Tobacco has been an important product of North Carolina for a very long time.  It was introduced to the European settlers by Americans and quickly became part of our culture.  It was even once used as currency during the colonial and Revolutionary War era.  It became as important to the economy of the South as cotton. 

The changes in attitude that have taken place in the last twenty-five years towards tobacco products  have, of course, affected the tobacco industry in the South and, therefore, the economy.  Many tobacco farmers have switched to farming other products and the sight of tobacco plants is slowly disappearing from the landscape.   Look at the following site which takes you on a tour of one of the oldest tobacco farms in Durham County, North Carolina.  Read carefully so that you can better understand the place of tobacco in the economy of the South and the need for North carolina to find a crop that replaces its value.

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