The First State University
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The first state university in North Carolina was the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. |
| It was chartered by the state legislature in December 1789. |
| The University opened in 1794. |
| Location: Orange County. |
| Campus: single, plain brick structure, known today as the Old East Building. |
| First Teacher: Dr. David Ker, an Irishman |
| First Student: Hinton James 18 years old, arrived February 12, 1795. He was the only student for two weeks. |
| Student Population at the end of the first term: 41 students |
| Student Population a century after the university opened (1896): 388 students |
| Today’s Population: over 24,000 students |
| During the 1800’s the university grew very slowly. |