If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

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.

Not a surprising piece of news to those who know their Scottish History. Large numbers of people left Scotland for the New World of America following the Scottish highland clearances. If you visit the Laird of Jura website you will read about how nearly 2,000 people left the Isle of Jura in Argyll and the surrounding areas on a fleet of boats on an expedition that settled 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:

The town of Laurinberg is situated in the state 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”.

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.

The school Football, Baseball and the Basketball teams are called the “Fighting Scots”. (Did you know that the game of Basketball was invented by a Scottish American who was charged with finding some sports activity for youths to play indoors during bad weather? Its true!)

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.

The main local fast food company called Scottish Foods has a Highland Piper as its logo.

A local soccer team is known as 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.

Tags: Other Stuff

Popularity: 6% [?]

Share This