North Carolina, one map at a time.

Hey, I’m Brian, @brianonorio on X. Amateur historian, North Carolina born and raised. I make maps about the things North Carolinians argue about, care about, and brag about: our history, our food, our towns. Pull up a chair.

Map of North Carolina ringed by circular portraits of 26 famous North Carolinians, from Michael Jordan and Maya Angelou to the Wright Brothers and Blackbeard, each linked by a thin line to the town where their influence happened.

Culture · Oct 10, 2026

North Carolina's Cultural Titans

From first birth to first flight, the people who made North Carolina.

Map of North Carolina showing George Washington’s two 1791 routes: a red southbound line from the Va. line through Halifax, New Bern and Wilmington to S.C., and a green northbound line from S.C. through Charlotte, Salisbury, Salem and Guilford back into Va.

History · Oct 3, 2026

Washington crossed North Carolina twice in 1791

Down the coast in the spring, back up the Piedmont weeks later, both from his own diary. He was not impressed.

Map of North Carolina counties colored by barbecue style: green Eastern counties across the coastal plain, red Lexington counties across the Piedmont and mountains, a gold hybrid band between them, Mecklenburg in purple as a joke, and nine dots for well-known barbecue restaurants.

Food · Sept 26, 2026

The Definitive NC Barbecue Divide

It's all hog. Just depends on which parts. And if you add tomato to your vinegar or not.

Map of all 100 North Carolina counties, each labeled and colored green for yes, gold for let’s think about it, or red for no, according to whether the county’s name would work as a baby name.

Culture · Sept 19, 2026

Can you name your baby after an NC County?

All 100 North Carolina counties, ranked: yes, let’s think about it, or for the love of bbq and grits, no!