Counties of North Carolina
Location	State of North Carolina
Number	100
Populations	4,364 (Tyrrell) – 1,012,539 (Mecklenburg)
Areas	221 square miles (570 km2) (Clay) – 1,562 square miles (4,050 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. North Carolina ranks 29th in size by area, but has the seventh-highest number of counties in the country.^[1]

Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II rewarded eight persons on March 24, 1663, for their faithful support of his efforts to regain the throne of England. He gave the eight grantees, called Lords Proprietor, the land called Carolina, in honor of King Charles I, his father. The Province of Carolina, from 1663 to 1729, was a North American English (1663–1707), then British (from 1707 union with Scotland) colony. In 1729, the Province of North Carolina became a separate entity from the Province of South Carolina.^[2]

The establishment of North Carolina counties stretches over 240 years, beginning in 1668 with the creation of Albemarle County and ending with the 1911 creation of Avery and Hoke counties. Five counties have been divided or abolished altogether, the last being Dobbs County in 1791.

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS),^[3] 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.^{[needs update]}

List[edit]

County	FIPS code [3]	County seat [4]	Created [4]	Origin [5]	Etymology [5]	Population (2011 estimate)[6]	Area [4][7]	Map
Alamance County	001	Graham	1849	Orange County	The Battle of Alamance which was derived from the local Indian word meaning "blue clay" found in the Great Alamance Creek	7005153291000000000♠153,291	7002435000000000000♠435 sq mi (7003112700000000000♠1,127 km2)
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	7004370870000000000♠37,087	7002263000000000000♠263 sq mi (7002681000000000000♠681 km2)
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"	7004110520000000000♠11,052	7002236000000000000♠236 sq mi (7002611000000000000♠611 km2)
Anson County	007	Wadesboro	1750	Bladen County	George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe	7004261430000000000♠26,143	7002537000000000000♠537 sq mi (7003139100000000000♠1,391 km2)
Ashe County	009	Jefferson	1799	Wilkes County	Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and governor of North Carolina	7004271430000000000♠27,143	7002427000000000000♠427 sq mi (7003110600000000000♠1,106 km2)
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	7004175720000000000♠17,572	7002247000000000000♠247 sq mi (7002640000000000000♠640 km2)
Beaufort County	013	Washington	1712	Bath County	Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor	7004476910000000000♠47,691	7002959000000000000♠959 sq mi (7003248400000000000♠2,484 km2)
Bertie County	015	Windsor	1722	Chowan County	James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina	7004208740000000000♠20,874	7002741000000000000♠741 sq mi (7003191900000000000♠1,919 km2)
Bladen County	017	Elizabethtown	1734	New Hanover County	Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade	7004351900000000000♠35,190	7002887000000000000♠887 sq mi (7003229700000000000♠2,297 km2)
Brunswick County	019	Bolivia	1764	Bladen County and New Hanover County	George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg	7005110097000000000♠110,097	7002860000000000000♠860 sq mi (7003222700000000000♠2,227 km2)
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	7005241419000000000♠241,419	7002660000000000000♠660 sq mi (7003170900000000000♠1,709 km2)
Burke County	023	Morganton	1777	Rowan County	Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina	7004909040000000000♠90,904	7002515000000000000♠515 sq mi (7003133400000000000♠1,334 km2)
Cabarrus County	025	Concord	1792	Mecklenburg County	Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons	7005181468000000000♠181,468	7002365000000000000♠365 sq mi (7002945000000000000♠945 km2)
Caldwell County	027	Lenoir	1841	Burke County and Wilkes County	Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina	7004823950000000000♠82,395	7002474000000000000♠474 sq mi (7003122800000000000♠1,228 km2)
Camden County	029	Camden	1777	Pasquotank County	Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists	7004100140000000000♠10,014	7002306000000000000♠306 sq mi (7002793000000000000♠793 km2)
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	7004673730000000000♠67,373	7003134100000000000♠1,341 sq mi (7003347300000000000♠3,473 km2)
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	7004234030000000000♠23,403	7002428000000000000♠428 sq mi (7003110900000000000♠1,109 km2)
Catawba County	035	Newton	1842	Lincoln County	Catawba Indians	7005154181000000000♠154,181	7002414000000000000♠414 sq mi (7003107200000000000♠1,072 km2)
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	7004641950000000000♠64,195	7002709000000000000♠709 sq mi (7003183600000000000♠1,836 km2)
Cherokee County	039	Murphy	1839	Macon County	Cherokee Indians	7004271940000000000♠27,194	7002497000000000000♠497 sq mi (7003128700000000000♠1,287 km2)
Chowan County	041	Edenton	1668	Albemarle County	Chowan Indian tribe	7004148310000000000♠14,831	7002233000000000000♠233 sq mi (7002603000000000000♠603 km2)
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	7004105630000000000♠10,563	7002221000000000000♠221 sq mi (7002572000000000000♠572 km2)
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	7004974890000000000♠97,489	7002469000000000000♠469 sq mi (7003121500000000000♠1,215 km2)
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	7004577120000000000♠57,712	7002954000000000000♠954 sq mi (7003247100000000000♠2,471 km2)
Craven County	049	New Bern	1705	Bath County	William, Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina	7005104786000000000♠104,786	7002774000000000000♠774 sq mi (7003200500000000000♠2,005 km2)
Cumberland County	051	Fayetteville	1754	Bladen County	Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II	7005324885000000000♠324,885	7002658000000000000♠658 sq mi (7003170400000000000♠1,704 km2)
Currituck County	053	Currituck	1668	Albemarle County	Traditionally said to be an Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank"	7004239550000000000♠23,955	7002526000000000000♠526 sq mi (7003136200000000000♠1,362 km2)
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	7004343070000000000♠34,307	7003156200000000000♠1,562 sq mi (7003404600000000000♠4,046 km2)
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	7005162695000000000♠162,695	7002567000000000000♠567 sq mi (7003146900000000000♠1,469 km2)
Davie County	059	Mocksville	1836	Rowan County	William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina	7004415520000000000♠41,552	7002267000000000000♠267 sq mi (7002692000000000000♠692 km2)
Duplin County	061	Kenansville	1750	New Hanover County	Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th earl of Kinnoull	7004595420000000000♠59,542	7002819000000000000♠819 sq mi (7003212100000000000♠2,121 km2)
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	7005273392000000000♠273,392	7002298000000000000♠298 sq mi (7002772000000000000♠772 km2)
Edgecombe County	065	Tarboro	1741	Bertie County	Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster-General for Ireland	7004560410000000000♠56,041	7002507000000000000♠507 sq mi (7003131300000000000♠1,313 km2)
Forsyth County	067	Winston-Salem	1849	Stokes County	Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812	7005354952000000000♠354,952	7002413000000000000♠413 sq mi (7003107000000000000♠1,070 km2)
Franklin County	069	Louisburg	1779	Bute County	Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States	7004611400000000000♠61,140	7002495000000000000♠495 sq mi (7003128200000000000♠1,282 km2)
Gaston County	071	Gastonia	1846	Lincoln County	William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court	7005207031000000000♠207,031	7002364000000000000♠364 sq mi (7002943000000000000♠943 km2)
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	7004120430000000000♠12,043	7002346000000000000♠346 sq mi (7002896000000000000♠896 km2)
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	7003880200000000000♠8,802	7002302000000000000♠302 sq mi (7002782000000000000♠782 km2)
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	7004599760000000000♠59,976	7002537000000000000♠537 sq mi (7003139100000000000♠1,391 km2)
Greene County	079	Snow Hill	1799	Dobbs County Originally named Glasgow County	Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War	7004215560000000000♠21,556	7002266000000000000♠266 sq mi (7002689000000000000♠689 km2)
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	7005495279000000000♠495,279	7002658000000000000♠658 sq mi (7003170400000000000♠1,704 km2)
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	7004541730000000000♠54,173	7002731000000000000♠731 sq mi (7003189300000000000♠1,893 km2)
Harnett County	085	Lillington	1855	Cumberland County	Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress	7005119256000000000♠119,256	7002601000000000000♠601 sq mi (7003155700000000000♠1,557 km2)
Haywood County	087	Waynesville	1808	Buncombe County	John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer	7004588550000000000♠58,855	7002555000000000000♠555 sq mi (7003143700000000000♠1,437 km2)
Henderson County	089	Hendersonville	1838	Buncombe County	Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court	7005107927000000000♠107,927	7002375000000000000♠375 sq mi (7002971000000000000♠971 km2)
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	7004244330000000000♠24,433	7002360000000000000♠360 sq mi (7002932000000000000♠932 km2)
Hoke County	093	Raeford	1911	Cumberland County and Robeson County	Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War	7004492720000000000♠49,272	7002392000000000000♠392 sq mi (7003101500000000000♠1,015 km2)
Hyde County	095	Swan Quarter	1712	Bath County	Edward Hyde (c. 1650–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina	7003582200000000000♠5,822	7003142400000000000♠1,424 sq mi (7003368800000000000♠3,688 km2)
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	7005161202000000000♠161,202	7002597000000000000♠597 sq mi (7003154600000000000♠1,546 km2)
Jackson County	099	Sylva	1851	Haywood County and Macon County	Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States	7004402850000000000♠40,285	7002494000000000000♠494 sq mi (7003127900000000000♠1,279 km2)
Johnston County	101	Smithfield	1746	Craven County	Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina	7005172595000000000♠172,595	7002796000000000000♠796 sq mi (7003206200000000000♠2,062 km2)
Jones County	103	Trenton	1778	Craven County	Willie Jones (1740–1801), opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution and declined an invitation to the Constitutional Convention	7004100200000000000♠10,020	7002473000000000000♠473 sq mi (7003122500000000000♠1,225 km2)
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	7004587520000000000♠58,752	7002259000000000000♠259 sq mi (7002671000000000000♠671 km2)
Lenoir County	107	Kinston	1791	Dobbs County	William Lenoir (1751–1839), a captain in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain	7004593390000000000♠59,339	7002402000000000000♠402 sq mi (7003104100000000000♠1,041 km2)
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	7004789320000000000♠78,932	7002307000000000000♠307 sq mi (7002795000000000000♠795 km2)
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	7004451040000000000♠45,104	7002446000000000000♠446 sq mi (7003115500000000000♠1,155 km2)
Macon County	113	Franklin	1828	Haywood County	Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives	7004340740000000000♠34,074	7002519000000000000♠519 sq mi (7003134400000000000♠1,344 km2)
Madison County	115	Marshall	1851	Buncombe County and Yancey County	James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States	7004208160000000000♠20,816	7002452000000000000♠452 sq mi (7003117100000000000♠1,171 km2)
Martin County	117	Williamston	1774	Halifax County and Tyrrell County	Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina	7004241800000000000♠24,180	7002461000000000000♠461 sq mi (7003119400000000000♠1,194 km2)
Mecklenburg County	119	Charlotte	1762	Anson County	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom	7005944373000000000♠944,373	7002546000000000000♠546 sq mi (7003141400000000000♠1,414 km2)
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	7004154450000000000♠15,445	7002222000000000000♠222 sq mi (7002575000000000000♠575 km2)
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	7004276670000000000♠27,667	7002502000000000000♠502 sq mi (7003130000000000000♠1,300 km2)
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	7004893520000000000♠89,352	7002706000000000000♠706 sq mi (7003182900000000000♠1,829 km2)
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	7004961160000000000♠96,116	7002543000000000000♠543 sq mi (7003140600000000000♠1,406 km2)
New Hanover County	129	Wilmington	1729	Craven County	The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover	7005206189000000000♠206,189	7002328000000000000♠328 sq mi (7002850000000000000♠850 km2)
Northampton County	131	Jackson	1741	Bertie County	James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician	7004218930000000000♠21,893	7002551000000000000♠551 sq mi (7003142700000000000♠1,427 km2)
Onslow County	133	Jacksonville	1734	New Hanover County	Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the British House of Commons	7005179716000000000♠179,716	7002909000000000000♠909 sq mi (7003235400000000000♠2,354 km2)
Orange County	135	Hillsborough	1752	Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County	Prince William V of Orange (1748–1806), the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic	7005135755000000000♠135,755	7002401000000000000♠401 sq mi (7003103900000000000♠1,039 km2)
Pamlico County	137	Bayboro	1872	Beaufort County and Craven County	Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Indian tribe	7004131970000000000♠13,197	7002566000000000000♠566 sq mi (7003146600000000000♠1,466 km2)
Pasquotank County	139	Elizabeth City	1668	Albemarle County	Derived from the Indian word "pasketanki" which meant "where the current of the stream divides or forks"	7004406960000000000♠40,696	7002289000000000000♠289 sq mi (7002749000000000000♠749 km2)
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	7004533990000000000♠53,399	7002933000000000000♠933 sq mi (7003241600000000000♠2,416 km2)
Perquimans County	143	Hertford	1668	Albemarle County	The Indian word "perquimans" means "land of beautiful women" and was coined by a sect of the Yeopim tribe, later becoming the 'Perquiman'	7004134870000000000♠13,487	7002329000000000000♠329 sq mi (7002852000000000000♠852 km2)
Person County	145	Roxboro	1791	Caswell County	Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot	7004396370000000000♠39,637	7002404000000000000♠404 sq mi (7003104600000000000♠1,046 km2)
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	7005171134000000000♠171,134	7002655000000000000♠655 sq mi (7003169600000000000♠1,696 km2)
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	7004202560000000000♠20,256	7002239000000000000♠239 sq mi (7002619000000000000♠619 km2)
Randolph County	151	Asheboro	1779	Guilford County	Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress	7005142358000000000♠142,358	7002790000000000000♠790 sq mi (7003204600000000000♠2,046 km2)
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	7004466110000000000♠46,611	7002480000000000000♠480 sq mi (7003124300000000000♠1,243 km2)
Robeson County	155	Lumberton	1787	Bladen County	Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War	7005135517000000000♠135,517	7002951000000000000♠951 sq mi (7003246300000000000♠2,463 km2)
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	7004933290000000000♠93,329	7002572000000000000♠572 sq mi (7003148100000000000♠1,481 km2)
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	7005138019000000000♠138,019	7002524000000000000♠524 sq mi (7003135700000000000♠1,357 km2)
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	7004675380000000000♠67,538	7002566000000000000♠566 sq mi (7003146600000000000♠1,466 km2)
Sampson County	163	Clinton	1784	Duplin County	John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council	7004637340000000000♠63,734	7002947000000000000♠947 sq mi (7003245300000000000♠2,453 km2)
Scotland County	165	Laurinburg	1899	Richmond County	The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom	7004358610000000000♠35,861	7002321000000000000♠321 sq mi (7002831000000000000♠831 km2)
Stanly County	167	Albemarle	1841	Montgomery County	John Stanly (1774–1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons	7004606360000000000♠60,636	7002404000000000000♠404 sq mi (7003104600000000000♠1,046 km2)
Stokes County	169	Danbury	1789	Surry County	John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre	7004472420000000000♠47,242	7002456000000000000♠456 sq mi (7003118100000000000♠1,181 km2)
Surry County	171	Dobson	1771	Rowan County	The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon	7004737140000000000♠73,714	7002538000000000000♠538 sq mi (7003139300000000000♠1,393 km2)
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	7004140430000000000♠14,043	7002541000000000000♠541 sq mi (7003140100000000000♠1,401 km2)
Transylvania County	175	Brevard	1861	Henderson County and Jackson County	Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning across and sylva meaning woods	7004328200000000000♠32,820	7002381000000000000♠381 sq mi (7002987000000000000♠987 km2)
Tyrrell County	177	Columbia	1729	Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County	John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor	7003436400000000000♠4,364	7002600000000000000♠600 sq mi (7003155400000000000♠1,554 km2)
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	7005205463000000000♠205,463	7002640000000000000♠640 sq mi (7003165800000000000♠1,658 km2)
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	7004453070000000000♠45,307	7002270000000000000♠270 sq mi (7002699000000000000♠699 km2)
Wake County	183	Raleigh	1771	Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County	Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon	7005929780000000000♠929,780	7002857000000000000♠857 sq mi (7003222000000000000♠2,220 km2)
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	7004208610000000000♠20,861	7002444000000000000♠444 sq mi (7003115000000000000♠1,150 km2)
Washington County	187	Plymouth	1799	Tyrrell County	George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st President of the United States	7004129730000000000♠12,973	7002424000000000000♠424 sq mi (7003109800000000000♠1,098 km2)
Watauga County	189	Boone	1849	Ashe County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County	The Watauga River, which came from an Indian word meaning "beautiful water"	7004513330000000000♠51,333	7002313000000000000♠313 sq mi (7002811000000000000♠811 km2)
Wayne County	191	Goldsboro	1779	Dobbs County	Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War	7005123697000000000♠123,697	7002557000000000000♠557 sq mi (7003144300000000000♠1,443 km2)
Wilkes County	193	Wilkesboro	1777	Surry County	John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist and politician	7004689840000000000♠68,984	7002760000000000000♠760 sq mi (7003196800000000000♠1,968 km2)
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	7004814520000000000♠81,452	7002374000000000000♠374 sq mi (7002969000000000000♠969 km2)
Yadkin County	197	Yadkinville	1850	Surry County	The Yadkin River	7004382790000000000♠38,279	7002337000000000000♠337 sq mi (7002873000000000000♠873 km2)
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	7004177010000000000♠17,701	7002313000000000000♠313 sq mi (7002811000000000000♠811 km2)

Historic counties[edit]

See also[edit]

• List of cities, towns, and villages in North Carolina


• List of former United States counties

References[edit]

General

• Corbitt, David Leroy. The Formation of the North Carolina Counties, 1663–1943. Raleigh: State Dept. of Archives and History, 1950. Reprint, Raleigh: Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Dept. of Cultural Resources, 1987. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
  ISBN 0-86526-032-X
  


• Powell, William S. The North Carolina Gazetteer. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1968. Reprint, 1985.
  ISBN 0-8078-1247-1
  

Specific