Final answer:
The difficult coastal region and lack of natural harbors and rivers in the area now known as North Carolina made it unattractive to English colonists, resulting in fewer settlers compared to other southern colonies. Some Virginians did move to the area to escape society in Virginia.
Step-by-step explanation:
One specific environmental or geographical feature that contributed to the unique development of the southern colonies before 1754 was the difficult coastal region and lack of natural harbors and rivers providing access to the interior in the area known as Albemarle, which today is North Carolina. This made it unattractive to English colonists and resulted in fewer settlers compared to other southern colonies like Virginia and further south. Some Virginians did move to the area, but more to escape society in Virginia than to establish a colony in Carolina.