County
|
FIPS Code
[2] |
County Seat
[3] |
Created
[3] |
Origin
[4] |
Etymology
[4] |
Population estimate
(2011)[3][5][6][7] |
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 |
7005153291000000000153,291 |
7002435000000000000435 sq mi
(70031127000000000001,127 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 |
700437087000000000037,087 |
7002263000000000000263 sq mi
(7002681000000000000681 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" |
700411052000000000011,052 |
7002236000000000000236 sq mi
(7002611000000000000611 km2) |
|
Anson County |
007 |
Wadesboro |
1750 |
Bladen County |
George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe |
700426143000000000026,143 |
7002537000000000000537 sq mi
(70031391000000000001,391 km2) |
|
Ashe County |
009 |
Jefferson |
1799 |
Wilkes County |
Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and governor of North Carolina |
700427143000000000027,143 |
7002427000000000000427 sq mi
(70031106000000000001,106 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 |
700417572000000000017,572 |
7002247000000000000247 sq mi
(7002640000000000000640 km2) |
|
Beaufort County |
013 |
Washington |
1712 |
Original county |
Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor |
700447691000000000047,691 |
7002959000000000000959 sq mi
(70032484000000000002,484 km2) |
|
Bertie County |
015 |
Windsor |
1722 |
Chowan County |
James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina |
700420874000000000020,874 |
7002741000000000000741 sq mi
(70031919000000000001,919 km2) |
|
Bladen County |
017 |
Elizabethtown |
1734 |
New Hanover County |
Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade |
700435190000000000035,190 |
7002887000000000000887 sq mi
(70032297000000000002,297 km2) |
|
Brunswick County |
019 |
Bolivia |
1764 |
Bladen County and New Hanover County |
George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg |
7005110097000000000110,097 |
70031050000000000001,050 sq mi
(70032719000000000002,719 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 |
7005241419000000000241,419 |
7002660000000000000660 sq mi
(70031709000000000001,709 km2) |
|
Burke County |
023 |
Morganton |
1777 |
Rowan County |
Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina |
700490904000000000090,904 |
7002515000000000000515 sq mi
(70031334000000000001,334 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 |
7005181468000000000181,468 |
7002365000000000000365 sq mi
(7002945000000000000945 km2) |
|
Caldwell County |
027 |
Lenoir |
1841 |
Burke County and Wilkes County |
Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina |
700482395000000000082,395 |
7002474000000000000474 sq mi
(70031228000000000001,228 km2) |
|
Camden County |
029 |
Camden |
1777 |
Pasquotank County |
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists |
700410014000000000010,014 |
7002306000000000000306 sq mi
(7002793000000000000793 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 |
700467373000000000067,373 |
70031341000000000001,341 sq mi
(70033473000000000003,473 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 |
700423403000000000023,403 |
7002428000000000000428 sq mi
(70031109000000000001,109 km2) |
|
Catawba County |
035 |
Newton |
1842 |
Lincoln County |
Catawba Nation |
7005154181000000000154,181 |
7002414000000000000414 sq mi
(70031072000000000001,072 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 |
700464195000000000064,195 |
7002709000000000000709 sq mi
(70031836000000000001,836 km2) |
|
Cherokee County |
039 |
Murphy |
1839 |
Macon County |
Cherokee Nation |
700427194000000000027,194 |
7002497000000000000497 sq mi
(70031287000000000001,287 km2) |
|
Chowan County |
041 |
Edenton |
1668 |
Albemarle County |
Chowan Native American tribe |
700414831000000000014,831 |
7002233000000000000233 sq mi
(7002603000000000000603 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 |
700410563000000000010,563 |
7002221000000000000221 sq mi
(7002572000000000000572 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 |
700497489000000000097,489 |
7002469000000000000469 sq mi
(70031215000000000001,215 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 |
700457712000000000057,712 |
7002954000000000000954 sq mi
(70032471000000000002,471 km2) |
|
Craven County |
049 |
New Bern |
1705 |
Bath County |
William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina |
7005104786000000000104,786 |
7002774000000000000774 sq mi
(70032005000000000002,005 km2) |
|
Cumberland County |
051 |
Fayetteville |
1754 |
Bladen County |
Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II |
7005324885000000000324,885 |
7002658000000000000658 sq mi
(70031704000000000001,704 km2) |
|
Currituck County |
053 |
Currituck |
1668 |
Albemarle County |
Traditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank" |
700423955000000000023,955 |
7002526000000000000526 sq mi
(70031362000000000001,362 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 |
700434307000000000034,307 |
70031562000000000001,562 sq mi
(70034046000000000004,046 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 |
7005162695000000000162,695 |
7002567000000000000567 sq mi
(70031469000000000001,469 km2) |
|
Davie County |
059 |
Mocksville |
1836 |
Rowan County |
William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina |
700441552000000000041,552 |
7002267000000000000267 sq mi
(7002692000000000000692 km2) |
|
Duplin County |
061 |
Kenansville |
1750 |
New Hanover County |
Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull |
700459542000000000059,542 |
7002819000000000000819 sq mi
(70032121000000000002,121 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 |
7005273392000000000273,392 |
7002298000000000000298 sq mi
(7002772000000000000772 km2) |
|
Edgecombe County |
065 |
Tarboro |
1741 |
Bertie County |
Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster-General for Ireland |
700456041000000000056,041 |
7002507000000000000507 sq mi
(70031313000000000001,313 km2) |
|
Forsyth County |
067 |
Winston-Salem |
1849 |
Stokes County |
Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812 |
7005354952000000000354,952 |
7002413000000000000413 sq mi
(70031070000000000001,070 km2) |
|
Franklin County |
069 |
Louisburg |
1779 |
Bute County |
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States |
700461140000000000061,140 |
7002495000000000000495 sq mi
(70031282000000000001,282 km2) |
|
Gaston County |
071 |
Gastonia |
1846 |
Lincoln County |
William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court |
7005207031000000000207,031 |
7002364000000000000364 sq mi
(7002943000000000000943 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 |
700412043000000000012,043 |
7002346000000000000346 sq mi
(7002896000000000000896 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 |
70038802000000000008,802 |
7002302000000000000302 sq mi
(7002782000000000000782 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 |
700459976000000000059,976 |
7002537000000000000537 sq mi
(70031391000000000001,391 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 |
700421556000000000021,556 |
7002266000000000000266 sq mi
(7002689000000000000689 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 |
7005495279000000000495,279 |
7002658000000000000658 sq mi
(70031704000000000001,704 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 |
700454173000000000054,173 |
7002731000000000000731 sq mi
(70031893000000000001,893 km2) |
|
Harnett County |
085 |
Lillington |
1855 |
Cumberland County |
Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress |
7005119256000000000119,256 |
7002601000000000000601 sq mi
(70031557000000000001,557 km2) |
|
Haywood County |
087 |
Waynesville |
1808 |
Buncombe County |
John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer |
700458855000000000058,855 |
7002555000000000000555 sq mi
(70031437000000000001,437 km2) |
|
Henderson County |
089 |
Hendersonville |
1838 |
Buncombe County |
Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court |
7005107927000000000107,927 |
7002375000000000000375 sq mi
(7002971000000000000971 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 |
700424433000000000024,433 |
7002360000000000000360 sq mi
(7002932000000000000932 km2) |
|
Hoke County |
093 |
Raeford |
1911 |
Cumberland County and Robeson County |
Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War |
700449272000000000049,272 |
7002392000000000000392 sq mi
(70031015000000000001,015 km2) |
|
Hyde County |
095 |
Swan Quarter |
1712 |
Original county
Originally named Wickham County |
Edward Hyde (c. 1650–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina |
70035822000000000005,822 |
70031424000000000001,424 sq mi
(70033688000000000003,688 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 |
7005161202000000000161,202 |
7002597000000000000597 sq mi
(70031546000000000001,546 km2) |
|
Jackson County |
099 |
Sylva |
1851 |
Haywood County and Macon County |
Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States |
700440285000000000040,285 |
7002494000000000000494 sq mi
(70031279000000000001,279 km2) |
|
Johnston County |
101 |
Smithfield |
1746 |
Craven County |
Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina |
7005172595000000000172,595 |
7002796000000000000796 sq mi
(70032062000000000002,062 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 |
700410020000000000010,020 |
7002473000000000000473 sq mi
(70031225000000000001,225 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 |
700458752000000000058,752 |
7002259000000000000259 sq mi
(7002671000000000000671 km2) |
|
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 |
700459339000000000059,339 |
7002402000000000000402 sq mi
(70031041000000000001,041 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 |
700478932000000000078,932 |
7002307000000000000307 sq mi
(7002795000000000000795 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 |
700445104000000000045,104 |
7002446000000000000446 sq mi
(70031155000000000001,155 km2) |
|
Macon County |
113 |
Franklin |
1828 |
Haywood County |
Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives |
700434074000000000034,074 |
7002519000000000000519 sq mi
(70031344000000000001,344 km2) |
|
Madison County |
115 |
Marshall |
1851 |
Buncombe County and Yancey County |
James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States |
700420816000000000020,816 |
7002452000000000000452 sq mi
(70031171000000000001,171 km2) |
|
Martin County |
117 |
Williamston |
1774 |
Halifax County and Tyrrell County |
Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina |
700424180000000000024,180 |
7002461000000000000461 sq mi
(70031194000000000001,194 km2) |
|
Mecklenburg County |
119 |
Charlotte |
1762 |
Anson County |
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom |
7005944373000000000944,373 |
7002546000000000000546 sq mi
(70031414000000000001,414 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 |
700415445000000000015,445 |
7002222000000000000222 sq mi
(7002575000000000000575 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 |
700427667000000000027,667 |
7002502000000000000502 sq mi
(70031300000000000001,300 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 |
700489352000000000089,352 |
7002706000000000000706 sq mi
(70031829000000000001,829 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 |
700496116000000000096,116 |
7002543000000000000543 sq mi
(70031406000000000001,406 km2) |
|
New Hanover County |
129 |
Wilmington |
1729 |
Craven County |
The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover |
7005206189000000000206,189 |
7002328000000000000328 sq mi
(7002850000000000000850 km2) |
|
Northampton County |
131 |
Jackson |
1741 |
Bertie County |
James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician |
700421893000000000021,893 |
7002551000000000000551 sq mi
(70031427000000000001,427 km2) |
|
Onslow County |
133 |
Jacksonville |
1734 |
New Hanover County |
Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the British House of Commons |
7005179716000000000179,716 |
7002909000000000000909 sq mi
(70032354000000000002,354 km2) |
|
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 |
7005135755000000000135,755 |
7002401000000000000401 sq mi
(70031039000000000001,039 km2) |
|
Pamlico County |
137 |
Bayboro |
1872 |
Beaufort County and Craven County |
Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Native American tribe |
700413197000000000013,197 |
7002566000000000000566 sq mi
(70031466000000000001,466 km2) |
|
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" |
700440696000000000040,696 |
7002289000000000000289 sq mi
(7002749000000000000749 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 |
700453399000000000053,399 |
7002933000000000000933 sq mi
(70032416000000000002,416 km2) |
|
Perquimans County |
143 |
Hertford |
1668 |
Albemarle County |
Perquimans Native American tribe |
700413487000000000013,487 |
7002329000000000000329 sq mi
(7002852000000000000852 km2) |
|
Person County |
145 |
Roxboro |
1791 |
Caswell County |
Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot |
700439637000000000039,637 |
7002404000000000000404 sq mi
(70031046000000000001,046 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 |
7005171134000000000171,134 |
7002655000000000000655 sq mi
(70031696000000000001,696 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 |
700420256000000000020,256 |
7002239000000000000239 sq mi
(7002619000000000000619 km2) |
|
Randolph County |
151 |
Asheboro |
1779 |
Guilford County |
Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress |
7005142358000000000142,358 |
7002790000000000000790 sq mi
(70032046000000000002,046 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 |
700446611000000000046,611 |
7002480000000000000480 sq mi
(70031243000000000001,243 km2) |
|
Robeson County |
155 |
Lumberton |
1787 |
Bladen County |
Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War |
7005135517000000000135,517 |
7002951000000000000951 sq mi
(70032463000000000002,463 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 |
700493329000000000093,329 |
7002572000000000000572 sq mi
(70031481000000000001,481 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 |
7005138019000000000138,019 |
7002524000000000000524 sq mi
(70031357000000000001,357 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 |
700467538000000000067,538 |
7002566000000000000566 sq mi
(70031466000000000001,466 km2) |
|
Sampson County |
163 |
Clinton |
1784 |
Duplin County |
John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council |
700463734000000000063,734 |
7002947000000000000947 sq mi
(70032453000000000002,453 km2) |
|
Scotland County |
165 |
Laurinburg |
1899 |
Richmond County |
The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom |
700435861000000000035,861 |
7002321000000000000321 sq mi
(7002831000000000000831 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 |
700460636000000000060,636 |
7002404000000000000404 sq mi
(70031046000000000001,046 km2) |
|
Stokes County |
169 |
Danbury |
1789 |
Surry County |
John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre |
700447242000000000047,242 |
7002456000000000000456 sq mi
(70031181000000000001,181 km2) |
|
Surry County |
171 |
Dobson |
1771 |
Rowan County |
The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon |
700473714000000000073,714 |
7002538000000000000538 sq mi
(70031393000000000001,393 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 |
700414043000000000014,043 |
7002541000000000000541 sq mi
(70031401000000000001,401 km2) |
|
Transylvania County |
175 |
Brevard |
1861 |
Henderson County and Jackson County |
Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning across and sylva meaning woods |
700432820000000000032,820 |
7002381000000000000381 sq mi
(7002987000000000000987 km2) |
|
Tyrrell County |
177 |
Columbia |
1729 |
Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County |
John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor |
70034364000000000004,364 |
7002600000000000000600 sq mi
(70031554000000000001,554 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 |
7005205463000000000205,463 |
7002640000000000000640 sq mi
(70031658000000000001,658 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 |
700445307000000000045,307 |
7002270000000000000270 sq mi
(7002699000000000000699 km2) |
|
Wake County |
183 |
Raleigh |
1771 |
Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County |
Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon |
7005929780000000000929,780 |
7002857000000000000857 sq mi
(70032220000000000002,220 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 |
700420861000000000020,861 |
7002444000000000000444 sq mi
(70031150000000000001,150 km2) |
|
Washington County |
187 |
Plymouth |
1799 |
Tyrrell County |
George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st President of the United States |
700412973000000000012,973 |
7002424000000000000424 sq mi
(70031098000000000001,098 km2) |
|
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" |
700451333000000000051,333 |
7002313000000000000313 sq mi
(7002811000000000000811 km2) |
|
Wayne County |
191 |
Goldsboro |
1779 |
Dobbs County
Originally named Glasgow County |
Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War |
7005123697000000000123,697 |
7002557000000000000557 sq mi
(70031443000000000001,443 km2) |
|
Wilkes County |
193 |
Wilkesboro |
1777 |
Surry County |
John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist and politician |
700468984000000000068,984 |
7002760000000000000760 sq mi
(70031968000000000001,968 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 |
700481452000000000081,452 |
7002374000000000000374 sq mi
(7002969000000000000969 km2) |
|
Yadkin County |
197 |
Yadkinville |
1850 |
Surry County |
The Yadkin River |
700438279000000000038,279 |
7002337000000000000337 sq mi
(7002873000000000000873 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 |
700417701000000000017,701 |
7002313000000000000313 sq mi
(7002811000000000000811 km2) |
 |