The U.S. State of North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh most counties in the country.[1]
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles II of England rewarded eight persons on March 24, 1663, for their faithful support in his efforts to regain the throne of England. He granted the eight grantees, called Lords Proprietor, the land called Carolina, in honor of Charles I, his father. The Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1729, was a North American British colony. In 1729, the Province of North Carolina was officially divided from the Province of South Carolina.
North Carolina county history stretches over 340 years, beginning in 1668 with the creation of Albemarle County and ending with the 1911 creation of Avery and Hoke counties. Five counties have since been divided or abolished altogether, the last being Dobbs County in 1791.
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS),[2] which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry. North Carolina's FIPS code is 37, which when combined with the county code is written as 37XXX.
County |
FIPS Code [2] |
County Seat [3] |
Created [3] |
Origin [4] |
Etymology [4] |
Population (2000)[3][5] |
Area [3][5] |
Map |
Alamance County | 001 | Graham | 1849 | Orange County | The Battle of Alamance which was derived from the local Native American word meaning "blue clay" found in the Great Alamance Creek | 130,800 | ( 1,127 km²) |
435 sq mi|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexander County | 003 | Taylorsville | 1847 | Caldwell County, Iredell County, and Wilkes County | William J. Alexander, member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 33,603 | ( 681 km²) |
263 sq mi|
Alleghany County | 005 | Sparta | 1859 | Ashe County | Derived from a corruption of the Delaware Indian name for the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and is said to have meant "a fine stream" | 10,667 | ( 611 km²) |
236 sq mi|
Anson County | 007 | Wadesboro | 1750 | Bladen County | George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe | 25,275 | ( 1,391 km²) |
537 sq mi|
Ashe County | 009 | Jefferson | 1799 | Wilkes County | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and governor of North Carolina | 24,384 | ( 1,106 km²) |
427 sq mi|
Avery County | 011 | Newland | 1911 | Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County | Waightstill Avery (1741–1821), a soldier of the Revolution and Attorney General of North Carolina | 17,167 | ( 640 km²) |
247 sq mi|
Beaufort County | 013 | Washington | 1712 | Original county | Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor | 44,958 | ( 2,484 km²) |
959 sq mi|
Bertie County | 015 | Windsor | 1722 | Chowan County | James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 19,773 | ( 1,919 km²) |
741 sq mi|
Bladen County | 017 | Elizabethtown | 1734 | New Hanover County | Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade | 32,278 | ( 2,297 km²) |
887 sq mi|
Brunswick County | 019 | Bolivia | 1764 | Bladen County and New Hanover County | George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg | 73,143 | ( 2,719 km²) |
1,050 sq mi|
Buncombe County | 021 | Asheville | 1791 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary soldier, who was wounded and captured at the Battle of Germantown, and died a paroled prisoner in Philadelphia | 206,330 | ( 1,709 km²) |
660 sq mi|
Burke County | 023 | Morganton | 1777 | Rowan County | Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina | 89,148 | ( 1,334 km²) |
515 sq mi|
Cabarrus County | 025 | Concord | 1792 | Mecklenburg County | Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 131,063 | ( 945 km²) |
365 sq mi|
Caldwell County | 027 | Lenoir | 1841 | Burke County and Wilkes County | Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina | 77,415 | ( 1,228 km²) |
474 sq mi|
Camden County | 029 | Camden | 1777 | Pasquotank County | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists | 6,885 | ( 793 km²) |
306 sq mi|
Carteret County | 031 | Beaufort | 1722 | Craven County | John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret | 59,383 | ( 3,473 km²) |
1,341 sq mi|
Caswell County | 033 | Yanceyville | 1777 | Orange County | Richard Caswell (1729–1789), member of the first Continental Congress and first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence | 23,501 | ( 1,109 km²) |
428 sq mi|
Catawba County | 035 | Newton | 1842 | Lincoln County | Catawba Nation | 141,685 | ( 1,072 km²) |
414 sq mi|
Chatham County | 037 | Pittsboro | 1771 | Orange County | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778), Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and was later Prime Minister of Great Britain | 49,329 | ( 1,836 km²) |
709 sq mi|
Cherokee County | 039 | Murphy | 1839 | Macon County | Cherokee Nation | 24,298 | ( 1,287 km²) |
497 sq mi|
Chowan County | 041 | Edenton | 1668 | Albemarle County | Chowan Native American tribe | 14,526 | ( 603 km²) |
233 sq mi|
Clay County | 043 | Hayesville | 1861 | Cherokee County | Henry Clay (1777–1852), statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate | 8,775 | ( 572 km²) |
221 sq mi|
Cleveland County | 045 | Shelby | 1841 | Lincoln County and Rutherford County | Benjamin Cleveland (1738–1806), a colonel in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain | 96,287 | ( 1,215 km²) |
469 sq mi|
Columbus County | 047 | Whiteville | 1808 | Bladen County and Brunswick County | Christopher Columbus (1451–1507), navigator, explorer, and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas | 54,749 | ( 2,471 km²) |
954 sq mi|
Craven County | 049 | New Bern | 1712 | Bath County | William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 91,436 | ( 2,005 km²) |
774 sq mi|
Cumberland County | 051 | Fayetteville | 1754 | Bladen County | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II | 302,963 | ( 1,704 km²) |
658 sq mi|
Currituck County | 053 | Currituck | 1668 | Albemarle County | Traditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank" | 18,190 | ( 1,362 km²) |
526 sq mi|
Dare County | 055 | Manteo | 1870 | Currituck County, Hyde County, and Tyrrell County | Virginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child born of English parents in America | 29,967 | ( 4,046 km²) |
1,562 sq mi|
Davidson County | 057 | Lexington | 1822 | Rowan County | William Lee Davidson (1746–1781), an American Revolutionary War general who was mortally wounded at Cowan's Ford | 147,246 | ( 1,469 km²) |
567 sq mi|
Davie County | 059 | Mocksville | 1836 | Rowan County | William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina | 34,835 | ( 692 km²) |
267 sq mi|
Duplin County | 061 | Kenansville | 1750 | New Hanover County | Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull | 49,063 | ( 2,121 km²) |
819 sq mi|
Durham County | 063 | Durham | 1881 | Orange County and Wake County | The city of Durham which was named in honor of Dr. Bartlett Snipes Durham who donated the land on which the railroad station was located | 223,314 | ( 772 km²) |
298 sq mi|
Edgecombe County | 065 | Tarboro | 1741 | Bertie County | Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster-General for Ireland | 55,606 | ( 1,313 km²) |
507 sq mi|
Forsyth County | 067 | Winston-Salem | 1849 | Stokes County | Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812 | 306,067 | ( 1,070 km²) |
413 sq mi|
Franklin County | 069 | Louisburg | 1779 | Bute County | Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States | 47,260 | ( 1,282 km²) |
495 sq mi|
Gaston County | 071 | Gastonia | 1846 | Lincoln County | William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 190,365 | ( 943 km²) |
364 sq mi|
Gates County | 073 | Gatesville | 1779 | Chowan County, Hertford County, and Perquimans County | Horatio Gates (1727–1806), an American general during the Revolution at the Battle of Saratoga | 10,516 | ( 896 km²) |
346 sq mi|
Graham County | 075 | Robbinsville | 1872 | Cherokee County | William Alexander Graham (1804–1875), a United States Senator, governor of North Carolina, and United States Secretary of the Navy | 7,993 | ( 782 km²) |
302 sq mi|
Granville County | 077 | Oxford | 1746 | Edgecombe County | John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather George Carteret | 48,498 | ( 1,391 km²) |
537 sq mi|
Greene County | 079 | Snow Hill | 1791 | Dobbs County Originally named Glasgow County |
Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War | 18,794 | ( 689 km²) |
266 sq mi|
Guilford County | 081 | Greensboro | 1771 | Orange County and Rowan County | Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford (1704–1790), a British politician and father of Prime Minister of Great Britain Frederick North | 421,048 | ( 1,704 km²) |
658 sq mi|
Halifax County | 083 | Halifax | 1758 | Edgecombe County | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716–1771), a British statesman and President of the Board of Trade | 57,370 | ( 1,893 km²) |
731 sq mi|
Harnett County | 085 | Lillington | 1855 | Cumberland County | Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress | 91,025 | ( 1,557 km²) |
601 sq mi|
Haywood County | 087 | Waynesville | 1808 | Buncombe County | John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer | 54,033 | ( 1,437 km²) |
555 sq mi|
Henderson County | 089 | Hendersonville | 1838 | Buncombe County | Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 89,173 | ( 971 km²) |
375 sq mi|
Hertford County | 091 | Winton | 1759 | Bertie County, Chowan County, and Northampton County | Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford (1718–1794), who was Lord of the Bedchamber to George II and George III | 22,601 | ( 932 km²) |
360 sq mi|
Hoke County | 093 | Raeford | 1911 | Cumberland County and Robeson County | Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War | 33,646 | ( 1,015 km²) |
392 sq mi|
Hyde County | 095 | Swan Quarter | 1705 | Original county Originally named Wickham County |
Edward Hyde (c. 1650–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 5,826 | ( 3,688 km²) |
1,424 sq mi|
Iredell County | 097 | Statesville | 1788 | Rowan County | James Iredell (1751–1799), a comptroller at the port of Edenton and one of the original justices of the Supreme Court of the United States | 122,660 | ( 1,546 km²) |
597 sq mi|
Jackson County | 099 | Sylva | 1851 | Haywood County and Macon County | Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States | 33,121 | ( 1,279 km²) |
494 sq mi|
Johnston County | 101 | Smithfield | 1746 | Craven County | Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 121,965 | ( 2,062 km²) |
796 sq mi|
Jones County | 103 | Trenton | 1779 | Craven County | Willie Jones (1740–1801), opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution and declined an invitation to the Constitutional Convention | 10,381 | ( 1,225 km²) |
473 sq mi|
Lee County | 105 | Sanford | 1907 | Chatham County and Moore County | Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), a career United States Army officer and general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War | 49,040 | ( 671 km²) |
259 sq mi|
Lenoir County | 107 | Kinston | 1791 | Dobbs County Originally named Glasgow County |
William Lenoir (1751–1839), a captain in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain | 59,648 | ( 1,041 km²) |
402 sq mi|
Lincoln County | 109 | Lincolnton | 1779 | Tryon County | Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), a major general during the American Revolutionary War who participated in the Siege of Yorktown | 63,780 | ( 795 km²) |
307 sq mi|
McDowell County | 111 | Marion | 1842 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Joseph McDowell (1756–1801), a soldier in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain | 42,151 | ( 1,155 km²) |
446 sq mi|
Macon County | 113 | Franklin | 1828 | Haywood County | Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | 29,811 | ( 1,344 km²) |
519 sq mi|
Madison County | 115 | Marshall | 1851 | Buncombe County and Yancey County | James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States | 19,635 | ( 1,171 km²) |
452 sq mi|
Martin County | 117 | Williamston | 1774 | Halifax County and Tyrrell County | Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina | 25,593 | ( 1,194 km²) |
461 sq mi|
Mecklenburg County | 119 | Charlotte | 1762 | Anson County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom | 695,454 | ( 1,414 km²) |
546 sq mi|
Mitchell County | 121 | Bakersville | 1861 | Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, Watauga County, and Yancey County | Elisha Mitchell (1793–1857), a professor at the University of North Carolina who measured the height of Mount Mitchell | 15,687 | ( 575 km²) |
222 sq mi|
Montgomery County | 123 | Troy | 1779 | Anson County | Richard Montgomery (1738–1775), a major general during the Revolutionary War who was killed at the Battle of Quebec | 26,822 | ( 1,300 km²) |
502 sq mi|
Moore County | 125 | Carthage | 1784 | Cumberland County | Alfred Moore (1755–1810), a captain in the Revolutionary War and justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | 74,769 | ( 1,829 km²) |
706 sq mi|
Nash County | 127 | Nashville | 1777 | Edgecombe County | Francis Nash (1742–1777), a brigadier general in the Revolutionary War who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown | 87,420 | ( 1,406 km²) |
543 sq mi|
New Hanover County | 129 | Wilmington | 1729 | Craven County | The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover | 160,307 | ( 850 km²) |
328 sq mi|
Northampton County | 131 | Jackson | 1741 | Bertie County | James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician | 22,086 | ( 1,427 km²) |
551 sq mi|
Onslow County | 133 | Jacksonville | 1734 | New Hanover County | Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the British House of Commons | 150,355 | ( 2,354 km²) |
909 sq mi|
Orange County | 135 | Hillsborough | 1752 | Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County | William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806), the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic | 118,227 | ( 1,039 km²) |
401 sq mi|
Pamlico County | 137 | Bayboro | 1872 | Beaufort County and Craven County | Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Native American tribe | 12,934 | ( 1,466 km²) |
566 sq mi|
Pasquotank County | 139 | Elizabeth City | 1668 | Albemarle County | Derived from the Native American word pasketanki which meant "where the current of the stream divides or forks" | 34,897 | ( 749 km²) |
289 sq mi|
Pender County | 141 | Burgaw | 1875 | New Hanover County | William Dorsey Pender (1834–1863), Confederate soldier who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War | 41,082 | ( 2,416 km²) |
933 sq mi|
Perquimans County | 143 | Hertford | 1668 | Albemarle County | Perquimans Native American tribe | 11,368 | ( 852 km²) |
329 sq mi|
Person County | 145 | Roxboro | 1791 | Caswell County | Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot | 35,623 | ( 1,046 km²) |
404 sq mi|
Pitt County | 147 | Greenville | 1760 | Beaufort County | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778), Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and was later Prime Minister of Great Britain | 133,798 | ( 1,696 km²) |
655 sq mi|
Polk County | 149 | Columbus | 1855 | Henderson County and Rutherford County | William Polk (1758–1834), officer in the American Revolutionary War and first president of the State Bank of North Carolina | 18,324 | ( 619 km²) |
239 sq mi|
Randolph County | 151 | Asheboro | 1779 | Guilford County | Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress | 130,454 | ( 2,046 km²) |
790 sq mi|
Richmond County | 153 | Rockingham | 1779 | Anson County | Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735–1806), a firm supporter of the American colonists and advocated removal of British troops | 46,564 | ( 1,243 km²) |
480 sq mi|
Robeson County | 155 | Lumberton | 1787 | Bladen County | Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War | 123,339 | ( 2,463 km²) |
951 sq mi|
Rockingham County | 157 | Wentworth | 1785 | Guilford County | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730–1782), a British statesmen and two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain | 91,928 | ( 1,481 km²) |
572 sq mi|
Rowan County | 159 | Salisbury | 1753 | Anson County | Matthew Rowan (d. 1769), was the acting Governor of colonial North Carolina following the death of Governor Nathaniel Rice | 130,340 | ( 1,357 km²) |
524 sq mi|
Rutherford County | 161 | Rutherfordton | 1779 | Tryon County | Griffith Rutherford (c. 1721–1805), an officer in the American Revolutionary War and a political leader in North Carolina | 62,889 | ( 1,466 km²) |
566 sq mi|
Sampson County | 163 | Clinton | 1784 | Duplin County | John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council | 60,161 | ( 2,453 km²) |
947 sq mi|
Scotland County | 165 | Laurinburg | 1899 | Richmond County | The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom | 35,998 | ( 831 km²) |
321 sq mi|
Stanly County | 167 | Albemarle | 1841 | Montgomery County | John Stanly (1774–1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 58,100 | ( 1,046 km²) |
404 sq mi|
Stokes County | 169 | Danbury | 1789 | Surry County | John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre | 44,711 | ( 1,181 km²) |
456 sq mi|
Surry County | 171 | Dobson | 1771 | Rowan County | The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon | 71,219 | ( 1,393 km²) |
538 sq mi|
Swain County | 173 | Bryson City | 1871 | Jackson County and Macon County | David Lowry Swain (1801–1868), a governor of North Carolina and president of the University of North Carolina | 12,968 | ( 1,401 km²) |
541 sq mi|
Transylvania County | 175 | Brevard | 1861 | Henderson County and Jackson County | Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning across and sylva meaning woods | 29,334 | ( 987 km²) |
381 sq mi|
Tyrrell County | 177 | Columbia | 1729 | Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County | John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor | 4,149 | ( 1,554 km²) |
600 sq mi|
Union County | 179 | Monroe | 1842 | Anson County and Mecklenburg County | Created as a compromise after a dispute between local Whigs and Democrats as to whether it should be named Clay or Jackson county | 123,677 | ( 1,658 km²) |
640 sq mi|
Vance County | 181 | Henderson | 1881 | Franklin County, Granville County, and Warren County | Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894), a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War, twice governor of North Carolina, and United States Senator | 42,954 | ( 699 km²) |
270 sq mi|
Wake County | 183 | Raleigh | 1771 | Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County | Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon | 627,846 | ( 2,220 km²) |
857 sq mi|
Warren County | 185 | Warrenton | 1779 | Bute County | Joseph Warren (1741–1775), a Patriot and volunteer private who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill | 19,972 | ( 1,150 km²) |
444 sq mi|
Washington County | 187 | Plymouth | 1799 | Tyrrell County | George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st President of the United States | 13,723 | ( 1,098 km²) |
424 sq mi|
Watauga County | 189 | Boone | 1849 | Ashe County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County | The Watauga River, which came from a Native American word meaning "beautiful water" | 42,695 | ( 811 km²) |
313 sq mi|
Wayne County | 191 | Goldsboro | 1779 | Dobbs County Originally named Glasgow County |
Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War | 113,329 | ( 1,443 km²) |
557 sq mi|
Wilkes County | 193 | Wilkesboro | 1778 | Surry County | John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist and politician | 65,632 | ( 1,968 km²) |
760 sq mi|
Wilson County | 195 | Wilson | 1855 | Edgecombe County, Johnston County, Nash County, and Wayne County | Louis D. Wilson, a state legislator from Edgecombe County who died of fever at Veracruz during the Mexican-American War | 73,814 | ( 969 km²) |
374 sq mi|
Yadkin County | 197 | Yadkinville | 1850 | Surry County | The Yadkin River | 36,348 | ( 873 km²) |
337 sq mi|
Yancey County | 199 | Burnsville | 1833 | Buncombe County and Burke County | Bartlett Yancey (1785–1828), a United States Congressman, Speaker of the North Carolina Senate, and early advocate for the North Carolina Public School System | 17,774 | ( 811 km²) |
313 sq mi
County | Created | Abolished | Fate |
---|---|---|---|
Albemarle County | 1664[6] | 1689[6] | Partitioned into Chowan County, Currituck County, Pasquotank County, and Perquimans County |
Bath County | 1696[7] | 1739[7] | Renamed as Craven County |
Bute County | 1764[8] | 1779[8] | Partitioned into Franklin County and Warren County |
Dobbs County | 1758[9] | 1791[9] | Partitioned into Greene County, Lenoir County, and Wayne County |
Tryon County | 1768[10] | 1779[10] | Partitioned into Lincoln County and Rutherford County |
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