1. Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina in 2011, causing flooding and power outages throughout the state. It was the first hurricane to hit North Carolina since Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

2. The Battle of Fort Macon took place on August 31, 1861, during the American Civil War. Union forces bombarded Fort Macon in an attempt to gain control of its strategic location on the coast, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

3. On August 31, 1986, the Charlotte Observer published the first story in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series on the PTL Club scandal. The series revealed fraud and mismanagement at the Christian television network led by Jim and Tammy Bakker.

4. In 1897, the first North Carolina State Fair was held in Raleigh on August 31. The fair has since become an annual event, showcasing agriculture, food, and entertainment.

5. NBA player Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 31, 1963, but grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington and went on to have a legendary career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.