1. North Carolina became a state: On July 1, 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain, making it the 12th state to join the union.

2. Birth of American Railroading: On July 1, 1834, the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad officially opened, marking the birth of American railroading. The railroad stretched 161 miles from the port of Wilmington to the state capital of Raleigh.

3. The Battle of Gettysburg: On July 1, 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Several North Carolina regiments played a significant role in the battle, including the 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment.

4. Fireworks safety law: In 2016, North Carolina implemented the Fireworks Safety Act, which allows residents to purchase and use certain types of fireworks on private property. This law went into effect on July 1 of that year.

5. Change in retirement age: On July 1, 2021, North Carolina state employees saw a change in the retirement age for certain retirement benefits. The age at which employees can retire with full benefits increased from 60 to 65 for those who started working for the state on or after January 1, 2021.