County
|
FIPS code[3]
|
County seat[5]
|
Est.[5]
|
Origin[6]
|
Etymology[6]
|
Pop. (2023)[7]
|
Area[8]
|
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
|
179,165
|
434 sq mi (1,124 km2) |
State map highlighting Alamance County
|
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
|
36,473
|
264 sq mi (684 km2) |
State map highlighting Alexander County
|
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"
|
11,342
|
236 sq mi (611 km2) |
State map highlighting Alleghany County
|
Anson County
|
007
|
Wadesboro |
1750 |
Bladen County |
George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe
|
21,897
|
537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |
State map highlighting Anson County
|
Ashe County
|
009
|
Jefferson |
1799 |
Wilkes County |
Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge and governor of North Carolina
|
27,063
|
429 sq mi (1,111 km2) |
State map highlighting Ashe County
|
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
|
17,561
|
248 sq mi (642 km2) |
State map highlighting Avery County
|
Beaufort County
|
013
|
Washington |
1712 |
Bath County |
Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor
|
44,481
|
963 sq mi (2,494 km2) |
State map highlighting Beaufort County
|
Bertie County
|
015
|
Windsor |
1722 |
Chowan County |
James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina
|
16,922
|
741 sq mi (1,919 km2) |
State map highlighting Bertie County
|
Bladen County
|
017
|
Elizabethtown |
1734 |
New Hanover County |
Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade
|
29,484
|
888 sq mi (2,300 km2) |
State map highlighting Bladen County
|
Brunswick County
|
019
|
Bolivia |
1764 |
Bladen County and New Hanover County |
George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg
|
159,964
|
1,050 sq mi (2,719 km2) |
State map highlighting Brunswick County
|
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
|
275,901
|
660 sq mi (1,709 km2) |
State map highlighting Buncombe County
|
Burke County
|
023
|
Morganton |
1777 |
Rowan County |
Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina
|
88,338
|
514 sq mi (1,331 km2) |
State map highlighting Burke County
|
Cabarrus County
|
025
|
Concord |
1792 |
Mecklenburg County |
Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons
|
240,016
|
364 sq mi (943 km2) |
State map highlighting Cabarrus County
|
Caldwell County
|
027
|
Lenoir |
1841 |
Burke County and Wilkes County |
Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina
|
80,574
|
475 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
State map highlighting Caldwell County
|
Camden County
|
029
|
Camden |
1777 |
Pasquotank County |
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists
|
11,137
|
310 sq mi (803 km2) |
State map highlighting Camden County
|
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
|
69,615
|
1,330 sq mi (3,445 km2) |
State map highlighting Carteret County
|
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
|
22,807
|
429 sq mi (1,111 km2) |
State map highlighting Caswell County
|
Catawba County
|
035
|
Newton |
1842 |
Lincoln County |
Catawba Indians
|
164,645
|
416 sq mi (1,077 km2) |
State map highlighting Catawba County
|
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
|
81,624
|
709 sq mi (1,836 km2) |
State map highlighting Chatham County
|
Cherokee County
|
039
|
Murphy |
1839 |
Macon County |
Cherokee Indians
|
29,959
|
467 sq mi (1,210 km2) |
State map highlighting Cherokee County
|
Chowan County
|
041
|
Edenton |
1668 |
Albemarle County |
Chowan Indian tribe
|
13,891
|
234 sq mi (606 km2) |
State map highlighting Chowan County
|
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
|
11,864
|
221 sq mi (572 km2) |
State map highlighting Clay County
|
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
|
101,378
|
468 sq mi (1,212 km2) |
State map highlighting Cleveland County
|
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
|
50,121
|
955 sq mi (2,473 km2) |
State map highlighting Columbus County
|
Craven County
|
049
|
New Bern |
1705 |
Bath County |
William, Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina
|
102,391
|
773 sq mi (2,002 km2) |
State map highlighting Craven County
|
Cumberland County
|
051
|
Fayetteville |
1754 |
Bladen County |
Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II
|
337,890
|
658 sq mi (1,704 km2) |
State map highlighting Cumberland County
|
Currituck County
|
053
|
Currituck |
1668 |
Albemarle County |
Traditionally said to be an Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank"
|
31,593
|
526 sq mi (1,362 km2) |
State map highlighting Currituck County
|
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
|
38,110
|
1,542 sq mi (3,994 km2) |
State map highlighting Dare County
|
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
|
174,804
|
568 sq mi (1,471 km2) |
State map highlighting Davidson County
|
Davie County
|
059
|
Mocksville |
1836 |
Rowan County |
William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina
|
44,599
|
266 sq mi (689 km2) |
State map highlighting Davie County
|
Duplin County
|
061
|
Kenansville |
1750 |
New Hanover County |
Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull
|
49,520
|
820 sq mi (2,124 km2) |
State map highlighting Duplin County
|
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 earliest parts of the city were built
|
336,892
|
298 sq mi (772 km2) |
State map highlighting Durham County
|
Edgecombe County
|
065
|
Tarboro |
1741 |
Bertie County |
Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster General for Ireland
|
48,832
|
507 sq mi (1,313 km2) |
State map highlighting Edgecombe County
|
Forsyth County
|
067
|
Winston-Salem |
1849 |
Stokes County |
Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812
|
392,921
|
412 sq mi (1,067 km2) |
State map highlighting Forsyth County
|
Franklin County
|
069
|
Louisburg |
1779 |
Bute County |
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States
|
77,001
|
494 sq mi (1,279 km2) |
State map highlighting Franklin County
|
Gaston County
|
071
|
Gastonia |
1846 |
Lincoln County |
William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
|
237,242
|
364 sq mi (943 km2) |
State map highlighting Gaston County
|
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
|
10,343
|
346 sq mi (896 km2) |
State map highlighting Gates County
|
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
|
8,052
|
302 sq mi (782 km2) |
State map highlighting Graham County
|
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
|
62,192
|
538 sq mi (1,393 km2) |
State map highlighting Granville County
|
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
|
20,530
|
267 sq mi (692 km2) |
State map highlighting Greene County
|
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
|
549,866
|
658 sq mi (1,704 km2) |
State map highlighting Guilford County
|
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
|
47,298
|
730 sq mi (1,891 km2) |
State map highlighting Halifax County
|
Harnett County
|
085
|
Lillington |
1855 |
Cumberland County |
Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress
|
141,477
|
601 sq mi (1,557 km2) |
State map highlighting Harnett County
|
Haywood County
|
087
|
Waynesville |
1808 |
Buncombe County |
John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer
|
62,969
|
555 sq mi (1,437 km2) |
State map highlighting Haywood County
|
Henderson County
|
089
|
Hendersonville |
1838 |
Buncombe County |
Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
|
119,230
|
375 sq mi (971 km2) |
State map highlighting Henderson County
|
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
|
19,453
|
360 sq mi (932 km2) |
State map highlighting Hertford County
|
Hoke County
|
093
|
Raeford |
1911 |
Cumberland County and Robeson County |
Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War
|
54,446
|
392 sq mi (1,015 km2) |
State map highlighting Hoke County
|
Hyde County
|
095
|
Swan Quarter |
1712 |
Bath County |
Edward Hyde (1667–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina
|
4,607
|
1,459 sq mi (3,779 km2) |
State map highlighting Hyde County
|
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
|
199,710
|
597 sq mi (1,546 km2) |
State map highlighting Iredell County
|
Jackson County
|
099
|
Sylva |
1851 |
Haywood County and Macon County |
Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States
|
44,574
|
495 sq mi (1,282 km2) |
State map highlighting Jackson County
|
Johnston County
|
101
|
Smithfield |
1746 |
Craven County |
Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina
|
241,955
|
796 sq mi (2,062 km2) |
State map highlighting Johnston County
|
Jones County
|
103
|
Trenton |
1779 |
Craven County |
Willie Jones (1740–1801), opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution and declined an invitation to the Constitutional Convention
|
9,401
|
474 sq mi (1,228 km2) |
State map highlighting Jones County
|
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
|
67,059
|
259 sq mi (671 km2) |
State map highlighting Lee County
|
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
|
54,895
|
401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |
State map highlighting Lenoir County
|
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
|
95,675
|
305 sq mi (790 km2) |
State map highlighting Lincoln County
|
Macon County
|
113
|
Franklin |
1828 |
Haywood County |
Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
|
38,412
|
520 sq mi (1,347 km2) |
State map highlighting Macon County
|
Madison County
|
115
|
Marshall |
1851 |
Buncombe County and Yancey County |
James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States
|
22,071
|
451 sq mi (1,168 km2) |
State map highlighting Madison County
|
Martin County
|
117
|
Williamston |
1774 |
Halifax County and Tyrrell County |
Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina
|
21,447
|
457 sq mi (1,184 km2) |
State map highlighting Martin County
|
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
|
44,893
|
445 sq mi (1,153 km2) |
State map highlighting McDowell County
|
Mecklenburg County
|
119
|
Charlotte |
1762 |
Anson County |
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom
|
1,163,701
|
546 sq mi (1,414 km2) |
State map highlighting Mecklenburg County
|
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
|
14,999
|
222 sq mi (575 km2) |
State map highlighting Mitchell County
|
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
|
26,085
|
502 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
State map highlighting Montgomery County
|
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
|
106,898
|
706 sq mi (1,829 km2) |
State map highlighting Moore County
|
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
|
96,551
|
543 sq mi (1,406 km2) |
State map highlighting Nash County
|
New Hanover County
|
129
|
Wilmington |
1729 |
Craven County |
The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover
|
238,852
|
329 sq mi (852 km2) |
State map highlighting New Hanover County
|
Northampton County
|
131
|
Jackson |
1741 |
Bertie County |
James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician
|
16,715
|
551 sq mi (1,427 km2) |
State map highlighting Northampton County
|
Onslow County
|
133
|
Jacksonville |
1734 |
New Hanover County |
Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the House of Commons
|
213,676
|
905 sq mi (2,344 km2) |
State map highlighting Onslow County
|
Orange County
|
135
|
Hillsborough |
1752 |
Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County |
Unknown; possibly Prince William V of Orange (1748–1806), the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic; or William of Orange (1650–1702), who became King of England after the Glorious Revolution[9]
|
150,626
|
401 sq mi (1,039 km2) |
State map highlighting Orange County
|
Pamlico County
|
137
|
Bayboro |
1872 |
Beaufort County and Craven County |
Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Indian tribe
|
12,423
|
562 sq mi (1,456 km2) |
State map highlighting Pamlico County
|
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"
|
41,444
|
289 sq mi (749 km2) |
State map highlighting Pasquotank County
|
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
|
68,521
|
934 sq mi (2,419 km2) |
State map highlighting Pender County
|
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'
|
13,377
|
329 sq mi (852 km2) |
State map highlighting Perquimans County
|
Person County
|
145
|
Roxboro |
1791 |
Caswell County |
Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot
|
39,737
|
404 sq mi (1,046 km2) |
State map highlighting Person County
|
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
|
175,119
|
656 sq mi (1,699 km2) |
State map highlighting Pitt County
|
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
|
20,060
|
238 sq mi (616 km2) |
State map highlighting Polk County
|
Randolph County
|
151
|
Asheboro |
1779 |
Guilford County |
Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress
|
147,458
|
790 sq mi (2,046 km2) |
State map highlighting Randolph County
|
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
|
42,324
|
480 sq mi (1,243 km2) |
State map highlighting Richmond County
|
Robeson County
|
155
|
Lumberton |
1787 |
Bladen County |
Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War
|
117,365
|
949 sq mi (2,458 km2) |
State map highlighting Robeson County
|
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
|
92,518
|
573 sq mi (1,484 km2) |
State map highlighting Rockingham County
|
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
|
151,661
|
524 sq mi (1,357 km2) |
State map highlighting Rowan County
|
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
|
65,507
|
567 sq mi (1,469 km2) |
State map highlighting Rutherford County
|
Sampson County
|
163
|
Clinton |
1784 |
Duplin County |
John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council
|
59,601
|
948 sq mi (2,455 km2) |
State map highlighting Sampson County
|
Scotland County
|
165
|
Laurinburg |
1899 |
Richmond County |
The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom
|
34,376
|
321 sq mi (831 km2) |
State map highlighting Scotland County
|
Stanly County
|
167
|
Albemarle |
1841 |
Montgomery County |
John Stanly (1774–1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons
|
65,699
|
405 sq mi (1,049 km2) |
State map highlighting Stanly County
|
Stokes County
|
169
|
Danbury |
1789 |
Surry County |
John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre
|
45,532
|
456 sq mi (1,181 km2) |
State map highlighting Stokes County
|
Surry County
|
171
|
Dobson |
1771 |
Rowan County |
The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon
|
71,462
|
537 sq mi (1,391 km2) |
State map highlighting Surry County
|
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
|
13,916
|
540 sq mi (1,399 km2) |
State map highlighting Swain County
|
Transylvania County
|
175
|
Brevard |
1861 |
Henderson County and Jackson County |
Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning "across" and sylva meaning "woods"
|
33,549
|
380 sq mi (984 km2) |
State map highlighting Transylvania County
|
Tyrrell County
|
177
|
Columbia |
1729 |
Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County |
John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor
|
3,461
|
597 sq mi (1,546 km2) |
State map highlighting Tyrrell County
|
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
|
256,452
|
640 sq mi (1,658 km2) |
State map highlighting Union County
|
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
|
42,301
|
269 sq mi (697 km2) |
State map highlighting Vance County
|
Wake County
|
183
|
Raleigh |
1771 |
Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County |
Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon
|
1,190,275
|
857 sq mi (2,220 km2) |
State map highlighting Wake County
|
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
|
18,836
|
444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
State map highlighting Warren County
|
Washington County
|
187
|
Plymouth |
1799 |
Tyrrell County |
George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st president of the United States
|
10,713
|
422 sq mi (1,093 km2) |
State map highlighting Washington County
|
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"
|
54,748
|
313 sq mi (811 km2) |
State map highlighting Watauga County
|
Wayne County
|
191
|
Goldsboro |
1779 |
Dobbs County |
Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War
|
118,686
|
558 sq mi (1,445 km2) |
State map highlighting Wayne County
|
Wilkes County
|
193
|
Wilkesboro |
1778 |
Surry County |
John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist, and politician
|
66,013
|
756 sq mi (1,958 km2) |
State map highlighting Wilkes County
|
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
|
78,970
|
373 sq mi (966 km2) |
State map highlighting Wilson County
|
Yadkin County
|
197
|
Yadkinville |
1850 |
Surry County |
The Yadkin River
|
37,774
|
338 sq mi (875 km2) |
State map highlighting Yadkin County
|
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
|
18,938
|
313 sq mi (811 km2) |
State map highlighting Yancey County
|