Carolina was originally a single colony and among the first 13. It remained a single colony until 1729 when it was divided into north and south. The orignial colony was named in honor Charles IX of France.

North Carolina's official flag was adopted in 1885. This red, white, and blue flag has the letters "N" and "C" on either side of a single white star. Two yellow scrolls, above and below, bear the dates May 20th, 1775 and April 12th, 1776. The upper date commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence which was named for Mecklenburg County, where North Carolina citizens met to declare their freedom from Great Britain. The lower date, commemorates the adoption of the Halifax Resolves which was the first official action by any of the thirteen colonies calling for independence from Britain.