List of Counties in North Carolina - List

List







County
 FIPS Code
 County Seat
 Created
 Origin
 Etymology
 Population estimate
(2011)		 Area
 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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
 Nathanael Greene, 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, 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, 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, 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, a North Carolina State Treasurer 700458855000000000058,855 7002555000000000000555 sq mi
(70031437000000000001,437 km2)


Henderson County 089 Hendersonville 1838 Buncombe County Leonard Henderson, 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, 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, a Confederate general during the American Civil War 700449272000000000049,272 7002392000000000000392 sq mi
(70031015000000000001,015 km2)


Hyde County 095 Swan Quarter 1712 Original county
 Edward Hyde, a governor of colonial North Carolina 70035822000000000005,822 70031424000000000001,424 sq mi
(70033688000000000003,688 km2)


Iredell County 097 Statesville 1788 Rowan County James Iredell, 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, the 7th President of the United States 700440285000000000040,285 7002494000000000000494 sq mi
(70031279000000000001,279 km2)


Johnston County 101 Smithfield 1746 Craven County Gabriel Johnston, a governor of colonial North Carolina 7005172595000000000172,595 7002796000000000000796 sq mi
(70032062000000000002,062 km2)


Jones County 103 Trenton 1778 Craven County Willie Jones, 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, 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
 William Lenoir, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, a British peer and politician 700421893000000000021,893 7002551000000000000551 sq mi
(70031427000000000001,427 km2)


Onslow County 133 Jacksonville 1734 New Hanover County Arthur Onslow, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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
 Anthony Wayne, a general in the American Revolutionary War 7005123697000000000123,697 7002557000000000000557 sq mi
(70031443000000000001,443 km2)


Wilkes County 193 Wilkesboro 1777 Surry County John Wilkes, 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, 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)

Read more about this topic:  List Of Counties In North Carolina

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