the total area of the state had been mapped. The number of farms was then 300,967; acres harvested, 5,965,547; and total value of farm property, $622,718,510. The value of crops in 1937 was $283,631,000; of livestock and poultry, $101,080,000.

Manufacturing.

North Carolina leads the nation in the manufacture of cotton goods and tobacco products. It is second in rayon manufacture and fourth in furniture production. The total number of wage earners in 1937 was 229,534; of cotton mill workers, 99,964. The number of cotton mill spindles active in July 1937 was 5,829,953.

Industry.

The number of power companies in 1937 was 36. Capital invested totaled $238,769,173; total receipts, $35,940,815.75. The number of establishments engaged in wholesale trade numbered 2,459. Net sales amounted to $554,300,000. The number of retail stores was 29,463. Net sales totaled $463,219,000.

Natural Resources.

More than 300 minerals are found in North Carolina. The chief ones are clay, mica, barytes, talc, kaolin, and coal. The chief metals are gold, silver, copper, manganese, nickel, chromium, lead and zinc. In 1936 the total value of all these was $9,865,064.

Forest regions of North Carolina fall into three divisions, Southern Forest, Central Hardwoods and Northern Forest. The merchantable trees are pine, oak, poplar, chestnut, gum and cypress.

North Carolina ranks as one of the foremost states in the Union in the abundance and variety of wildlife. The chief small game are quail, wild turkey, dove, ruffled grouse and pheasant; big game include deer, bear, wild boar and elk.

Education.

Higher education is given in seven state and thirty-nine private denominational colleges. The largest institution is the Greater University of North Carolina with three branches, the University at Chapel Hill, State College of Agriculture and Engineering at Raleigh, Woman's College at Greensboro. In 1937-38 the number of public schools was 2,263, including 1,849 grade schools and 414 high schools. The total enrollment was 880,646. Teachers numbered 23,919. The total expenditure on public school education was $37,555,896.55; average teacher's salary, $84,17.

Finance.

The aggregate resources of North Carolina banks and trust companies in 1937 were $336,892,322.12. State banks numbered 163, with $336,892,322.12; National banks, 43 with $109,076,000.00; Industrial banks, 32, with $17,289,359.22. Total bonds paid during five years preceding June 30, 1938, were $33,645,500. State bonds purchased by sinking funds for the same period amounted to $5,446,000. Total bonds paid or purchased, $39,091,500.

Legislative Matters.

The outstanding legislative acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, passed during the extra session of 1936 and the regular session of 1937, were the Unemployment Compensation Law, an amendment broadening the powers of the State Commission for the Blind so as to provide for direct relief to needy blind persons, and an act to provide financial assistance to needy aged persons and dependent children.

The administration of Governor Hoey has been a period of great expansion in all branches of the state agencies. It has also been marked by a freedom from strikes and all labor troubles.

State Officers.

Governor, Clyde R. Hoey; Secretary of State, Thad Eure; Auditor, George Ross Pou; Treasurer, Charles M. Johnson; Attorney General, Harry McMullan; Supt. of Public Instruction, Clyde A. Erwin.

United States Senators.

Josiah W. Bailey, Robert R. Reynolds.