1. In 1830, the first railroad in North Carolina officially opened. The Wilmington-Weldon Railroad spanned 161 miles and connected the port city of Wilmington to the Roanoke River near Weldon, greatly improving transportation and commerce in the state.

2. On June 26, 1859, the town of Concord was officially incorporated. Located in Cabarrus County, Concord is now the second-largest city in the Charlotte metropolitan area and home to several major businesses and attractions, including Charlotte Motor Speedway.

3. In 1941, the famous North Carolina Musician, James Taylor was born on this date in Boston, Massachusetts. Taylor grew up in Chapel Hill and attended UNC before beginning his successful career in music, earning numerous accolades including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

4. On June 26, 1952, the first KFC franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah. The founder of KFC, Colonel Harland Sanders, was born in Henryville, Indiana, but spent time in North Carolina during his career as a restaurant owner and traveled extensively throughout the state promoting his famous chicken recipe.

5. In 2015, the United States Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, including North Carolina. The decision greatly impacted the state, which had previously faced controversy and legal challenges surrounding its stance on marriage equality.