The Carolinas are the
U.S. states of
North Carolina and
South Carolina, considered collectively. Combining North Carolina's population of 9,848,060 and South Carolina's of 4,774,839, the Carolinas have a population of 14,622,899 as of 2013. If the Carolinas were a single state of the
United States, it would be the fifth
most populous state, behind
California,
Texas,
Florida, and
New York. The Carolinas were known as the
Province of Carolina during America's early
colonial period, from 1663 to 1710. Prior to that, the land was considered part of the
Colony and Dominion of Virginia, from 1609 to 1663. The province, named
Carolina to honor King
Charles I of England, was divided into two colonies in 1729, although the actual date is the subject of debate.