1. In 1789, the North Carolina General Assembly met for the first time in the newly established capital city of Raleigh.

2. On December 12, 1835, the Great Fire of New Bern destroyed most of the city's commercial district, including more than 600 buildings.

3. In 1862, Union troops under General John G. Foster occupied New Bern, marking a major victory in the Civil War's Eastern Theater.

4. Durham's first electric streetcar began operating on December 12, 1891, providing a vital transportation link between the city's downtown area and nearby communities.

5. On December 12, 2018, the North Carolina Board of Elections voted unanimously to order a new election in the state's Ninth Congressional District, following allegations of fraud involving absentee ballots. The decision made national headlines and led to a closely watched rematch between Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Dan McCready.