History of County Formations in North Carolina 1664-1965
(See below for:
History of County Formations in Text,
North Carolina County Abbreviations.)
(These maps are best viewed at 1024 x 768 dpi.)
(See below for:
History of County Formations in Text,
North Carolina County Abbreviations.)
(These maps are best viewed at 1024 x 768 dpi.)
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| County Formation Chronology in Text |
|
Albemarle and Clarendon formed as original counties-------------------1664 Clarendon County Settlement abandoned and county discontinued---------1667 Shaftesbury, Currituck, Pasquotank, & Berkeley formed as Precincts of Albemarle County------------------------------------------------1670 Berkeley name changed to Perquimans (Precinct of Albemarle County)----1681 Shaftesbury name changed to Chowan (Precinct of Albemarle County)-----1685 Albemarle County ceases to function as a governmental unit, Precincts of Chowan, Perquimans, Currituck, & Pasquotank continue to function--------------------------------------------------------1689 Bath County formed as original county---------------------------------1696 Bath County divided into Wickham, Archdale, & Pamptecough Precincts---1705 North Carolina and South Carolina made separate Provinces-------------1710 Pamptecough name changed to Beaufort; Archdale name changed to Craven; Wickham name changed to Hyde (all still Precincts)---------1712 Bertie Precinct formed from Chowan Precinct---------------------------1722 Carteret Precinct formed from Craven Precinct-------------------------1722 New Hanover Precinct formed from Craven Precinct----------------------1729 Tyrrell Precinct formed from Bertie, Chowan, Currituck & Pasquotank---1729 Bladen Precinct formed from New Hanover Precinct----------------------1734 Onslow Precinct formed from New Hanover Precinct----------------------1734 All "Precincts" designated as "Counties"------------------------------1739 Edgecombe County formed from Bertie County----------------------------1741 Northampton County formed from Bertie County--------------------------1741 Hyde County gained from Currituck County------------------------------1745 Granville County formed from Edgecombe County-------------------------1746 Johnston County formed from Craven County-----------------------------1746 Anson County formed from Bladen County--------------------------------1750 Duplin County formed from New Hanover County--------------------------1750 Orange County formed from Bladen, Granville, & Johnston Counties------1752 Rowan County formed from Anson County---------------------------------1753 Cumberland County formed from Bladen County---------------------------1754 Beaufort County gained from Craven County-----------------------------1757 Dobbs County formed from Johnston County------------------------------1758 Halifax County formed from Edgecombe County---------------------------1758 Hertford County formed from Bertie, Chowan, & Northampton Counties----1759 Pitt County formed from Beaufort County-------------------------------1760 Mecklenburg County formed from Anson County---------------------------1762 Brunswick County formed from New Hanover & Bladen Counties------------1764 Bute County formed from Granville County------------------------------1764 Tryon County formed from Mecklenburg County---------------------------1768 Chatham County formed from Orange County------------------------------1770 Guilford County formed from Rowan & Orange Counties-------------------1770 Surry County formed from Rowan County---------------------------------1770 Wake County formed from Cumberland, Johnston, & Orange Counties-------1770 Carteret County gained from non-county area (Ocracoke Island)---------1770 Surry County gained from Rowan County---------------------------------1773 Martin County formed from Halifax & Tyrrell Counties------------------1774 District of Washington formed from western lands (later became TN)----1776 Burke County formed from Rowan County---------------------------------1777 Camden County formed from Pasquotank County---------------------------1777 Caswell County formed from Orange County------------------------------1777 Nash County formed from Edgecombe County------------------------------1777 Wilkes County formed from Surry County & District of Washington-------1777 Washington County (later TN) formed from District of Washington-------1777 .....(NOTE: Even though some maps may show this new county........ .....as Washington County, TN, THERE WAS NO STATE OF TENNESSEE..... .....UNTIL 1796!!!!! It was WASHINGTON CO., NC!!!!! Got It?)..... Jones County formed from Craven County--------------------------------1778 Randolph County formed from Guilford County---------------------------1778 Gates County formed from Chowan, Hertford, & Perquimans Counties------1778 Montgomery County formed from Anson County----------------------------1778 Wayne County formed from Dobbs County---------------------------------1779 Bute County divided into Warren & Franklin Counties-------------------1779 Bute County ceases to exist----------------------------------------1779 Tryon County divided into Lincoln & Rutherford Counties---------------1779 Tryon County ceases to exist---------------------------------------1779 Richmond County formed from Anson County------------------------------1779 Sullivan County formed from Washington County-------------------------1779 .....(NOTE: Again, even though some maps may show Sullivan........ .....County & Washington County as being in TN, THEY WERE NOT...... .....IN TENNESSEE UNTIL 1796!!!!! They were still in NC!)......... Western extension of Virginia boundary surveyed------------------1779-1780 Lincoln County gained from Burke County-------------------------------1782 Davidson County formed from Washington County-------------------------1783 Greene County from Washington County----------------------------------1783 .....(Ditto on TN vs. NC for Davidson & Greene Counties)........... Moore County formed from Cumberland County----------------------------1784 Sampson County formed from Duplin County------------------------------1784 Washington, Sullivan & Greene Counties formed form provisional State of Franklin (not NC, not TN)---------------------1784 Tyrrell-Hyde County boundary established------------------------------1784 Rockingham County formed from Guilford County-------------------------1785 State of Franklin creates Caswell County from Greene County & "Indian Lands"-------------------------------------1785 State of Franklin creates Sevier County from Greene County & "Indian Lands"-------------------------------------1785 State of Franklin creates Spencer County from Sullivan & Greene Counties------------------------------------------1785 State of Franklin creates Wayne County from Washington & Wilkes Counties---------------------------------------1785 State of Franklin creates Blount County from "Indian Lands"-----------1786 (All these "State of Franklin" counties actually functioned, for a while, as counties of the State of Franklin, with its capital in Jonesborough.) Robeson County from Bladen County-------------------------------------1786 North Carolina reconstitutes its government for Washington, Sullivan, & Greene Counties, which function in parallel with the "State of Franklin" in those three counties.--------------1786 Hawkins County formed from Sullivan County----------------------------1787 Sumner County formed from Davidson County-----------------------------1787 .....(Ditto on TN vs. NC for Hawkins & Sumner Counties)............ Rutherford County gained from Burke County----------------------------1787 Iredell County from Rowan County--------------------------------------1788 Tennessee County formed from Davidson County--------------------------1788 "State of Franklin" and its counties cease to function----------------1788 Stokes County formed from Surry County--------------------------------1789 Seven counties in what is now Tennessee ceded to Federal Government---1790 .....(Some references say "Seven Tennessee counties..."............. .....AGAIN!!!!! They were NOT TENNESSEE COUNTIES at that time!!!!!. .....They were NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES!!!!!. North Carolina just... .....got tired of screwing with the recalcitrant settlers in the.... .....area that became Tennessee and turned the whole mess over to... .....the Federal Government!!!!! The Federal Government names the area that is now Tennessee as "The Territory South of the Ohio River". From 1790 until 1796,that area was not in ANY STATE!!!!! It was, simply, "The Territory South of the Ohio River.-------------------------------------------1790 Buncombe County formed from Burke & Rutherford Counties---------------1791 Dobbs County divided into Glasgow & Lenoir Counties-------------------1791 Dobbs County ceases to exist---------------------------------------1791 Person County formed from Caswell County------------------------------1791 Buncombe, Glasgow, Lenoir, & Person Counties effective----------------1792 Cabarrus County formed from Mecklenburg County------------------------1792 Surry County gained from Wilkes County--------------------------------1792 Wilkes County gained from non-county area (formerly part of Washington County)-----------------------------------------1792 Cumberland County gained from Robeson County--------------------------1792 Iredell County gained from Burke & Wilkes Counties--------------------1793 Wayne County gained from Glasgow County-------------------------------1793 Sampson County gained from New Hanover County-------------------------1795 Surry County gained from Stokes County--------------------------------1796 Lenoir County gained from Craven County-------------------------------1798 Ashe County formed from Wilkes County---------------------------------1799 Glasgow County name changed to Greene County--------------------------1799 Washington County formed from Tyrrell County--------------------------1799 (This is a NEW Washington County, NC, not to be confused with the original Washington District/Washington County that became Tennessee. Those that want to confuse the two should study history & geography!!!!! This new Washington County is way over toward the coast. The original, of course, was west of present-day North Carolina.) Greene County gained from Craven County-------------------------------1801 Edgecombe County gained from Pitt County------------------------------1801 Walton County established by Georgia in "Indian Lands" area of North Carolina (boundaries undefinable)----------------------------1803 Lenoir County gained from Craven & Jones Counties---------------------1804 Martin County gained from Pitt----------------------------------------1805 Columbus County formed from Bladen & Brunswick Counties---------------1808 Haywood County formed from Buncombe County----------------------------1808 Columbus County gained from Brunswick County--------------------------1811 Walton County (Georgia) abolished-------------------------------------1812 Wilkes County gained from Iredell County------------------------------1815 Duplin County gained from Lenoir County-------------------------------1819 Lenoir County gained from Craven County-------------------------------1819 Beaufort County gained from Hyde County-------------------------------1819 Columbus County gained from Bladen County-----------------------------1821 Davidson County formed from Rowan County------------------------------1822 (This is a NEW Davidson County, NC, not to be confused with the original Davidson County in Washington District/ Washington County that became Tennessee. This new Davidson County is a long way from the original, which was west of present-day North Carolina.) Haywood County gained from "Indian Lands"-----------------------------1822 Hyde County gained from Currituck County------------------------------1823 Macon County formed from Haywood County-------------------------------1828 Yancey County formed from Buncombe & Burke Counties-------------------1833 Davie County formed from Rowan County---------------------------------1836 Henderson County formed from Buncombe County--------------------------1838 Macon County gained from non-county area ["Indian Lands"]-------------1838 Cherokee County formed from Macon County------------------------------1839 Caldwell County formed from Burke & Wilkes Counties-------------------1841 Cleveland County formed from Lincoln & Rutherford Counties------------1841 Stanly County formed from Montgomery County---------------------------1841 Catawba County formed from Lincoln County-----------------------------1842 McDowell County formed from Burke & Rutherford Counties---------------1842 Union County formed from Anson & Mecklenburg Counties-----------------1842 Henderson County gained from Rutherford County------------------------1844 McDowell County gained from Rutherford County-------------------------1844 Hyde County gained from Carteret County-------------------------------1845 Gaston County formed from Lincoln County------------------------------1846 Alexander County formed from Caldwell, Iredell, & Wilkes Counties-----1847 Polk County formed from Henderson & Rutherford Counties---------------1847 Sampson County gained from New Hanover County-------------------------1847 Polk County abolished; area returned to Henderson & Rutherford Cos.---1848 Alamance County formed from Orange County-----------------------------1849 Forsyth County formed from Stokes County------------------------------1849 Watauga County formed from Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes & Yancey Counties---1849 (Not to be confused with the "Watauga Settlement" or "Watauga Association", which was in the area of present- day Carter Co., TN, and was in the then Washington Co., NC, until 1796, when TN became a state and Carter Co. was formed. Go here for history.) Buncombe County gained from Yancey County-----------------------------1849 Yadkin County formed from Surry County--------------------------------1850 Jackson County formed from Haywood & Macon Counties-------------------1851 Madison County formed from Buncombe & Yancey Counties-----------------1851 Alexander County gained from Wilkes County----------------------------1851 Harnett County formed from Cumberland County--------------------------1855 Polk County formed from Henderson & Rutherford Counties---------------1855 Wilson County formed from Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, & Wayne Counties-1855 Alleghany County formed from Ashe County------------------------------1859 Clay County formed from Cherokee County-------------------------------1861 Mitchell County formed from Watauga & Yancey Counties-----------------1861 Transylvania County formed from Henderson & Jackson Counties----------1861 Jackson County gained from Macon County-------------------------------1861 Alleghany County gained from Surry County-----------------------------1869 Dare County formed from Currituck, Hyde, & Tyrrell Counties-----------1870 Sampson County gained from New Hanover County-------------------------1870 Swain County formed from Jackson & Macon Counties---------------------1871 Nash County gained from Edgecombe County------------------------------1871 Graham County formed from Cherokee County-----------------------------1872 Pamlico County formed from Beaufort & Craven Counties-----------------1872 Sampson County gained from New Hanover County-------------------------1872 Clay County gained from Macon County----------------------------------1872 Mitchell County gained from Yancey County-----------------------------1872 Bladen County exchanged with Columbus County--------------------------1873 Cumberland County gained from Bladen County---------------------------1874 Pender County formed from New Hanover County--------------------------1875 Franklin County gained from Granville County--------------------------1875 Columbus County gained from Brunswick County--------------------------1877 Durham County formed from Orange & Wake Counties----------------------1881 Vance County formed from Franklin, Granville, & Warren Counties-------1881 Wilson County gained from Edgecombe County----------------------------1883 Alleghany County gained from Ashe County------------------------------1889 Forsyth County exchanged with Davidson County-------------------------1889 Tyrrell County gained from Hyde County (by agreement between counties; not validated by legislation until 1921)-----------------1890 Alleghany County gained from Wilkes County----------------------------1891 Beaufort County gained from Pamlico County----------------------------1891 Pitt County gained from Greene County---------------------------------1895 Alamance County gained from Chatham County (by Survey to establish previously de facto boundary)-------------------------1897 Scotland County formed from Richmond County---------------------------1899 Ashe County gained from Alleghany County------------------------------1899 Lee County formed from Chatham & Moore Counties-----------------------1907 Avery County formed from Caldwell, Mitchell, & Watauga Counties-------1911 Hoke County formed from Cumberland & Robeson Counties-----------------1911 Durham County gained from Wake County---------------------------------1911 Harnett County gained from Cumberland County--------------------------1911 Cleveland County gained from Gaston County----------------------------1921 Forsyth County gained from Davidson County----------------------------1921 Tyrrell County gained from Hyde County (finally validated)------------1921 Buncombe County gained from McDowell County---------------------------1925 Forsyth County gained from Yadkin County------------------------------1927 Moore County gained from Hoke County----------------------------------1965 |
| North Carolina County Name Abbreviations |
|
Ala-Alamance Alx-Alexander All-Alleghany An -Anson As -Ashe Av -Avery Bft-Beaufort Brt-Bertie Bl -Bladen Br -Brunswick Bun-Buncombe Bur-Burke Cab-Cabarrus Cal-Caldwell Cam-Camden Car-Carteret Cas-Caswell Cat-Catawba Ctm-Chatham Crk-Cherokee Cwn-Chowan Cly-Clay Cle-Cleveland Co -Columbus Cr -Craven |
Cum-Cumberland Cur-Currituck Dar-Dare Dup-Duplin Dur-Durham Dvs-Davidson Dve-Davie Ed -Edgecombe Fo -Forsyth Fr -Franklin Gas-Gaston Gat-Gates Ghm-Graham Gvl-Granville Gre-Greene Gu -Guilford Hal-Halifax Har-Harnett Hay-Haywood Hen-Henderson Her-Hertford Ho -Hoke Hy -Hyde Ir -Iredell Ja -Jackson |
Jst-Johnston Jon-Jones Lee-Lee Len-Lenoir Li -Lincoln McD-McDowell Mac-Macon Mad-Madison Mar-Martin Me -Mecklenburg Mi -Mitchell Mon-Montgomery Moo-Moore Na -Nash NH -New Hanover No -Northampton On -Onslow Or -Orange Pam-Pamlico Pas-Pasquotank Pen-Pender Pqm-Perquimans Psn-Person Pi -Pitt Po -Polk |
Ra -Randolph Ri -Richmond Rob-Robeson Rck-Rockingham Rwn-Rowan Ru -Rutherford Sa -Sampson Sc -Scotland Sty-Stanly Stk-Stokes Sur-Surry Sw -Swain Tra-Transylvania Ty -Tyrrell Un -Union Va -Vance Wak-Wake War-Warren Was-Washington Wat-Watauga Way-Wayne Wlk-Wilkes Wsn-Wilson Yad-Yadkin Yan-Yancey |
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