1. On August 4, 1790, the United States Census Bureau was created. This agency is responsible for conducting the decennial census, which provides important demographic information about the country, including North Carolina.

2. In 1830, August 4th marked the opening of the first railroad in North Carolina. The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad was a 161-mile-long line that connected the state's coast with its capital city. This made transportation and commerce much easier and faster for the state.

3. On August 4, 1912, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina was hit by a devastating tornado. It caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure and resulted in more than 25 fatalities. The storm remains one of the most destructive tornadoes in North Carolina history.

4. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law on August 4th. This landmark legislation was meant to prevent discrimination in voting and paved the way for greater political representation for African Americans in North Carolina and throughout the country.

5. On August 4, 2009, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced that it had received a $50 million donation from the husband and wife team of Frank and Karen (Jenkins) Kenan. The gift was the largest in the university's history and was intended to support the school's business and journalism programs. The couple were major philanthropists in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast.