Regional Separation

North Carolina is unique in that one city historically did not dominate the state.  As its population shifted from rural to urban, the state's city grew exponentially.  Charlotte saw the largest boost in population, going from under 20,000 residents in 1900 to over 100,000 in 1940.  In comparison, state capital Raleigh only tripled in size. 

A 1928 article in the Baltimore-American cites Charlotte's central location within the Carolinas as a major factor in its growth. At the time, the city had recently been awarded a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank over other southern competitors such as Richmond.