Carolinas
The Carolinas are the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina, considered collectively. They are bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, and Georgia to the southwest. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east.
The Carolinas | |
|---|---|
Region | |
| Coordinates: 34°48′17″N 79°40′31″W | |
| Country | United States |
| States | North Carolina South Carolina |
| Major cities |
|
| Largest metropolitan area | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia |
| Largest city | Charlotte |
| Colonized as Province of Carolina | 1663 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 85,839 sq mi (222,320 km2) |
| • Land | 78,804 sq mi (204,100 km2) |
| • Water | 7,025 sq mi (18,190 km2) 8.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 15,557,813 |
| • Density | 180/sq mi (70/km2) |
| Demonym | Carolinian |
| GDP (nominal) | |
| • Total | $1.014 trillion (2022) |
| • per capita | $65,145 (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Combining North Carolina's population of 10,439,388 and South Carolina's of 5,118,425, the Carolinas have a collective population of 15,557,813 as of 2020. If the Carolinas were a single state of the United States, it would be the fifth-most populous state, behind California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
The Carolinas were known as the Province of Carolina during America's early colonial period, from 1663 to 1712. Prior to that, the land was considered part of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, from 1609 to 1663. The province, was named Carolina to honor King Charles I of England. Carolina is taken from the Latin word for "Charles", Carolus.