Wilson County, North Carolina

World's largest tobacco market and barbecue heritage - from Wilson's historic distinction as the world's largest bright leaf tobacco market (at its peak in the early 20th century, Wilson's tobacco warehouses handled more bright leaf tobacco than any city on earth - the county's rich sandy loam soils produced exceptional tobacco quality and the auction culture of Wilson's tobacco district shaped eastern North Carolina's economy and culture for generations) to Wilson County's championship eastern-style barbecue tradition (Wilson is in the heart of eastern North Carolina's whole-hog barbecue country, with legendary pits serving the vinegar-based style that defines North Carolina barbecue tradition and has earned Wilson recognition as one of the state's great barbecue destinations).