Has Scotland moved to North Carolina USA?
Most people would expect to find that Scotland had the largest number of Scots but they would be wrong. In reality the state of North Carolina USA has more people of Scottish descent than does Scotland.
That is hardly surprising as huge numbers of Scots left Scotland at the time of the Highland Clearances and in the following years to seek their fortune in the New World of USA as well as Canada, Australia and the Far East. Our Laird of Jura website looking at the history and culture of the Isle of Jura tells of nearly 2,000 people who left the island and the surrounding area and ended up in North Carolina.
This area still has close connections with the home country of Scotland and many would say that the town of Laurinburg, North Carolina for example is as Scottish as any town on the Scottish Mainland. Did you know that :
Lets look at Laurinberg which is in the county of “Scotland”.
The town high school is of course called “Scotland High School”. And to go with that the School song is the national anthem of Scotland “Scotland the Brave”.
Apart from their traditional marching band who wear the Royal Stewart Tartan as a uniform they also have a prize winning Scottish bagpipe team.
They use the same name “Fighting Scots” for their Basketball, Baseball and Football teams.
As you may know St Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland and the name of their Presbyterian College is of course St Andrews. Just inside the grounds of the college you will be confronted by a huge bronze statute of a Highland Warrior proudly holding a Claymore (a huge 2 handed sword favoured by Braveheart).
The College is also home to the Scottish Heritage Centre.
Looking for something to eat? Skip McDonalds (not a Scottish Company) and instead go to Scottish Foods which uses a Scottish bagpiper as its main trademark and logo.
What about shopping? Simple answer. Just go to the large Scotland Crossing Shopping Center which has a Rampant Lion as it’s main centrepiece feature. This is the same red lion on a yellow background officially used only by the Scottish Monarch. It’s a good job our legal officers have generally turned a blind eye to this breach of the royal protocol.
The Square Dance Club is the Scottish Twirlers.
The area even has a soccer team called the Scottish Claymores.
Lastly but not least there are numerous streets and roads named after places such as Oban, Skye, and Argyllshire the origins of the first settlers before they left Scotland.
Do you know any other place which is more Scottish than this town in North Carolina?
Looking for a unique gift idea for someone with a Scottish connection then make them a Scottish landowner.
Posted: July 31st, 2009 under Timothy Reynold.
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