1. In 1971, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte officially opened its doors as the fourth campus of the UNC system. The university began with an initial enrollment of just over 1,000 students and has since grown to become the second-largest university in the state with an enrollment of over 29,000 students.

2. In 1780, during the American Revolutionary War, British forces led by Major General Charles Cornwallis occupied Charlotte, North Carolina. The city was an important supply and communication center for the Americans, and its capture was a significant strategic victory for the British.

3. On October 2, 1941, baseball legend and Charlotte native Jim "Catfish" Hunter was born. Hunter went on to have a Hall of Fame career as a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees, winning five World Series championships and a Cy Young Award.

4. In 1895, the town of Biltmore, North Carolina (now a part of Asheville) was incorporated by George Vanderbilt, the owner of the Biltmore Estate. The estate, which covers over 8,000 acres, is the largest privately owned home in the United States and is a popular tourist attraction today.

5. Finally, on October 2, 1836, North Carolina's first railroad, the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad, began operation. The line connected the port city of Wilmington to the state capital of Raleigh and helped spur the development of industry and commerce in the state. Today, North Carolina is home to a vast network of rail lines operated by several major freight companies.