List of counties in North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Counties of North Carolina |
|
---|---|
Location | State of North Carolina |
Number | 100 |
Populations | 3,461 (Tyrrell) – 1,190,275 (Wake) |
Areas | 221 square miles (570 km2) (Clay) – 1,542 square miles (3,990 km2) (Dare) |
Government | County government |
Subdivisions | cities, towns, townships, unincorporated communities, census designated place |

The U.S. state of North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. A county is a part of a state, like a smaller region, that has its own local government. North Carolina is the 28th largest state by land area. However, it has the seventh-highest number of counties in the country.
The story of North Carolina's counties began a long time ago. In 1660, King Charles II became king again. To thank eight people who supported him, he gave them a large area of land called Carolina in 1663. This land was named after his father, King Charles I. These eight people were called the Lords Proprietor. From 1663 to 1729, Carolina was an English, then British, colony. In 1729, the Province of North Carolina became a separate colony from the Province of South Carolina.
North Carolina started creating its counties in 1668 with Albemarle County. The last two counties, Avery and Hoke, were created in 1911. Over the years, five counties have been divided into new ones or stopped existing completely. The last one to be divided was Dobbs County in 1791.
The United States government uses a special code called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) to identify states and counties. North Carolina's FIPS code is 37. When combined with a county's code, it looks like 37XXX.
Contents
Counties of North Carolina
Here is a list of all 100 counties in North Carolina. You can see when each county was created, where its name came from, its population, and its size.
County | FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Meaning of Name | Pop. (2023) |
Area | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alamance County | 001 | Graham | 1849 | Orange County | Named after the Battle of Alamance. The name comes from a local Native American word meaning "blue clay" found in the Great Alamance Creek area. | 179,165 | ( 1,124 km2) |
434 sq mi![]() |
Alexander County | 003 | Taylorsville | 1847 | Caldwell County, Iredell County, and Wilkes County | Named for William J. Alexander, a member of the state legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons (a leader in the state government). | 36,473 | ( 684 km2) |
264 sq mi![]() |
Alleghany County | 005 | Sparta | 1859 | Ashe County | Comes from a Native American (Delaware Indian) name for the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, meaning "a fine stream." | 11,342 | ( 611 km2) |
236 sq mi![]() |
Anson County | 007 | Wadesboro | 1750 | Bladen County | Named for George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a famous English admiral who sailed around the world. | 21,897 | ( 1,391 km2) |
537 sq mi![]() |
Ashe County | 009 | Jefferson | 1799 | Wilkes County | Named for Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a patriot during the American Revolutionary War, a judge, and a governor of North Carolina. | 27,063 | ( 1,111 km2) |
429 sq mi![]() |
Avery County | 011 | Newland | 1911 | Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County | Named for Waightstill Avery (1741–1821), a soldier in the American Revolutionary War and the Attorney General of North Carolina. | 17,561 | ( 642 km2) |
248 sq mi![]() |
Beaufort County | 013 | Washington | 1712 | Bath County | Named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who became one of the Lords Proprietor (owners) of the colony in 1709. | 44,481 | ( 2,494 km2) |
963 sq mi![]() |
Bertie County | 015 | Windsor | 1722 | Chowan County | Named for James or Henry Bertie, two of the Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina. | 16,922 | ( 1,919 km2) |
741 sq mi![]() |
Bladen County | 017 | Elizabethtown | 1734 | New Hanover County | Named for Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade (a British government group). | 29,484 | ( 2,300 km2) |
888 sq mi![]() |
Brunswick County | 019 | Bolivia | 1764 | Bladen County and New Hanover County | Named for George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), who was also the Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg. | 159,964 | ( 2,719 km2) |
1,050 sq mi![]() |
Buncombe County | 021 | Asheville | 1791 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Named for Edward Buncombe, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He was wounded and captured during a battle. | 275,901 | ( 1,709 km2) |
660 sq mi![]() |
Burke County | 023 | Morganton | 1777 | Rowan County | Named for Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress (an early U.S. government group) and a governor of North Carolina. | 88,338 | ( 1,331 km2) |
514 sq mi![]() |
Cabarrus County | 025 | Concord | 1792 | Mecklenburg County | Named for Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), a member of the state legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons. | 240,016 | ( 943 km2) |
364 sq mi![]() |
Caldwell County | 027 | Lenoir | 1841 | Burke County and Wilkes County | Named for Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina. | 80,574 | ( 1,230 km2) |
475 sq mi![]() |
Camden County | 029 | Camden | 1777 | Pasquotank County | Named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who was against the taxation of the American colonists. | 11,137 | ( 803 km2) |
310 sq mi![]() |
Carteret County | 031 | Beaufort | 1722 | Craven County | Named for John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited a share of the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather. | 69,615 | ( 3,445 km2) |
1,330 sq mi![]() |
Caswell County | 033 | Yanceyville | 1777 | Orange County | Named for Richard Caswell (1729–1789), a member of the first Continental Congress and the first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence. | 22,807 | ( 1,111 km2) |
429 sq mi![]() |
Catawba County | 035 | Newton | 1842 | Lincoln County | Named for the Catawba Native American tribe. | 164,645 | ( 1,077 km2) |
416 sq mi![]() |
Chatham County | 037 | Pittsboro | 1771 | Orange County | Named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778), who was a Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and later a Prime Minister of Great Britain. | 81,624 | ( 1,836 km2) |
709 sq mi![]() |
Cherokee County | 039 | Murphy | 1839 | Macon County | Named for the Cherokee Native American tribe. | 29,959 | ( 1,210 km2) |
467 sq mi![]() |
Chowan County | 041 | Edenton | 1668 | Albemarle County | Named for the Chowan Native American tribe. | 13,891 | ( 606 km2) |
234 sq mi![]() |
Clay County | 043 | Hayesville | 1861 | Cherokee County | Named for Henry Clay (1777–1852), a famous statesman and speaker who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate. | 11,864 | ( 572 km2) |
221 sq mi![]() |
Cleveland County | 045 | Shelby | 1841 | Lincoln County and Rutherford County | Named for Benjamin Cleveland (1738–1806), a colonel in the American Revolutionary War who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. | 101,378 | ( 1,212 km2) |
468 sq mi![]() |
Columbus County | 047 | Whiteville | 1808 | Bladen County and Brunswick County | Named for Christopher Columbus (1451–1507), a famous navigator and explorer who was one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas. | 50,121 | ( 2,473 km2) |
955 sq mi![]() |
Craven County | 049 | New Bern | 1705 | Bath County | Named for William, Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was one of the Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina. | 102,391 | ( 2,002 km2) |
773 sq mi![]() |
Cumberland County | 051 | Fayetteville | 1754 | Bladen County | Named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of King George II. | 337,890 | ( 1,704 km2) |
658 sq mi![]() |
Currituck County | 053 | Currituck | 1668 | Albemarle County | Traditionally a Native American word for wild geese. It was also spelled "Coratank." | 31,593 | ( 1,362 km2) |
526 sq mi![]() |
Dare County | 055 | Manteo | 1870 | Currituck County, Hyde County, and Tyrrell County | Named for Virginia Dare (born 1587), who was the first child born to English parents in America. | 38,110 | ( 3,994 km2) |
1,542 sq mi![]() |
Davidson County | 057 | Lexington | 1822 | Rowan County | Named for William Lee Davidson (1746–1781), an American Revolutionary War general who was badly wounded in battle. | 174,804 | ( 1,471 km2) |
568 sq mi![]() |
Davie County | 059 | Mocksville | 1836 | Rowan County | Named for William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention (where the U.S. Constitution was written) and a governor of North Carolina. | 44,599 | ( 689 km2) |
266 sq mi![]() |
Duplin County | 061 | Kenansville | 1750 | New Hanover County | Named for Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull. | 49,520 | ( 2,124 km2) |
820 sq mi![]() |
Durham County | 063 | Durham | 1881 | Orange County and Wake County | Named after the city of Durham. The city was named in honor of Dr. Bartlett Snipes Durham, who gave the land where the city was first built. | 336,892 | ( 772 km2) |
298 sq mi![]() |
Edgecombe County | 065 | Tarboro | 1741 | Bertie County | Named for Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), who held important financial roles in the British government. | 48,832 | ( 1,313 km2) |
507 sq mi![]() |
Forsyth County | 067 | Winston-Salem | 1849 | Stokes County | Named for Benjamin Forsyth (died 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812. | 392,921 | ( 1,067 km2) |
412 sq mi![]() |
Franklin County | 069 | Louisburg | 1779 | Bute County | Named for Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), a famous author, politician, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. | 77,001 | ( 1,279 km2) |
494 sq mi![]() |
Gaston County | 071 | Gastonia | 1846 | Lincoln County | Named for William Gaston (1778–1844), a U.S. Congressman and a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. | 237,242 | ( 943 km2) |
364 sq mi![]() |
Gates County | 073 | Gatesville | 1779 | Chowan County, Hertford County, and Perquimans County | Named for Horatio Gates (1727–1806), an American general during the American Revolutionary War who fought in the Battle of Saratoga. | 10,343 | ( 896 km2) |
346 sq mi![]() |
Graham County | 075 | Robbinsville | 1872 | Cherokee County | Named for William Alexander Graham (1804–1875), a U.S. Senator, a governor of North Carolina, and a United States Secretary of the Navy. | 8,052 | ( 782 km2) |
302 sq mi![]() |
Granville County | 077 | Oxford | 1746 | Edgecombe County | Named for John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (1690–1763), who inherited a share of the Province of Carolina through his great-grandfather. | 62,192 | ( 1,393 km2) |
538 sq mi![]() |
Greene County | 079 | Snow Hill | 1799 | Dobbs County | Named for Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It was originally named Glasgow County. | 20,530 | ( 692 km2) |
267 sq mi![]() |
Guilford County | 081 | Greensboro | 1771 | Orange County and Rowan County | Named for Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford (1704–1790), a British politician and father of Prime Minister Frederick North. | 549,866 | ( 1,704 km2) |
658 sq mi![]() |
Halifax County | 083 | Halifax | 1758 | Edgecombe County | Named for George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716–1771), a British statesman and president of the Board of Trade. | 47,298 | ( 1,891 km2) |
730 sq mi![]() |
Harnett County | 085 | Lillington | 1855 | Cumberland County | Named for Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and a delegate in the Continental Congress. | 141,477 | ( 1,557 km2) |
601 sq mi![]() |
Haywood County | 087 | Waynesville | 1808 | Buncombe County | Named for John Haywood (1754–1827), who was the North Carolina State Treasurer. | 62,969 | ( 1,437 km2) |
555 sq mi![]() |
Henderson County | 089 | Hendersonville | 1838 | Buncombe County | Named for Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. | 119,230 | ( 971 km2) |
375 sq mi![]() |
Hertford County | 091 | Winton | 1759 | Bertie County, Chowan County, and Northampton County | Named for Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford (1718–1794), who served King George II and George III. | 19,453 | ( 932 km2) |
360 sq mi![]() |
Hoke County | 093 | Raeford | 1911 | Cumberland County and Robeson County | Named for Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War. | 54,446 | ( 1,015 km2) |
392 sq mi![]() |
Hyde County | 095 | Swan Quarter | 1712 | Bath County | Named for Edward Hyde (1667–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina. | 4,607 | ( 3,779 km2) |
1,459 sq mi![]() |
Iredell County | 097 | Statesville | 1788 | Rowan County | Named for James Iredell (1751–1799), an early justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 199,710 | ( 1,546 km2) |
597 sq mi![]() |
Jackson County | 099 | Sylva | 1851 | Haywood County and Macon County | Named for Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States. | 44,574 | ( 1,282 km2) |
495 sq mi![]() |
Johnston County | 101 | Smithfield | 1746 | Craven County | Named for Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina. | 241,955 | ( 2,062 km2) |
796 sq mi![]() |
Jones County | 103 | Trenton | 1779 | Craven County | Named for Willie Jones (1740–1801), who was against the ratification (approval) of the U.S. Constitution. | 9,401 | ( 1,228 km2) |
474 sq mi![]() |
Lee County | 105 | Sanford | 1907 | Chatham County and Moore County | Named for Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), a general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. | 67,059 | ( 671 km2) |
259 sq mi![]() |
Lenoir County | 107 | Kinston | 1791 | Dobbs County | Named for William Lenoir (1751–1839), a captain in the American Revolutionary War who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. | 54,895 | ( 1,039 km2) |
401 sq mi![]() |
Lincoln County | 109 | Lincolnton | 1779 | Tryon County | Named for Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), a major general during the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Siege of Yorktown. | 95,675 | ( 790 km2) |
305 sq mi![]() |
Macon County | 113 | Franklin | 1828 | Haywood County | Named for Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. | 38,412 | ( 1,347 km2) |
520 sq mi![]() |
Madison County | 115 | Marshall | 1851 | Buncombe County and Yancey County | Named for James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States. | 22,071 | ( 1,168 km2) |
451 sq mi![]() |
Martin County | 117 | Williamston | 1774 | Halifax County and Tyrrell County | Named for Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina. | 21,447 | ( 1,184 km2) |
457 sq mi![]() |
McDowell County | 111 | Marion | 1842 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Named for Joseph McDowell (1756–1801), a soldier in the American Revolutionary War who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. | 44,893 | ( 1,153 km2) |
445 sq mi![]() |
Mecklenburg County | 119 | Charlotte | 1762 | Anson County | Named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), who was the queen of King George III of the United Kingdom. | 1,163,701 | ( 1,414 km2) |
546 sq mi![]() |
Mitchell County | 121 | Bakersville | 1861 | Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County, Watauga County, and Yancey County | Named for Elisha Mitchell (1793–1857), a professor at the University of North Carolina who measured the height of Mount Mitchell. | 14,999 | ( 575 km2) |
222 sq mi![]() |
Montgomery County | 123 | Troy | 1779 | Anson County | Named for Richard Montgomery (1738–1775), a major general during the American Revolutionary War who was killed in battle. | 26,085 | ( 1,300 km2) |
502 sq mi![]() |
Moore County | 125 | Carthage | 1784 | Cumberland County | Named for Alfred Moore (1755–1810), a captain in the American Revolutionary War and a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 106,898 | ( 1,829 km2) |
706 sq mi![]() |
Nash County | 127 | Nashville | 1777 | Edgecombe County | Named for Francis Nash (1742–1777), a general in the American Revolutionary War who was badly wounded in battle. | 96,551 | ( 1,406 km2) |
543 sq mi![]() |
New Hanover County | 129 | Wilmington | 1729 | Craven County | Named for the royal family of England, the House of Hanover. | 238,852 | ( 852 km2) |
329 sq mi![]() |
Northampton County | 131 | Jackson | 1741 | Bertie County | Named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British noble and politician. | 16,715 | ( 1,427 km2) |
551 sq mi![]() |
Onslow County | 133 | Jacksonville | 1734 | New Hanover County | Named for Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the House of Commons (a leader in the British Parliament). | 213,676 | ( 2,344 km2) |
905 sq mi![]() |
Orange County | 135 | Hillsborough | 1752 | Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County | The exact reason for the name is unknown. It might be named after Prince William V of Orange (1748–1806), or William of Orange (1650–1702), who became King of England. | 150,626 | ( 1,039 km2) |
401 sq mi![]() |
Pamlico County | 137 | Bayboro | 1872 | Beaufort County and Craven County | Named for Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Native American tribe. | 12,423 | ( 1,456 km2) |
562 sq mi![]() |
Pasquotank County | 139 | Elizabeth City | 1668 | Albemarle County | Comes from the Native American word "pasketanki," meaning "where the current of the stream divides or forks." | 41,444 | ( 749 km2) |
289 sq mi![]() |
Pender County | 141 | Burgaw | 1875 | New Hanover County | Named for William Dorsey Pender (1834–1863), a Confederate soldier who was badly wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. | 68,521 | ( 2,419 km2) |
934 sq mi![]() |
Perquimans County | 143 | Hertford | 1668 | Albemarle County | The Native American word "perquimans" means "land of beautiful women." It was named by a group of the Yeopim tribe. | 13,377 | ( 852 km2) |
329 sq mi![]() |
Person County | 145 | Roxboro | 1791 | Caswell County | Named for Thomas Person, a patriot during the American Revolutionary War. | 39,737 | ( 1,046 km2) |
404 sq mi![]() |
Pitt County | 147 | Greenville | 1760 | Beaufort County | Named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778), who was a Secretary of State during the French and Indian War and later a Prime Minister of Great Britain. | 175,119 | ( 1,699 km2) |
656 sq mi![]() |
Polk County | 149 | Columbus | 1855 | Henderson County and Rutherford County | Named for William Polk (1758–1834), an officer in the American Revolutionary War and the first president of the State Bank of North Carolina. | 20,060 | ( 616 km2) |
238 sq mi![]() |
Randolph County | 151 | Asheboro | 1779 | Guilford County | Named for Peyton Randolph (around 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress. | 147,458 | ( 2,046 km2) |
790 sq mi![]() |
Richmond County | 153 | Rockingham | 1779 | Anson County | Named for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735–1806), who strongly supported the American colonists and wanted British troops removed. | 42,324 | ( 1,243 km2) |
480 sq mi![]() |
Robeson County | 155 | Lumberton | 1787 | Bladen County | Named for Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War. | 117,365 | ( 2,458 km2) |
949 sq mi![]() |
Rockingham County | 157 | Wentworth | 1785 | Guilford County | Named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730–1782), a British statesman and a two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain. | 92,518 | ( 1,484 km2) |
573 sq mi![]() |
Rowan County | 159 | Salisbury | 1753 | Anson County | Named for Matthew Rowan (died 1769), who was the acting Governor of colonial North Carolina. | 151,661 | ( 1,357 km2) |
524 sq mi![]() |
Rutherford County | 161 | Rutherfordton | 1779 | Tryon County | Named for Griffith Rutherford (around 1721–1805), an officer in the American Revolutionary War and a political leader in North Carolina. | 65,507 | ( 1,469 km2) |
567 sq mi![]() |
Sampson County | 163 | Clinton | 1784 | Duplin County | Named for John Sampson, a member of Governor Josiah Martin's council. | 59,601 | ( 2,455 km2) |
948 sq mi![]() |
Scotland County | 165 | Laurinburg | 1899 | Richmond County | Named for the country Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. | 34,376 | ( 831 km2) |
321 sq mi![]() |
Stanly County | 167 | Albemarle | 1841 | Montgomery County | Named for John Stanly (1774–1834), a U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons. | 65,699 | ( 1,049 km2) |
405 sq mi![]() |
Stokes County | 169 | Danbury | 1789 | Surry County | Named for John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded in battle. | 45,532 | ( 1,181 km2) |
456 sq mi![]() |
Surry County | 171 | Dobson | 1771 | Rowan County | Named for the county of Surrey in England, which was the birthplace of the governor at the time, William Tryon. | 71,462 | ( 1,391 km2) |
537 sq mi![]() |
Swain County | 173 | Bryson City | 1871 | Jackson County and Macon County | Named for David Lowry Swain (1801–1868), a governor of North Carolina and president of the University of North Carolina. | 13,916 | ( 1,399 km2) |
540 sq mi![]() |
Transylvania County | 175 | Brevard | 1861 | Henderson County and Jackson County | Comes from the Latin words, trans meaning "across" and sylva meaning "woods." So, "across the woods." | 33,549 | ( 984 km2) |
380 sq mi![]() |
Tyrrell County | 177 | Columbia | 1729 | Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County | Named for John Tyrrell, who was once one of the Lords Proprietor. | 3,461 | ( 1,546 km2) |
597 sq mi![]() |
Union County | 179 | Monroe | 1842 | Anson County and Mecklenburg County | Created as a compromise after a disagreement between local political groups (Whigs and Democrats) about whether to name it Clay or Jackson county. | 256,452 | ( 1,658 km2) |
640 sq mi![]() |
Vance County | 181 | Henderson | 1881 | Franklin County, Granville County, and Warren County | Named for Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894), a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War. He was also a two-time governor of North Carolina and a U.S. Senator. | 42,301 | ( 697 km2) |
269 sq mi![]() |
Wake County | 183 | Raleigh | 1771 | Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County | Named for Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon. | 1,190,275 | ( 2,220 km2) |
857 sq mi![]() |
Warren County | 185 | Warrenton | 1779 | Bute County | Named for Joseph Warren (1741–1775), a Patriot who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. | 18,836 | ( 1,150 km2) |
444 sq mi![]() |
Washington County | 187 | Plymouth | 1799 | Tyrrell County | Named for George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st president of the United States. | 10,713 | ( 1,093 km2) |
422 sq mi![]() |
Watauga County | 189 | Boone | 1849 | Ashe County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County | Named for the Watauga River, which comes from a Native American word meaning "beautiful water." | 54,748 | ( 811 km2) |
313 sq mi![]() |
Wayne County | 191 | Goldsboro | 1779 | Dobbs County | Named for Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War. | 118,686 | ( 1,445 km2) |
558 sq mi![]() |
Wilkes County | 193 | Wilkesboro | 1777 | Surry County | Named for John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English journalist and politician. | 66,013 | ( 1,958 km2) |
756 sq mi![]() |
Wilson County | 195 | Wilson | 1855 | Edgecombe County, Johnston County, Nash County, and Wayne County | Named for Louis D. Wilson, a state lawmaker who died during the Mexican–American War. | 78,970 | ( 966 km2) |
373 sq mi![]() |
Yadkin County | 197 | Yadkinville | 1850 | Surry County | Named for the Yadkin River. | 37,774 | ( 875 km2) |
338 sq mi![]() |
Yancey County | 199 | Burnsville | 1833 | Buncombe County and Burke County | Named for Bartlett Yancey (1785–1828), a U.S. Congressman, a leader in the state Senate, and an early supporter of North Carolina's public school system. | 18,938 | ( 811 km2) |
313 sq mi![]() |
Historic Counties
Some counties in North Carolina's history no longer exist today. They were either divided into new counties or completely removed.
County | Created | Abolished | What Happened to It |
---|---|---|---|
Albemarle County | 1664 | 1738 | Divided into Chowan County, Currituck County, Pasquotank County, and Perquimans County. |
Bath County | 1696 | 1738 | Divided into Beaufort County, Craven County, and Hyde County. |
Bute County | 1764 | 1779 | Divided into Franklin County and Warren County. |
Dobbs County | 1758 | 1791 | Divided into Greene County, Lenoir County, and Wayne County. |
Tryon County | 1768 | 1779 | Divided into Lincoln County and Rutherford County. |
For a few months in 1784, Cumberland County was known as Fayette County. It even sent representatives to the state government under that name.
Proposed Counties That Weren't Created
Throughout North Carolina's history, two counties were officially suggested but never actually created. These were Hooper County (in 1851) and Lillington County (in 1859). Hooper County was planned to be made from parts of Richmond and Robeson Counties. Lillington County was meant to be created from parts of New Hanover County. Both ideas were voted on but did not pass. Later, Scotland County was created in the area where Hooper County was proposed, and Pender County was created where Lillington County was suggested.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Carolina del Norte para niños
- List of municipalities in North Carolina
- List of census-designated places in North Carolina
- List of ghost towns in North Carolina
- List of former United States counties