Not quite. Durham was known as the Chicago of the South during prohibition. The bootleggers wiped out most of the sheriff's department. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s North Carolina was one of the most important links in the movement of drugs from Florida to the north. The Hells Angels, Storm Troopers, Outlaws, and Pagans all had clubs here in the 1960s and 1970s.
We may be home to the nation's oldest public college (UNC) and one of the world's most recognized colleges and medical facilities (Duke) but NC has always had a reputation as a rough and tumble place. We invented Nascar as a way to pass time when not out running the cops. We've also always been more organized in our handling of things. That is why a lot of the stuff doesn't get out of hand.
The aim was never to be like Detroit. That just wasn't civilized or smart enough. Don't forget that all those crazy folks are living right in the midst of one of the countries "smartest" metropolitan areas based on post secondary degree holders per capita. North Carolina isn't back woods and yokels. You have us confused with South Carolina. lol