Tar Heel State. The origin of this nickname is mysterious, though most historians agree that the name derives from North Carolina's long history as a producer of naval stores--tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine--all of which were culled from the State's extensive pine forests.
North Carolina was nicknamed the "Tar and Turpentine State" because of this industry. Somehow, these terms evolved until the nickname Tar Heel was used to refer to residents of North Carolina and gained prominence during the American Civil War.
I was watching an old western movies a couple of weeks ago and the Turpentiners where battling it out with the cowboys. Anyway I had to Google it also. Lots of interesting history.
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