Book Description

Settled as a maritime and agricultural colony, North Carolinas history has always been intertwined with agriculture and farming. After the Civil War, North Carolina became the nations top grower of tobacco, and one of the countrys largest tobacco companiesthe American Tobacco Companyflourished from the huge quantities of Eastern North Carolinagrown tobacco that was purchased. With the growing success of cotton farming and other crops and livestockincluding corn, peanuts, and hogsthe region was particularly rich in subsistence farming. Over the course of the 20th century, farming and agriculture went through tremendous change. The familiar landscape of cotton and tobacco began to shift and include more varied crops, such as soybeans and sweet potatoes. At the same time, hand tools were exchanged for tractors and combines. Eastern North Carolina Farming showcases the rich history of this agriculturally dynamic region while telling the individual stories of farmers who grew for families, markets, and distribution.