1. In 1780, during the Revolutionary War, British General Charles Cornwallis marched his troops through Charlotte, North Carolina. He then engaged in a battle with American forces at the nearby town of Kings Mountain. The American victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain is considered a turning point in the Southern campaign of the Revolutionary War.

2. On October 3, 1854, the first state fair was held in North Carolina. The fair, held in Raleigh, was a celebration of agriculture and industry, and included livestock exhibitions, races, and various contests. The North Carolina State Fair remains a popular annual event.

3. In 1961, the first black students enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The students, Frederick Eugene Hargraves and Steven B. Hairston, were the first black undergraduates to attend a previously all-white college in the South.

4. On October 3, 1996, Hurricane Fran made landfall in North Carolina. The storm caused extensive damage, with winds up to 115 mph and flooding from heavy rainfall. Fran is considered one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the state, causing over $3 billion in damage and 24 fatalities.

5. In 2002, North Carolina became the first state to adopt a statewide ban on smoking in all bars and restaurants. The law, known as the Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law, was designed to protect workers and patrons from the health hazards of secondhand smoke. The law has since been adopted by many other states and localities.