GMA On the Road in North Carolina

April 29 -- From Nascar to cutting-edge research and dorm life, Good Morning America truly dug into its North Carolina digs, launching its "5 States, 5 Days" tour in the "Tar Heel" state.

As far as states go, North Carolina is an over-achiever. Don't let its sleepy Southern charms fool you: down here, it's all about being first.

One hundred years ago, the Wright brothers chose North Carolina's Outer Banks island chain as the site of their first flight, and people have been coming here to fly ever since.

The first miniature golf course was in Fayetteville, N.C. Plus, the country's first gold rush happened in North Carolina.

High-Tech and Tobacco

The Outer Banks are summer home to thousands of vacationers each year, and a permanent home to the country's third-largest film industry.

As you head west, sand turns to farmland, where tradition has deep roots. Tobacco brings $814 million a year to the state. The Blalock family has been growing it for over 80 years.

But David Blalock might be the last in his family to plant it. The future of tobacco farming is dim.

High-tech is where many Carolinians see their state going. Research Triangle Park near Raleigh employs over 30,000 scientists and computer programmers.

Another big source of jobs: the military. When trouble happens anywhere in the world, chances are the first soldiers on the ground come from one of North Carolina's seven military bases.

Your bureau drawers probably hail from North Carolina. Sixty percent of the furniture made in America comes from the Piedmont area.

Here are some basic facts on North Carolina:

Population:The state's population is 8 million, making it the 11th-largest state in the nation. The median age of its residents is 35.3.

Major industries:

Tourism: The state receives 43 million visitors per year, bringing in $12 billion in revenues.

Tobacco: As always, the state ranks No. 1 in tobacco production in the U.S., with annual farm income of $814 million to approximately 12,000 tobacco farmers. The industry employs 255,000 people in the state.