Lying between the Fall Line and the Blue Ridge Mountains is the Piedmont,meaning "at the foot of the mountains." The land in this area rises from about 500 feet to 1500 feet. The Piedmont is the center of the state's urban population.The state's largest cities are located in the Piedmont : Charlotte,Raleigh,Greensboro,Winston-salem,and Durham.The building of the North Carolina Railroad and the the rise of the tobacco and textile industries in the 1800s helped these cities grow. The Piedmon is also the center of manufactring for the state.The abundant hydroelectric power in the area led to the development of its three major industries---textiles ,tobacco,and furniture. |