| Counties of North Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Location | State of North Carolina |
| Number | 100 |
| Populations | 3,517 (Tyrrell) – 1,232,444 (Wake) |
| Areas | 221 square miles (570 km2) (Clay) – 1,542 square miles (3,990 km2) (Dare) |
| Government | |
| Subdivisions |
|
The U.S. state ofNorth Carolina is divided into 100counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh-highest number of counties in thecountry.[1]
Following therestoration 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, calledLords Proprietor, the land called Carolina, in honor ofKing Charles I, his father. TheProvince of Carolina, from 1663 to 1729, was a North AmericanEnglish (1663–1707), thenBritish (from 1707 union with Scotland) colony. In 1729, theProvince of North Carolina became a separate entity from theProvince of South Carolina.[2]
The establishment of North Carolina counties stretches over 240 years, beginning in 1668 with the creation ofAlbemarle County and ending with the 1911 creation ofAvery andHoke counties. Six counties have been divided or abolished altogether, the last beingDobbs County in 1791.
TheFederal 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.[4]
| County | FIPS code[3] | County seat[5] | Est.[5] | Origin[6] | Etymology[6] | Pop. (2024)[7] | Area[8] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 001 | Graham | 1849 | Orange County | TheBattle of Alamance which was derived from the local Indian word meaning "blueclay" found in theGreat Alamance Creek | 183,040 | 434 sq mi (1,124 km2) |  |
| Alexander County | 003 | Taylorsville | 1847 | Caldwell County, Iredell County, and Wilkes County | William J. Alexander(1797–1857), member of the legislature andSpeaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 36,693 | 264 sq mi (684 km2) |  |
| Alleghany County | 005 | Sparta | 1859 | Ashe County | Derived from a corruption of theDelaware Indian name for theAllegheny andOhio Rivers and is said to have meant "a fine stream" | 11,379 | 236 sq mi (611 km2) |  |
| Anson County | 007 | Wadesboro | 1750 | Bladen County | George, Lord Anson(1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral whocircumnavigated the globe | 22,432 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |  |
| Ashe County | 009 | Jefferson | 1799 | Wilkes County | Samuel Ashe(1725–1813), aRevolutionary patriot, superior court judge andgovernor of North Carolina | 27,266 | 429 sq mi (1,111 km2) |  |
| Avery County | 011 | Newland | 1911 | Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County | Waightstill Avery(1741–1821), a soldier of theRevolution andAttorney General of North Carolina | 17,811 | 248 sq mi (642 km2) |  |
| Beaufort County | 013 | Washington | 1712 | Bath County | Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of theLords Proprietor | 44,576 | 963 sq mi (2,494 km2) |  |
| Bertie County | 015 | Windsor | 1722 | Chowan County | James orHenry Bertie, twoLords Proprietor ofcolonial North Carolina | 16,939 | 741 sq mi (1,919 km2) |  |
| Bladen County | 017 | Elizabethtown | 1734 | New Hanover County | Martin Bladen(1680–1746), a member of theBoard of Trade | 29,777 | 888 sq mi (2,300 km2) |  |
| Brunswick County | 019 | Bolivia | 1764 | Bladen County and New Hanover County | George I of Great Britain(1660–1727), Duke ofBrunswick and Lüneburg | 167,112 | 1,050 sq mi (2,719 km2) |  |
| Buncombe County | 021 | Asheville | 1791 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Edward Buncombe(1742–1778), aRevolutionary soldier, who was wounded and captured at theBattle of Germantown, and died a paroled prisoner inPhiladelphia | 279,210 | 660 sq mi (1,709 km2) |  |
| Burke County | 023 | Morganton | 1777 | Rowan County | Thomas Burke(1747–1783), a member of theContinental Congress andgovernor of North Carolina | 88,545 | 514 sq mi (1,331 km2) |  |
| Cabarrus County | 025 | Concord | 1792 | Mecklenburg County | Stephen Cabarrus(1754–1808), member of the legislature andSpeaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 244,925 | 364 sq mi (943 km2) |  |
| Caldwell County | 027 | Lenoir | 1841 | Burke County and Wilkes County | Joseph Caldwell(1773–1835), the first president of theUniversity of North Carolina | 80,739 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |  |
| Camden County | 029 | Camden | 1777 | Pasquotank County | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden(1714–1794), who opposed thetaxation of the Americancolonists | 11,184 | 310 sq mi (803 km2) |  |
| Carteret County | 031 | Beaufort | 1722 | Craven County | John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville(1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in theProvince of Carolina through his great-grandfatherGeorge Carteret | 70,259 | 1,330 sq mi (3,445 km2) |  |
| Caswell County | 033 | Yanceyville | 1777 | Orange County | Richard Caswell(1729–1789), member of the firstContinental Congress and firstgovernor of North Carolina after theDeclaration of Independence | 22,363 | 429 sq mi (1,111 km2) |  |
| Catawba County | 035 | Newton | 1842 | Lincoln County | Catawba Indians | 167,054 | 416 sq mi (1,077 km2) |  |
| Chatham County | 037 | Pittsboro | 1771 | Orange County | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham(1708–1778), Secretary of State during theFrench and Indian War and was laterPrime Minister of Great Britain | 83,874 | 709 sq mi (1,836 km2) |  |
| Cherokee County | 039 | Murphy | 1839 | Macon County | Cherokee Indians | 30,373 | 467 sq mi (1,210 km2) |  |
| Chowan County | 041 | Edenton | 1668 | Albemarle County | Chowan Indian tribe | 13,891 | 234 sq mi (606 km2) |  |
| Clay County | 043 | Hayesville | 1861 | Cherokee County | Henry Clay(1777–1852), statesman andorator who representedKentucky in both theHouse of Representatives andSenate | 12,042 | 221 sq mi (572 km2) |  |
| Cleveland County | 045 | Shelby | 1841 | Lincoln County and Rutherford County | Benjamin Cleveland(1738–1806), a colonel in theAmerican Revolutionary War who took part in theBattle of Kings Mountain | 102,194 | 468 sq mi (1,212 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 | 50,054 | 955 sq mi (2,473 km2) |  |
| Craven County | 049 | New Bern | 1705 | Bath County | William, Earl of Craven(1608–1697), who was aLords Proprietor ofcolonial North Carolina | 104,167 | 773 sq mi (2,002 km2) |  |
| Cumberland County | 051 | Fayetteville | 1754 | Bladen County | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland(1721–1765), a military leader and son ofGeorge II | 338,430 | 658 sq mi (1,704 km2) |  |
| Currituck County | 053 | Currituck | 1668 | Albemarle County | Traditionally said to be anIndian word for wildgeese, also rendered "Coratank" | 32,278 | 526 sq mi (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 inAmerica | 38,183 | 1,542 sq mi (3,994 km2) |  |
| Davidson County | 057 | Lexington | 1822 | Rowan County | William Lee Davidson(1746–1781), anAmerican Revolutionary War general who was mortally wounded atCowan's Ford | 177,809 | 568 sq mi (1,471 km2) |  |
| Davie County | 059 | Mocksville | 1836 | Rowan County | William Richardson Davie(1756–1820), a member of theFederal Convention andgovernor of North Carolina | 45,383 | 266 sq mi (689 km2) |  |
| Duplin County | 061 | Kenansville | 1750 | New Hanover County | Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin(1710–1787), who was the 9thEarl of Kinnoull | 50,539 | 820 sq mi (2,124 km2) |  |
| Durham County | 063 | Durham | 1881 | Orange County and Wake County | The city ofDurham, which was named in honor of Dr.Bartlett Snipes Durham, who donated the land on which the earliest parts of the city were built | 343,628 | 298 sq mi (772 km2) |  |
| Edgecombe County | 065 | Tarboro | 1741 | Bertie County | Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe(1680–1758), aLord High Treasurer andPaymaster General for Ireland | 49,124 | 507 sq mi (1,313 km2) |  |
| Forsyth County | 067 | Winston-Salem | 1849 | Stokes County | Benjamin Forsyth(d. 1814), an American officer during theWar of 1812 | 398,143 | 412 sq mi (1,067 km2) |  |
| Franklin County | 069 | Louisburg | 1779 | Bute County | Benjamin Franklin(1706–1790), an author, politician,statesman, andFounding Father of the United States | 79,771 | 494 sq mi (1,279 km2) |  |
| Gaston County | 071 | Gastonia | 1846 | Lincoln County | William Gaston(1778–1844), aUnited States Congressman and justice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court | 242,010 | 364 sq mi (943 km2) |  |
| Gates County | 073 | Gatesville | 1779 | Chowan County, Hertford County, and Perquimans County | Horatio Gates(1727–1806), an American general during theRevolution at theBattle of Saratoga | 10,299 | 346 sq mi (896 km2) |  |
| Graham County | 075 | Robbinsville | 1872 | Cherokee County | William Alexander Graham(1804–1875), aUnited States Senator,governor of North Carolina, andUnited States Secretary of the Navy | 8,179 | 302 sq mi (782 km2) |  |
| Granville County | 077 | Oxford | 1746 | Edgecombe County | John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville(1690–1763), who inherited one-eighth share in theProvince of Carolina through his great-grandfatherGeorge Carteret | 61,544 | 538 sq mi (1,393 km2) |  |
| Greene County | 079 | Snow Hill | 1799 | Dobbs County Originally named Glasgow County | Nathanael Greene(1742–1786), amajor general of theContinental Army in theAmerican Revolutionary War | 20,671 | 267 sq mi (692 km2) |  |
| Guilford County | 081 | Greensboro | 1771 | Orange County and Rowan County | Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford(1704–1790), a British politician and father ofPrime Minister of Great BritainFrederick North | 558,816 | 658 sq mi (1,704 km2) |  |
| Halifax County | 083 | Halifax | 1758 | Edgecombe County | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax(1716–1771), aBritish statesman andPresident of theBoard of Trade | 46,992 | 730 sq mi (1,891 km2) |  |
| Harnett County | 085 | Lillington | 1855 | Cumberland County | Cornelius Harnett(1723–1781), anAmerican Revolutionary and delegate in theContinental Congress | 146,096 | 601 sq mi (1,557 km2) |  |
| Haywood County | 087 | Waynesville | 1808 | Buncombe County | John Haywood(1754–1827), aNorth Carolina State Treasurer | 63,048 | 555 sq mi (1,437 km2) |  |
| Henderson County | 089 | Hendersonville | 1838 | Buncombe County | Leonard Henderson(1772–1833), Chief Justice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court | 120,771 | 375 sq mi (971 km2) |  |
| Hertford County | 091 | Winton | 1759 | Bertie County, Chowan County, and Northampton County | Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford(1718–1794), who wasLord of the Bedchamber toGeorge II andGeorge III | 19,169 | 360 sq mi (932 km2) |  |
| Hoke County | 093 | Raeford | 1911 | Cumberland County and Robeson County | Robert Hoke(1837–1912), aConfederate general during theAmerican Civil War | 55,382 | 392 sq mi (1,015 km2) |  |
| Hyde County | 095 | Swan Quarter | 1712 | Bath County | Edward Hyde(1667–1712), agovernor ofcolonial North Carolina | 4,583 | 1,459 sq mi (3,779 km2) |  |
| Iredell County | 097 | Statesville | 1788 | Rowan County | James Iredell(1751–1799), acomptroller at the port ofEdenton and one of the originaljustices of theSupreme Court of the United States | 206,361 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km2) |  |
| Jackson County | 099 | Sylva | 1851 | Haywood County and Macon County | Andrew Jackson(1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States | 45,281 | 495 sq mi (1,282 km2) |  |
| Johnston County | 101 | Smithfield | 1746 | Craven County | Gabriel Johnston(1699–1752), agovernor ofcolonial North Carolina | 249,794 | 796 sq mi (2,062 km2) |  |
| Jones County | 103 | Trenton | 1779 | Craven County | Willie Jones(1740–1801), opposed theratification of theUnited States Constitution and declined an invitation to theConstitutional Convention | 9,462 | 474 sq mi (1,228 km2) |  |
| Lee County | 105 | Sanford | 1907 | Chatham County and Moore County | Robert E. Lee(1807–1870), a careerUnited States Army officer and general of theConfederate forces during theAmerican Civil War | 68,537 | 259 sq mi (671 km2) |  |
| Lenoir County | 107 | Kinston | 1791 | Dobbs County | William Lenoir(1751–1839), a captain in theAmerican Revolutionary War who took part in theBattle of Kings Mountain | 55,332 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |  |
| Lincoln County | 109 | Lincolnton | 1779 | Tryon County | Benjamin Lincoln(1733–1810), amajor general during theAmerican Revolutionary War who participated in theSiege of Yorktown | 97,611 | 305 sq mi (790 km2) |  |
| Macon County | 113 | Franklin | 1828 | Haywood County | Nathaniel Macon(1758–1837), a member andSpeaker of theUnited States House of Representatives | 38,717 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |  |
| Madison County | 115 | Marshall | 1851 | Buncombe County and Yancey County | James Madison(1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States | 22,352 | 451 sq mi (1,168 km2) |  |
| Martin County | 117 | Williamston | 1774 | Halifax County and Tyrrell County | Josiah Martin(1737–1786), the lastgovernor ofcolonial North Carolina | 21,523 | 457 sq mi (1,184 km2) |  |
| McDowell County | 111 | Marion | 1842 | Burke County and Rutherford County | Joseph McDowell(1756–1801), a soldier in theAmerican Revolutionary War who took part in theBattle of Kings Mountain | 45,269 | 445 sq mi (1,153 km2) |  |
| Mecklenburg County | 119 | Charlotte | 1762 | Anson County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz(1744–1818), thequeen consort ofGeorge III of the United Kingdom | 1,206,285 | 546 sq mi (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 theUniversity of North Carolina who measured the height ofMount Mitchell | 15,030 | 222 sq mi (575 km2) |  |
| Montgomery County | 123 | Troy | 1779 | Anson County | Richard Montgomery(1738–1775), amajor general during theRevolutionary War who was killed at theBattle of Quebec | 26,364 | 502 sq mi (1,300 km2) |  |
| Moore County | 125 | Carthage | 1784 | Cumberland County | Alfred Moore(1755–1810), a captain in theRevolutionary War andjustice of theSupreme Court of the United States | 108,417 | 706 sq mi (1,829 km2) |  |
| Nash County | 127 | Nashville | 1777 | Edgecombe County | Francis Nash(1742–1777), a brigadier general in theRevolutionary War who was mortally wounded at theBattle of Germantown | 97,990 | 543 sq mi (1,406 km2) |  |
| New Hanover County | 129 | Wilmington | 1729 | Craven County | The royal family of England, members of theHouse of Hanover | 243,333 | 329 sq mi (852 km2) |  |
| Northampton County | 131 | Jackson | 1741 | Bertie County | James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton(1687–1754), a Britishpeer and politician | 16,580 | 551 sq mi (1,427 km2) |  |
| Onslow County | 133 | Jacksonville | 1734 | New Hanover County | Arthur Onslow(1691–1768),Speaker of the House of Commons | 212,954 | 905 sq mi (2,344 km2) |  |
| Orange County | 135 | Hillsborough | 1752 | Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County | Unknown; possibly PrinceWilliam V ofOrange(1748–1806), the lastStadtholder of theDutch Republic; orWilliam of Orange(1650–1702), who becameKing of England after theGlorious Revolution[9] | 152,877 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |  |
| Pamlico County | 137 | Bayboro | 1872 | Beaufort County and Craven County | Pamlico Sound and thePamlico Indian tribe | 12,550 | 562 sq mi (1,456 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" | 41,418 | 289 sq mi (749 km2) |  |
| Pender County | 141 | Burgaw | 1875 | New Hanover County | William Dorsey Pender(1834–1863),Confederate soldier who was mortally wounded at theBattle of Gettysburg of theAmerican Civil War | 70,077 | 934 sq mi (2,419 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' | 13,460 | 329 sq mi (852 km2) |  |
| Person County | 145 | Roxboro | 1791 | Caswell County | Thomas Person(1733–1800), anAmerican Revolutionary War patriot | 40,143 | 404 sq mi (1,046 km2) |  |
| Pitt County | 147 | Greenville | 1760 | Beaufort County | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham(1708–1778), Secretary of State during theFrench and Indian War and was laterPrime Minister of Great Britain | 180,783 | 656 sq mi (1,699 km2) |  |
| Polk County | 149 | Columbus | 1855 | Henderson County and Rutherford County | William Polk(1758–1834), officer in theAmerican Revolutionary War and first president of the State Bank of North Carolina | 20,320 | 238 sq mi (616 km2) |  |
| Randolph County | 151 | Asheboro | 1779 | Guilford County | Peyton Randolph(c. 1721–1755), the firstPresident of theContinental Congress | 148,389 | 790 sq mi (2,046 km2) |  |
| Richmond County | 153 | Rockingham | 1779 | Anson County | Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond(1735–1806), a firm supporter of the Americancolonists and advocated removal ofBritish troops | 41,990 | 480 sq mi (1,243 km2) |  |
| Robeson County | 155 | Lumberton | 1787 | Bladen County | Thomas Robeson(1740–1785), an officer in theAmerican Revolutionary War | 118,624 | 949 sq mi (2,458 km2) |  |
| Rockingham County | 157 | Wentworth | 1785 | Guilford County | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham(1730–1782), aBritish statesmen and two-timePrime Minister of Great Britain | 93,517 | 573 sq mi (1,484 km2) |  |
| Rowan County | 159 | Salisbury | 1753 | Anson County | Matthew Rowan(d. 1769), was the actingGovernor ofcolonial North Carolina following the death of GovernorNathaniel Rice | 153,384 | 524 sq mi (1,357 km2) |  |
| Rutherford County | 161 | Rutherfordton | 1779 | Tryon County | Griffith Rutherford(c. 1721–1805), an officer in theAmerican Revolutionary War and a political leader inNorth Carolina | 65,587 | 567 sq mi (1,469 km2) |  |
| Sampson County | 163 | Clinton | 1784 | Duplin County | John Sampson(1719–1784), a member ofJosiah Martin's council | 60,404 | 948 sq mi (2,455 km2) |  |
| Scotland County | 165 | Laurinburg | 1899 | Richmond County | The countryScotland, part of the United Kingdom | 33,898 | 321 sq mi (831 km2) |  |
| Stanly County | 167 | Albemarle | 1841 | Montgomery County | John Stanly(1774–1834), aUnited States Congressman andSpeaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 67,326 | 405 sq mi (1,049 km2) |  |
| Stokes County | 169 | Danbury | 1789 | Surry County | John Stokes(1756–1790), a soldier of theRevolution who was seriously wounded at theWaxhaw massacre | 45,857 | 456 sq mi (1,181 km2) |  |
| Surry County | 171 | Dobson | 1771 | Rowan County | The county ofSurrey in England, birthplace of then governorWilliam Tryon | 71,547 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |  |
| Swain County | 173 | Bryson City | 1871 | Jackson County and Macon County | David Lowry Swain(1801–1868), agovernor of North Carolina and president of theUniversity of North Carolina | 13,945 | 540 sq mi (1,399 km2) |  |
| Transylvania County | 175 | Brevard | 1861 | Henderson County and Jackson County | Derived from theLatin words,trans meaning "across" andsylva meaning "woods" | 34,103 | 380 sq mi (984 km2) |  |
| Tyrrell County | 177 | Columbia | 1729 | Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County | John Tyrrell(1685–1729), at one time was aLords Proprietor | 3,517 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km2) |  |
| Union County | 179 | Monroe | 1842 | Anson County and Mecklenburg County | Created as a compromise after a dispute between localWhigs andDemocrats as to whether it should be named Clay or Jackson county | 263,386 | 640 sq mi (1,658 km2) |  |
| Vance County | 181 | Henderson | 1881 | Franklin County, Granville County, and Warren County | Zebulon Baird Vance(1830–1894), aConfederate military officer in theAmerican Civil War, twicegovernor of North Carolina, andUnited States Senator | 42,337 | 269 sq mi (697 km2) |  |
| Wake County | 183 | Raleigh | 1771 | Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County | Margaret Wake(c.1732–1819), the wife ofBritish colonial governorWilliam Tryon | 1,232,444 | 857 sq mi (2,220 km2) |  |
| Warren County | 185 | Warrenton | 1779 | Bute County | Joseph Warren(1741–1775), aPatriot and volunteerprivate who was mortally wounded at theBattle of Bunker Hill | 19,081 | 444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |  |
| Washington County | 187 | Plymouth | 1799 | Tyrrell County | George Washington(1732–1799), the 1st president of the United States | 10,654 | 422 sq mi (1,093 km2) |  |
| Watauga County | 189 | Boone | 1849 | Ashe County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County | TheWatauga River, which came from an Indian word meaning "beautiful water" | 54,997 | 313 sq mi (811 km2) |  |
| Wayne County | 191 | Goldsboro | 1779 | Dobbs County | Anthony Wayne(1745–1796), a general in theAmerican Revolutionary War | 120,338 | 558 sq mi (1,445 km2) |  |
| Wilkes County | 193 | Wilkesboro | 1778 | Surry County | John Wilkes(1725–1797), an Englishradical, journalist, and politician | 66,186 | 756 sq mi (1,958 km2) |  |
| Wilson County | 195 | Wilson | 1855 | Edgecombe County, Johnston County, Nash County, and Wayne County | Louis D. Wilson(1789–1847), a state legislator from Edgecombe County who died of fever atVeracruz during theMexican–American War | 79,958 | 373 sq mi (966 km2) |  |
| Yadkin County | 197 | Yadkinville | 1850 | Surry County | TheYadkin River | 37,995 | 338 sq mi (875 km2) |  |
| Yancey County | 199 | Burnsville | 1833 | Buncombe County and Burke County | Bartlett Yancey(1785–1828), aUnited States Congressman,Speaker of the North Carolina Senate, and early advocate for the North Carolina Public School System | 18,993 | 313 sq mi (811 km2) |  |
| County | Created | Abolished | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County | 1664[10] | 1738[10] | Partitioned intoBertie County,Chowan County,Currituck County,Pasquotank County,Perquimans County, andTyrrell County |
| Bath County | 1696[11] | 1738[11] | Partitioned intoBeaufort County,Bladen County,Carteret County,Craven County,Hyde County,New Hanover County, andOnslow County |
| Bute County | 1764[12] | 1779[12] | Created from the eastern part of Granville County. Partitioned intoFranklin County andWarren County |
| Clarendon County | 1664[13] | 1667[13] | Damaged by a hurricane in August 1667 and subsequently abandoned & abolished |
| Dobbs County | 1758[14] | 1791[14] | Partitioned intoGreene County andLenoir County |
| Tryon County | 1768[15] | 1779[15] | Partitioned intoLincoln County andRutherford County |
For several months in 1784, Cumberland County was known as Fayette County and sent representatives to theNorth Carolina General Assembly of April 1784 under this name.[16]
In the state's history, two counties have officially been proposed, but not created—Hooper County and Lillington County, in 1851 and 1859, respectively. The former was to be created from parts of Richmond and Robeson Counties, and the latter was to be created from parts of New Hanover County. Hooper County was to be named forWilliam Hooper, aFounding Father from North Carolina, and Lillington County was to be named forAlexander Lillington, a Revolutionary War hero who had been buried in the proposed area. Both of the proposals failed in their respective referendums. Later on, Scotland County would be created in the area where Hooper County was proposed, and Pender County would fill the area where Lillington County was proposed.[17][18]
