On November 21, 1789, North Carolina was admitted as the 12th state of the union. Historians believe about 35,000 Indians lived in the North Carolina region when the first Europeans arrived. Early explorers in the area included Giovanni da Verrazano, Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón, and Hernando de Soto. In 1585, England’s Sir Walter Raleigh established a colony at Roanoke Island – the first English colony in America. These settlers were forced to return to England in 1586. Raleigh attempted settlement of Roanoke Island again in 1587, with John White as its governor. On August 18, 1587, White’s daughter gave birth to the first English child born in America, Virginia Dare.