Which Came First Scotland or North Carolina?
Did you know that there are more people living in North Carolina USA who boast Scottish descent than there are Scots living in 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.
However what I did not know until fairly recently when I was reading about the town of Laurinburg in North Carolina which is as Scottish as the country of Scotland if not more so. For example:
Laurinberg is in the county of Scotland.
The main school is called Scotland High School. The school song is “Scotland the Brave” (the official national anthem of Scotland).
The school has a marching band who all wear the Royal Stewart Tartan. And of course they have a prize winning bagpipe band wearing the full kilt.
Their high school football, baseball and the basketball team are all called the “Fighting Scots”. I hope the football team don’t get confused and turn at a basketball team venue thinking they are playing.
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.
“Scotland Crossing” is the main shopping center for people in the town. The centre uses a red lion on a yellow background as its main central feature. Officially this is a breach of Scottish law as only the Scottish monarch can use this Rampart Lion but we do normally turn a blind eye to it even here in the real Scotland.
The Square Dance Club is the Scottish Twirlers.
Remember the large two handed sword on the highlander statue at the college well there is also a local 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?
Did you know you could increase your Scottish ness by becoming a landowner on the isle of Jura and become a Scottish Royal? It makes an idea unique gift idea for anyone with or without an existing Scottish connection.
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 5:06 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.