The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states (North Carolina 9,380,884) + (South Carolina 4,561,242) have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida. The Carolinas were known as the Province of Carolina during America's early colonial period, from 1663–1710. Prior to that, the land was considered part of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, from 1609–63.