17% of North Carolinians would want to secede (again)

According to a YouGov survey, 17% of North Carolinians would very much like to secede from the Union. This wouldn't be the state's first (or even second) taste of secession -- neither tended to end well, if we're being honest. 

But it should be noted that N.C.'s percentage is below the national average from this survey.

The idea of states leaving the American union has attracted substantial attention in recent months amid near unprecedented tensions between Democrats and Republicans, which surged following the 2020 presidential election. In February 2023, House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia sparked controversy and debate by calling for a "national divorce" between "red states and blue states."

The YouGov survey found that 23 percent of adults want their state to become independent, with 51 percent opposed and 27 percent unsure. The poll was conducted between February 2 and 5.

The Old North State falls squarely in the middle of the pack. Alaska, Texas and California are the most prone to want to secede at 36, 31 and 29 percent, respectively. The most "pro-union" states are Minnesota, Ohio, Massachussets and Rhode Island at 13% (MN) and 14%.

Well, if California can do it ...

This isn't the first time that Californians have debated splitting their large-and-in-charge fiefdom into multiple states. It's just that this time, it may have some legs*.

California residents will get a chance to vote on a measure to divide the Golden State into three separate states, election officials said Tuesday. ...

The proposal, led by venture capitalist Tim Draper, would split the country’s most populous state into three new states of near-equal population: Northern California, California and Southern California, according to the proposal.

Northern California would include cities between the Bay Area and the Oregon border. Southern California would begin in Fresno and cover most of the southern state. The "new" California would cover Los Angeles County and much of the coast below San Francisco Bay, the proposal said.

*Personally, the odds of it actually happening are very slim. Though it's an interesting thing to ponder.

Which made me wonder ... what if North Carolina were to chop itself up? What would that look like? After all, there is a theory that the Old North State consists of two very different populations anyway: rural vs. urban.  So, on one hand, we could just pull out the urban I-85/I-40 corridor. (Sorry Wilmington and Asheville - you are stuck with "the rurals" in this scenario.) That may look like this:

(If you are wondering, "Asgard" is the mythical city of the gods. This is a nod to how high we tend to think of ourselves in the Triangle. So sue me.)

Or we could essentially divide it up between the regions of the state, with some deviation based on populations and what-not:

Or, we could just do what many in the legislature have advocated for for years: Leave Charlotte be. I present to you, The Great State of Mecklenburg (finally)!

Secession and division isn't anything new to our state and region. (Duh.)  But how would you divide up the state if given the choice? Or do we absorb some of the South Carolina (yeah, Charleston!), but not all (I'm looking at you, MB)?