North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Gordon DenBoer, Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate and Digital Compiler; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2009
24 March 1663
[24 Mar 1662/1663] King Charles II created Carolina from Virginia colony territory and granted it as a proprietary colony to eight of his supporters (the Lords Proprietors). Limits were: on the north, the north end of Lucke Island and the parallel of 36 degrees north latitude; on the west, the Pacific Ocean; and on the south, the St. Marys River and, from that river westward, the parallel of 31 degrees north latitude. Included all of present South Carolina and the southern parts of present North Carolina and Tennessee. (N.C. Recs., 1:20-33; Swindler, 7:357-365)
7 January 1665
The Carolina Lords Proprietors proposed three counties for their charter claim: ALBEMARLE (extinct) (in the Albemarle Sound region), Clarendon (for the Cape Fear region), and Craven (for the area south of Cape Romain, in present South Carolina). The boundaries of Clarendon and Craven were not defined, and they never functioned effectively as counties; ALBEMARLE (extinct), with broadly defined boundaries, operated only briefly as a county in present North Carolina. (N.C. Recs., 1:79-93; Swindler, 7:369-374)
30 June 1665
King Charles II granted a new charter to the Carolina Lords Proprietors, expanding their jurisdiction north and south. New boundaries were: on the north, a line from the north end of the Currituck River westward to "Wyonoak" Creek and thence due west along the the parallel of 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude; on the west, the Pacific Ocean; and on the south, the parallel of 29 degrees north latitude. Included all of present North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. (N.C. Recs., 1:102-114; Swindler, 7:375-382)
c. 1671
Berkeley Precinct (later Perquimans Precinct, now PERQUIMANS) created in ALBEMARLE (extinct); southern boundary limit, below Albemarle Sound, was indefinite. (Corbitt, xxvii, 173; Hathaway, 306-307; Ray, 569)
Shaftesbury Precinct (now CHOWAN) created in ALBEMARLE (extinct); southern and western boundary limits were indefinite. (Corbitt, xxiv, 65; Hathaway, 306-307; Ray, 569)
Carteret Precinct (original, extinct) created in ALBEMARLE (extinct); southern boundary limit, below Albemarle Sound, was indefinite. (Corbitt, 171; Hathaway, 306-307; Ray, 569)
c. 1684
Currituck Precinct (now CURRITUCK) and Pasquotank Precinct (now PASQUOTANK) created from Carteret Precinct (original, extinct) in ALBEMARLE (extinct); Carteret Precinct (original) eliminated. Berkeley Precinct renamed Perquimans Precinct; Shaftesbury Precinct renamed Chowan Precinct. (Hathaway, 307; Ray, 571-572)
1689
ALBEMARLE (extinct) effectively eliminated when Governor Seth Sothel left the colony. The four precincts created within ALBEMARLE (extinct) had assumed the functions of local government since about 1671. (Corbitt, xxiii)
9 December 1696
BATH (extinct) created for the Pamlico Sound region; boundary limits were indefinite. (Corbitt 18n; N.C. Recs., 1:472)
3 December 1705
Archdale Precinct (now CRAVEN County), Pamptecough Precinct (now BEAUFORT County) and Wickham Precinct (now HYDE County) created within BATH (extinct); BATH effectively eliminated as a unit of gevernment. Precinct boundary limits were largely indefinite. (N.C. Recs., 1:629)
9 May 1712
The Carolina Lords Proprietors installed a governor for North Carolina, "independent" of the governor of South Carolina, thereby formally setting North Carolina apart from South Carolina. The first official hint of this division came in 1691 when the Proprietors authorized a deputy governor for the northern territory because of its distance from Charleston, the capital. (N.C. Recs., 1:749-750, 841-842)
c. 1712
Archdale Precinct renamed Craven Precinct (now CRAVEN); Pamptecough Precinct renamed Beaufort Precinct (now BEAUFORT); Wickham Precinct renamed Hyde Precinct (now HYDE). (Corbitt, 74n)
30 March 1721
Boundary between Beaufort and Craven Precincts defined [no change]. (N.C. Recs., 2:429)
29 May 1721
King George I, responding to the 1719 revolt against the Carolina Lords Proprietors and a request from the dissidents for conversion to a royal province, appointed a temporary governor for South Carolina; the proprietary charter remained in effect. (Weir, 101)
10 March 1722
[10 March 1721/1722] Prince George-Winyaw Parish created by South Carolina to cover the coastal area between the Cape Fear and Santee Rivers; the parish had no defined western limits and overlapped North Carolina's Bladen and New Hanover Precincts [created 31 December 1734]. There is no evidence that South Carolina exercised effective control in the Cape Fear region, and Prince George-Winyaw Parish was eliminated from present North Carolina when commissioners from the two colonies established the present state boundary in 1735 [not mapped]. (S.C. Statutes at Large, 3:171)
8 August 1722
Carteret Precinct (second, now CARTERET) created from unorganized territory south of Craven Precinct; Craven Precinct (now CRAVEN) expanded to cover all settlements on Neuse and Trent Rivers; northwestern boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., 2:458-459)
2 October 1722
Bertie Precinct (now BERTIE) created from Chowan Precinct (now CHOWAN) and unorganized territory; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 5, secs. 1-2/23:100)
1728
The North Carolina/Virginia boundary (defined in 1665) was demarcated from the Atlantic coast westward to the Dan River This portion of the boundary has remained unchanged. (Van Zandt, 97)
25 July 1729
The Carolina Lords Proprietors surrendered their charter to the Crown; North Carolina and South Carolina became royal provinces. (Swindler, 7:395; Van Zandt, 99)
27 November 1729
New Hanover Precinct (now NEW HANOVER) created from unorganized territory; northwestern boundary limit was indefinite. New Hanover Precinct was overlapped by Prince George-Winyaw Parish (S.C.). There is no evidence that South Carolina exercised effective control in the Cape Fear region, and the overlap ended when Prince George-Winyaw Parish was eliminated from present North Carolina after commissioners from the two colonies established the present state boundary in 1735 [not mapped]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 10/23:116; N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 1-6/23:119-120)
Tyrrell Precinct (now TYRRELL) created from Bertie Precinct (now BERTIE), Chowan Precinct (now CHOWAN), Pasquotank Precinct (now PASQUOTANK), and Perquimans Precinct (now PERQUIMANS). (Definition of Tyrrell's southern boundary gave first definition of Hyde Precinct's northern boundary.) (N.C. Recs., ch. 4, secs. 1-2/25:212-213)
1730
Instructions of King George II to the governors of North and South Carolina included the first definition of a boundary between them south and west of the Cape Fear River, but poor geographic information made the course of the line uncertain. (Paullin, 82, pl. 100a)
1734
Bladen Precinct (now BLADEN) created from New Hanover Precinct (now NEW HANOVER); northern boundary limit was indefinite. Bladen Precinct was overlapped by Prince George-Winyaw Parish (S.C.). There is no evidence that South Carolina exercised effective control in the Cape Fear region, and the overlap ended when Prince George-Winyaw Parish was eliminated from present North Carolina after commissioners from the two colonies established the present state boundary in 1735 [not mapped]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 1, 3/23:119-120)
Onslow Precinct (now ONSLOW) created from Carteret Precinct (now CARTERET) and New Hanover Precinct (now NEW HANOVER). (N.C. Recs., 3:450; N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 1-2/23:119-120)
1735
Commissioners from North and South Carolina agreed that the boundary between the two provinces should run northwest from a point on the coast 30 miles west of the Cape Fear River to the parallel of 35 degrees north latitude and thence west to the Pacific Ocean; the agreement eliminated South Carolina's Prince George-Winyaw Parish from present North Carolina (see 10 March 1721/1722). The Territory South of the River Ohio (later Tennessee) inherited the 35th parallel as its southern boundary after North Carolina ceded its claim to western lands in 1790. (Paullin, 82, pl. 100a; Van Zandt, 97, 100-101)
1737
Surveyors finished marking the first part of the 1735 boundary between North and South Carolina, the line northwestward from the coast to the parallel of 35 degrees north latitude, but they mistakenly stopped eleven miles south of the specified line of latitude; this portion of the boundary has remained unchanged, as surveyed. (Paullin, 82, pl. 100a)
6 March 1739
[6 March 1738/1739] All precincts converted to counties by the legislature: BEAUFORT, BERTIE, BLADEN, CARTERET (second), CHOWAN, CRAVEN, CURRITUCK, HYDE, NEW HANOVER, ONSLOW, PASQUOTANK, PERQUIMANS, and TYRRELL. (N.C. Recs., ch. 3, sec. 22/23: 122-127)
4 April 1741
Boundary between BEAUFORT and TYRRELL defined [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 7, secs. 1-2/23:164; N.C. Recs., ch. 9, secs. 1-3/23:168; Turner and Bridgers, 19-26)
EDGECOMBE created from BEAUFORT, BERTIE, and CRAVEN; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 7, secs. 1-2/23:164; N.C. Recs., ch. 9, secs. 1-2/23:168; Turner and Bridgers, 19-26)
by December 1741
NORTHAMPTON created from BERTIE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 1, secs. 1-2/23:205-206)
20 April 1745
HYDE gained from CURRITUCK. (N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 1-2/23:232)
28 June 1746
GRANVILLE created from EDGECOMBE; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 3, secs. 1-2/23:249-250)
JOHNSTON created from CRAVEN; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 2, secs. 1-2/23:248-249)
1749
The North Carolina/Virginia boundary (defined in 1665 as 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude) was demarcated from the end of the 1728 survey (Dan River) westward to Steep Rock Creek, near the northwest corner of present North Carolina. This portion of the boundary has remained unchanged. (Van Zandt, 97)
17 March 1750
[17 March 1749/1750] ANSON created from BLADEN; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 2, secs. 1-2/33:343-344)
[17 March 1749/1750] DUPLIN created from NEW HANOVER; northwestern boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 1, secs. 1-2/23:342-343)
12 June 1751
DUPLIN gained from NEW HANOVER; northwestern boundary limit remained indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, sec. 6/25:246-247)
31 March 1752
ORANGE created from BLADEN, GRANVILLE, and JOHNSTON; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 6, secs. 1-2/23:383-384)
27 March 1753
ORANGE gained from GRANVILLE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 7, secs. 1-2/23:390; ch. 8, secs. 1-2/23:390-391; N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 3-4/25:256)
ROWAN created from ANSON, ORANGE, and unorganized territory; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 7, secs. 1-2/23:390)
19 February 1754
CUMBERLAND created from BLADEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 8/23:399; N.C. Recs., ch. 8, secs. 1-2/25:267-268)
8 April 1754
King George II, in Privy Council, repealed the acts of the North Carolina legislature creating the following: Bertie, Bladen, Onslow, and Tyrrell Precincts (which had become counties in 1738/1739), and ANSON, DUPLIN, EDGECOMBE, GRANVILLE, JOHNSTON, and NORTHAMPTON. Territory encompassed in the repeal became Non-County Area 1. (N.C. Recs., ch. 9, sec. 1/23:445-446)
1 July 1755
Instructions of the Lord Justices (approved by the King), in London, to the governor authorized the North Carolina legislature to reenact the county and precinct creations repealed on 8 April 1754. (N.C. Recs., ch. 9, sec. 2/23:446)
c. 1 September 1756
The legislature, in response to the Crown Instructions of 1 July 1755, recreated ANSON, BERTIE, BLADEN, DUPLIN, EDGECOMBE, GRANVILLE, JOHNSTON, NORTHAMPTON, ONSLOW, and TYRRELL, with the boundaries each had at the date of repeal in 1754); Non-County Area 1 eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 9, sec. 2/23:446)
The legislature repealed the creations of CUMBERLAND, ORANGE, and ROWAN, as being inconsistent with the Crown Instructions of 1 July 1755. Territory encompassed by the repeal became Non-County Area 2. (N.C. Recs., ch. 9, sec. 5/23:470-471)
c. 25 September 1756
CUMBERLAND, ORANGE, and ROWAN re-created by the legislature with the boundaries each had at repeal earlier in the month; Non-County Area 2 eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 22, secs. 1-2/23:470-471)
November 1757
BEAUFORT exchanged with CRAVEN. (N.C. St. Recs., ch. 9, secs. 1-3/23:480)
1 January 1759
HALIFAX created from EDGECOMBE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 24, secs. 1-2/23:472-474; N.C. Recs., ch. 13, secs. 1-2/23:496-497)
10 April 1759
DOBBS (extinct) created from JOHNSTON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 20, sec. 1/23:469-470; N.C. Recs., ch. 12., secs. 1-2/23:495-496)
1 May 1760
HERTFORD created from BERTIE, CHOWAN, and NORTHAMPTON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 4, secs. 1-2/23:503-504)
1 January 1761
PITT created from BEAUFORT. (N.C. Recs., ch. 3, secs. 1-2/23:531-534)
23 April 1761
JOHNSTON gained from ORANGE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 11, secs. 1-2/23:547-548)
11 December 1762
CUMBERLAND gained small area from BLADEN [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1762_pt. for location]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, 23:592; N.C. Recs., ch. 14, secs. 7-8/25:470-472)
1 February 1763
MECKLENBURG created from ANSON; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 12, secs. 1-2/23:589-592)
10 February 1763
The Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War between Great Britain (the victor) and France and Spain, implicitly set the Mississippi River as a new western limit for British colonies, including North Carolina, whose charter bounds had technically extended to the Pacific Ocean. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1)
9 March 1764
BLADEN exchanged with CUMBERLAND. (N.C. Recs., ch. 18, secs. 1-2/23:630)
Boundary between DOBBS (extinct) and PITT clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 17, secs. 1-2/23:629)
BRUNSWICK created from BLADEN and NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, secs. 1-3/23:622-627)
DOBBS (extinct) gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 19, secs. 1-2/23:630-631)
10 June 1764
BUTE (extinct) created from GRANVILLE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, sec. 2/23:497-498; N.C. Recs., ch. 10, secs. 1-2/23:547; N.C. Recs., ch. 14, sec. 15/23:622-627)
1764
Royal commissioners surveyed the part of the boundary between North and South Carolina westward from the end of the 1737 survey to the Charleston-Salisbury Road near the Catawba Indian lands; it has remained unchanged. (Paullin, 82, pl. 100a)
1 March 1765
HERTFORD gained from NORTHAMPTON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, secs. 1-2/23:658)
1 December 1766
DUPLIN exchanged with NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Recs., ch. 27, secs. 1-2/23:686-687)
December 1767
BUTE (extinct) gained from NORTHAMPTON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 15, secs. 1-2/23:754-755)
10 April 1769
TRYON (extinct) created from MECKLENBURG and unorganized territory. (N.C. Recs., ch. 10, secs. 1-2/23:769-772)
26 January 1771
Boundaries between MECKLENBURG and ROWAN and between ROWAN and TYRON (extinct) clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 39, secs. 1-2/23:841-842)
CARTERET gained from HYDE [part of Ocracoke Island]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 16, sec. 18/23:809; Powell, 217)
GUILFORD created from ORANGE and ROWAN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 24, secs. 1-2/23:823-826)
12 March 1771
WAKE created from CUMBERLAND, JOHNSTON, and ORANGE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 22, secs. 1-2/23:819-823)
1 April 1771
CHATHAM created from ORANGE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 27, secs. 1-2/23:827-831)
SURRY created from ROWAN; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 42, secs. 1-2/23:844-846)
1772
Royal commissioners surveyed the part of the boundary between North and South Carolina from the terminus of the 1764 line around the Catawba Indian lands to Tryon Mountain; it has remained unchanged. (Paullin, 83, pl. 100a)
6 March 1773
SURRY gained from ROWAN; western boundary limit remained indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 6, secs. 1-2/23:906-907)
19 March 1774
Boundary between MECKLENBURG and TRYON (extinct) clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 12, sec. 2/23:964)
MARTIN created from HALIFAX and TYRRELL. (N.C. Recs., ch. 32, sec. 1/23:976)
1775-1776
Settlers in Carters Valley and the North Holston area of North Carolina (now Tennessee), believing they were located in Virginia, put themselves under the authority of the Virginia counties of FINCASTLE and, after 1776, WASHINGTON. Settlers in present Tennessee south of the Holston River organized Washington District. No clear boundaries defined [not mapped]. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 16, 89; Folmsbee, 60-61; Williams, Tennessee during the Revolutionary War, 15-18)
4 July 1776
North Carolina became an independent state. (Declaration of Independence)
5 July 1776
Washington District petitioned North Carolina for annexation after first appealing to Virginia. In November 1776 four delegates from Washington District attended the North Carolina constitutional convention. Boundaries of Washington District were not clearly defined, but appear to have included part of present western North Carolina. (Folmsbee, 61; Williams, Tennessee during the Revolutionary War, 17-23)
18 December 1776
First state constitution of North Carolina defined the state's boundaries as follows: on the south, beginning at the mouth of Little River, running a prescribed line northwest to the parallel of 35 degrees north latitude, and west to the Mississippi River; on the north, along the boundary with Virginia (parallel of 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude) to the Mississippi River (N.C. Recs., 23:977-979; Swindler, 7:402-407)
9 May 1777
CAMDEN created from PASQUOTANK. (N.C. Recs., ch. 18, secs. 1-2/24:26-28)
1 June 1777
CASWELL created from ORANGE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 17, secs. 1-2/24:24-26)
BURKE created from ROWAN; western boundary limit was indefinite. (N.C. Recs., ch. 19, secs. 1-2/24:28-30)
24 December 1777
BLADEN exchanged with BRUNSWICK. (N.C. Recs., ch. 38, secs. 1-2/24:148)
BLADEN gained from ANSON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 42, secs. 1-2/24:151)
BURKE gained from unorganized territory. (N.C. Recs., ch. 31, secs. 1-2/24:141-142)
JOHNSTON gained from DUPLIN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 33, secs. 1-2/24:144)
NASH created from EDGECOMBE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 30, secs. 1-2/24:139-141)
WASHINGTON (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from Washington District and North Carolina western lands, to include all of present state of Tennessee and part of western North Carolina. Residents in North Holston and Carters Valley settlements (in present Tennessee) still considered themselves part of WASHINGTON (Va.); the precise location of the boundary between WASHINGTON (Tenn.) and Virginia was not demarcated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 31, secs. 1-2/24:141-142)
15 February 1778
WILKES created from SURRY and unorganized territory. (N.C. Recs., ch. 32, secs. 1-2/24:142-144)
12 February 1779
EDGECOMBE gained from HALIFAX; boundary between EDGECOMBE and PITT clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 28, secs. 1-2, 6-7/24:249-250)
FRANKLIN and WARREN created from BUTE (extinct); BUTE eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 19, secs. 1-3/24:227-230; N.C. Recs., ch. 20, sec. 5/24:293-294)
GATES created from CHOWAN, HERTFORD, and PERQUIMANS. (N.C. Recs., ch. 20, secs. 1-2/24:230-232)
JONES created from CRAVEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 18, secs. 1-2/24:225-227)
LINCOLN and RUTHERFORD created from TRYON (extinct); TRYON eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 23, secs. 1-2/24:236-238)
MONTGOMERY created from ANSON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 21, secs. 1-2/24:232-234)
RANDOLPH created from GUILFORD. (N.C. Recs., ch. 22, secs. 1-2/24:234-236)
September 1779-March 1780
Commissioners from North Carolina and Virginia surveyed the boundary between the two states from Steep Rock Creek, near the present North Carolina/Tennessee line, west to the Tennessee River Disagreements over the correct course resulted in two competing survey lines running a little over two miles apart. North Carolina commissioners ran their line only to Cumberland Gap; Virginia commissioners continued on to the Tennessee River This boundary was disputed until 1803. (Paullin, 81, pl. 99a; N.C. Recs., ch. 16, secs. 1-2/24:223-224; Sames, 14, 41; Van Zandt, 97)
10 November 1779
JONES gained from CARTERET. (N.C. Recs., ch. 39/secs. 1-2/24:311-312)
RICHMOND created from ANSON. (N.C. Recs., ch. 16, secs. 1-2/24:287-289)
SULLIVAN (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from WASHINGTON (Tenn.); western limit not defined. North Holston and Carters Valley settlements came under the control of SULLIVAN. Precise location of boundary between North Carolina and Virginia was uncertainl (N.C. Recs., ch. 29, secs. 1-2, 3/24:300-302)
WAYNE created from DOBBS (extinct). (N.C. Recs., ch. 17, secs. 1-2/24:290-292)
12 May 1782
LINCOLN gained from BURKE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 45, secs. 1-2/24:472-473)
17 May 1783
DAVIDSON (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from WASHINGTON (Tenn.). (N.C. Recs., ch. 52, secs. 1-2/24:540)
GREENE (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from WASHINGTON (Tenn.); precise location of boundary between North Carolina and Virginia remained in dispute. (N.C. Recs., ch. 2, sec. 5/24:479; N.C. Recs., ch. 51, secs. 1-2/24:539-540)
1 August 1783
North Carolina reasserted its claim to present Tennessee and defined the boundaries of the lands reserved for the Cherokees in present North Carolina and Tennessee. (N.C. Recs., ch. 2, secs. 2-5, 23/24:478-482)
3 September 1783
Commissioners from Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (ratifications exchanged 12 May 1784) ending the Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence, and generally defining U.S. territory as extending to the Great Lakes/Lake of the Woods on the north, the Mississippi River on the west, and the Floridas on the south. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)
2 June 1784
Boundary between CAMDEN and CURRITUCK clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 80, secs. 1-2/24:647-648)
LINCOLN gained from BURKE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 78, secs. 1-2/24:646)
North Carolina ceded to Congress all claims to its western lands, from the crest of the Allegheny/Appalachian Mountains between 35 degrees and 36 degrees, 30 minutes of north latitude, westward to the Mississippi River (i.e., present state of Tennessee) (N.C. Recs., ch. 11, secs 1-2/24:561-563)
SAMPSON created from DUPLIN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 75, secs. 1-2/24:642-644)
4 July 1784
FAYETTE (extinct) and MOORE created from CUMBERLAND; CUMBERLAND eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 76, secs. 1-3/24:644-645)
August 1784
Encouraged by Congress' Ordinance of 1784, which held out the promise of new states being created west of the Appalachian Mountains, delegates from GREENE (Tenn.), SULLIVAN (Tenn.), and WASHINGTON (Tenn.) gathered in convention at Jonesborough, Tenn., and declared their intention to compensate for the loss of jurisdiction by North Carolina by forming a new state and petitioning Congress for admission to the Union. (Ramsey, 284-288; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 29)
25 November 1784
Boundary between HYDE and TYRRELL clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 45, secs. 1-2/24:705)
CUMBERLAND re-created from FAYETTE (extinct) and MOORE; FAYETTE eliminated. (N.C. Recs., ch. 44, secs. 1-3, 8/24:703-705)
North Carolina repealed its cession of western lands to Congress, passed on 2 June 1784, asserting that Congress and several states had failed to meet all of the conditions under which the cession had been made. (N.C. Recs., ch. 16, secs. 1-2/24:678-679)
17 December 1784
Delegates meeting at Jonesborough, Tenn., proclaimed the State of Franklin and adopted a constitution. Boundaries were never precisely defined, but included all areas of present eastern Tennessee occupied by settlers [not mapped]. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 17, 89; Swindler 9:127-135; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 330-338)
March 1785
The First General Assembly of the State of Franklin convened in Jonesborough, Tenn., and recognized the three existing North Carolina counties located in eastern Tennessee and created four new counties; the text of the acts is not extant and the precise boundaries of the counties are unknown and are not mapped. North Carolina did not recognize the legitimacy of these counties and sought to regain control of the area. (Jordan, "Evolution . . . Hawkins and Sumner," 4-5, 8; Ramsey, 293-295; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 55-58)
CASWELL (State of Franklin) created from GREENE (Tenn.) in the vicinity of present JEFFERSON (Tenn.) and HAMBLEN (Tenn.) [not mapped].
SEVIER (State of Franklin) created from GREENE (Tenn.); it is not to be confused with Tennessee's SEVIER County, created by the Southwest Territory in 1794 in the same general area [not mapped].
SPENCER (State of Franklin) created from GREENE (Tenn.) and SULLIVAN (Tenn.) in the vicinity of present HAWKINS (Tenn.) [not mapped].
WAYNE (State of Franklin) created from WASHINGTON (Tenn.) and WILKES in the vicinity of present CARTER (Tenn.) and JOHNSON (Tenn.) [not mapped]
by October 1785
BLOUNT (State of Franklin) created from GREENE (Tenn.), probably at the Second General Assembly of the State of Franklin in August 1785. The text of the act is not extant and the precise boundaries are unknown. It is not clear whether BLOUNT ever became fully organized; it is not to be confused with Tennessee's BLOUNT County, created by the Southwest Territory in 1795 in the same general area [not mapped]. (Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 88-89)
29 December 1785
BEAUFORT gained from PITT. (N.C. Recs., ch. 36, sec. 1/24:758)
ROCKINGHAM created from GUILFORD. (N.C. Recs., ch. 23, secs. 1-2/24:745-746)
1 January 1787
WARREN gained from GRANVILLE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 65, sec. 1/24:866)
6 January 1787
FRANKLIN gained from WAKE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 39, sec. 1/24:838)
HAWKINS (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from GREENE (Tenn.) and SULLIVAN (Tenn.); Non-County Area 3 and Non-County Area 4 created when that part of GREENE west of HAWKINS reverted to non-county status. Precise boundary between North Carolina and Virginia remained in dispute. (N.C. Recs., ch. 34, sec. 1/24:830-832)
PITT gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 30, sec. 1/24:825-826)
ROBESON created from BLADEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 40, sec. 1/24:838-840)
RUTHERFORD gained from BURKE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 43, sec. 1/24:845-846)
SUMNER (Tenn.) created by North Carolina from DAVIDSON (Tenn.). (N.C. Recs., ch. 32, sec. 1/24:826-828)
28 April 1787
Commissioners from Georgia and South Carolina, meeting at Beaufort, S.C., agreed that their boundary should run up the Savannah and Tugaloo Rivers to either the North Carolina line (parallel of 35 degrees north latitude) or the head of the Tugaloo, whichever was farther south. The Tugaloo rises in North Carolina and the intersection of that river and the 35th parallel of north latitude eventually became recognized as the point where Georgia and North Carolina meet to complete South Carolina's western limit. The Beaufort Convention was approved by Congress later in 1787 and by the Georgia and South Carolina legislatures in 1788. (Paullin, 83-84)
6 December 1788
Boundary between BURKE and RUTHERFORD clarified [no change]. (N.C. Recs., ch. 2, sec. 5/24:479; N.C. Recs. ch. 10, sec. 1/24:957)
IREDELL created from ROWAN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 36, sec. 1/24:980-982)
JONES gained from CARTERET and DOBBS (extinct). (N.C. Recs., ch. 12, secs. 1-2/24:958; N.C. Recs. ch. 14, sec. 1/24:960)
NEW HANOVER gained from BRUNSWICK. (N.C. Recs., ch. 40, sec. 1/24:985)
ROBESON gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 44, sec. 1/24:988-989)
SULLIVAN (Tenn.) gained from WASHINGTON (Tenn.). (N.C. Recs., ch. 29, sec. 1/24:974)
TENNESSEE (Tenn., extinct) created by North Carolina from DAVIDSON (Tenn.). (N.C. Recs., ch. 28, sec. 1/24:972-973)
February 1789
John Sevier, governor of the State of Franklin, formally swore allegiance to North Carolina, effectively ending Franklin's existence and signaling the region's return to North Carolina control; all Franklin counties (BLOUNT, CASWELL, SEVIER, SPENCER, and WAYNE) eliminated. (Folmsbee, 88-90; Williams, Lost State of Franklin, 212-225)
22 December 1789
CUMBERLAND gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Recs., ch. 36, sec. 1/25:38)
North Carolina re-ceded its western lands to Congress, with a more detailed description of the crest of the Allegheny/Appalachian Mountains than that contained in the initial cession of 1784. (N.C. Recs., ch. 3, secs. 1-2/25:4-6)
STOKES created from SURRY. (N.C. Recs., ch. 14, secs. 1-2/25:13-15)
WILKES gained from BURKE. (N.C. Recs., ch. 43, sec. 1/25:43)
2 April 1790
Congress accepted North Carolina's cession of its western lands (i.e. present Tennessee); DAVIDSON (Tenn.), GREENE (Tenn.), HAWKINS (Tenn.), SULLIVAN (Tenn.), SUMNER (Tenn.), TENNESSEE (Tenn., extinct), WASHINGTON (Tenn.), Non-County Area 3, and Non-County Area 4 eliminated from North Carolina and became Southwest Territory counties on 26 May 1790. A remnant of WASHINGTON (Tenn.) remaining in present North Carolina became Non-County Area 5 and was transferred to WILKES in 1792.) (Terr. Papers U.S., 4:13-17; U.S. Stat., vol. 1, ch. 6[1790]/pp. 106-109)
26 May 1790
The United States created the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio (Southwest Territory), covering the territory ceded by North Carolina in April (present Tennessee). (Terr. Papers U.S., 4:18-19; U.S. Stat., vol. 1, ch. 14[1790]/p. 123)
19 January 1792
BUNCOMBE created from BURKE and RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1791, ch. 52, sec. 1/pp. 20-21)
CUMBERLAND gained from ROBESON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1791, ch. 39, sec. 1/p. 20)
GLASGOW (now GREENE) and LENOIR created from DOBBS (extinct); DOBBS eliminated. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1791, ch. 47, sec. 1/p. 20)
1 February 1792
PERSON created from CASWELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1791, ch. 53, secs. 1-2/p. 21)
31 December 1792
CABARRUS created from MECKLENBURG. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1792, ch. 21, sec. 1/pp. 30-31)
SURRY gained from WILKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1792, ch. 43, sec. 3/p. 33)
WILKES gained Non-County Area 5, the remnant of WASHINGTON (Tenn.) remaining in present North Carolina after North Carolina's cession of western lands to Congress in 1790. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1792, ch. 32, sec. 1/p. 33)
11 January 1794
EDGECOMBE gained from MARTIN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1793, ch. 32, sec. 1/pp. 49-50)
IREDELL gained from BURKE and WILKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1793, ch. 31, sec. 1/p. 49)
WAYNE gained from GLASGOW (now GREENE). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1793, ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 49)
30 December 1794
BUNCOMBE gained from RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1794, ch. 28, sec. 1/pp. 66-67)
CABARRUS gained from MECKLENBURG. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1794, ch. 27, sec. 1/p. 66)
9 December 1795
SAMPSON gained from NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1795, ch. 24, sec. 1/p. 83)
25 December 1796
ROBESON gained from RICHMOND. (Corbitt, 181; N.C. Sess. Laws 1796, ch. 38/p. 102)
SURRY gained from STOKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1796, ch. 36, sec. 1/p. 101)
23 December 1797
RICHMOND gained from ROBESON (repealed act of 25 December 1796). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1797, ch. 13, sec. 1/p. 106)
24 December 1798
LENOIR gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1798, ch. 89, sec. 1/pp. 130-131)
23 December 1799
ASHE created from WILKES; WASHINGTON created from TYRRELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1799, ch. 36, secs. 1, 9-10/p. 146, and ch.37, sec. 1/p. 146)
GLASGOW renamed GREENE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1799, ch. 39, sec. 1/p. 146)
19 December 1801
CRAVEN gained from BEAUFORT. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1801, ch. 71-72, sec. 1/pp. 186-187)
EDGECOMBE gained from PITT. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1801, ch. 68, sec. 1/p. 186)
GREENE gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1801, ch. 71, sec. 1/p. 186)
WASHINGTON gained from TYRRELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1801, ch. 70, sec. 1/p. 186)
10 December 1803
Georgia, believing that the parallel of 35 degrees north latitude (the southern boundary of North Carolina) was located approximately 18 miles north of its true location, created Walton County to accommodate settlers on the headwaters of the French Broad River (overlapping BUNCOMBE County, North Carolina). Congress had ceded a phantom strip of land "between" Georgia and North Carolina to Georgia in 1802, and although commissioners from the two states located the true parallel of 35 degrees north latitude in 1807, Gerogia refused to accept the determination until 1811-1812, when surveyor Andrew Ellicott confirmed that the 1807 survey was correct. The Georgia legislature reluctantly accepted Ellicott's findings; as a result, Walton County, Georgia, became defunct [Walton's boundaries cannot be demarcated as described, not mapped]. (Ga., Acts...1803, pp. 16-19; Ga., Acts...1810, pp. 156-157; Paullin, p. 84, pl. 100b; Sams, Wayfarers in Walton, xi-xiv; Skaggs, North Carolina Boundary Disputes, 159-211; Sondley, 2:686-687; Van Zandt, 100-101)
19 December 1804
Boundary between CAMDEN and GATES, and between PASQUOTANK and PERQUIMANS defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1804, ch. 54, secs. 1-3/pp. 252-253)
CABARRUS gained small area from MECKLENBURG to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1804, ch. 53, sec. 1/p. 252)
LENOIR gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1804, ch. 56, sec. 1/p. 253)
21 December 1805
Common boundaries of CHOWAN, GATES and PERQUIMANS redefined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1805, ch. 27, sec. 2/p. 268)
MARTIN gained from PITT. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1805, ch. 28, sec. 1/p. 268)
1806
Boundary between CARTERET and CRAVEN defined [no discernible change]. (Corbitt, 58)
14 December 1807
Boundary between ASHE and BURKE redefined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1807, ch. 70, sec. 1/p. 313)
RUTHERFORD gained from BURKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1807, ch. 71, sec. 1/pp. 313-314)
15 December 1808
COLUMBUS created from BLADEN and BRUNSWICK; HAYWOOD created from BUNCOMBE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1808, ch. 1, secs. 1, 10/pp. 1-4)
1808
Commissioners from North and South Carolina agreed on an extension of the 1772 interstate boundary to the western limit of South Carolina, but because it contained errors in geography, the boundary description could not be implemented. (Paullin, 83, pl. 100a)
21 December 1809
Boundary between CARTERET and CRAVEN redefined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1809, secs. 1-2/pp. 17-18)
BRUNSWICK exchanged with NEW HANOVER (net effect of exchange is a gain by BRUNSWICK). Area of BRUNSWICK's loss to NEW HANOVER too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1809_pt. for location. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1809, ch. 24, secs. 1-2/p. 11)
COLUMBUS gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1809, ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 10)
RUTHERFORD gained from BURKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1809, ch. 14, secs. 1, 3/p. 7)
13 December 1810
Boundary between BRUNSWICK and COLUMBUS defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1810, ch. 47, sec. 1/p. 26)
20 December 1811
COLUMBUS gained from BRUNSWICK. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1811, ch. 80, sec. 1/p. 34)
STOKES gained small area from SURRY to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1811, ch. 78, sec. 1/p. 34)
18 December 1813
MECKLENBURG lost small area to South Carolina when North Carolina / South Carolina boundary adjusted [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1813_pt. for location]. (Paullin, 83, pl. 100a; S.C. Acts 1813, Nov. sess., p. 52)
1813
Commissioners from North and South Carolina reached a new agreement on the western end of their boundary, but once again inaccurate geographic knowledge resulted in a definition that was impossible to demarcate. (Paullin, 83)
21 November 1814
BURKE gained from ASHE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1814, ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 27)
21 December 1815
WILKES gained from IREDELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1815, ch. 18, sec. 1/pp. 19-20)
1815
Commissioners from North and South Carolina demarcated the final segment of the boundary between the two states (Tryon Mountain to Georgia) following the spirit, not the geographically impossible descriptions, of the 1808 and 1813 agreements; the line runs from Tryon Mountain southwestward along the mountain ridge, except for the last 18 miles, where it runs in a straight line to the point at which the parallel of 35 degrees north latitude intersects the Tugaloo River; this line has remained unchanged to the present. (Paullin, 83, pl. 100b)
28 December 1816
MARTIN gained from BEAUFORT. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1816, ch. 18, sec. 1/pp. 12-13)
23 December 1817
Boundary between FRANKLIN and NASH defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1817, ch. 35, sec. 1/pp. 40-41)
23 December 1818
Boundary between BURKE and WILKES defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1818, ch. 139, sec. 1/p. 110)
24 December 1819
BEAUFORT gained from HYDE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1819, ch. 114, sec. 1/p. 76)
Boundary between CHOWAN and PERQUIMANS defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1819, ch. 123, secs. 1-2/p. 79)
LENOIR gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1819, ch. 115, sec. 1/p. 76)
19 November 1821
COLUMBUS gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1821, ch. 34, sec. 1/pp. 32-33)
9 December 1822
DAVIDSON created from ROWAN. (Corbitt, 87; Sink and Matthews, 34-35, 399-400)
31 December 1822
Boundary between MONTGOMERY and RICHMOND defined [no change]. (Corbitt, 154)
8 December 1823
HYDE gained from CURRITUCK [Cape Hatteras and barrier islands]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1823, ch. 43, secs. 1,3/pp. 39-40)
19 January 1824
Boundary between DUPLIN and LENOIR defined [no change]. (Corbitt, 260-261; N.C. Sess. Laws 1819, ch. 126, sec. 1/p. 80)
4 January 1826
SURRY gained small area from STOKES (repealed act of 20 December 1811) [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1825, ch. 91, sec. 1/p. 64)
10 January 1829
COLUMBUS gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1828, ch. 145, sec. 1/p. 81)
MACON created from HAYWOOD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1828, ch. 50, sec. 1/p. 29)
7 January 1830
Boundary between BUNCOMBE and HAYWOOD defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1829, ch. 127, sec. 1/p. 63)
14 January 1832
Boundary between DUPLIN and WAYNE defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1831, ch. 101, secs. 1-2/p. 87; N.C. Sess. Laws 1833, ch. 86, secs. 1-3/pp. 147-148)
9 January 1833
Boundary between BEAUFORT and WASHINGTON defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1832, ch. 42, secs. 1-2/p. 43)
Boundary between RICHMOND and ROBESON defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1832, ch. 149, sec. 1/pp. 90-91)
13 January 1834
YANCEY created from BUNCOMBE and BURKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1833, ch. 83, sec. 1/pp. 145-146, and ch. 84, sec. 10/p. 147)
22 December 1835
ASHE gained small area from WILKES [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1835, ch. 81, secs. 1-2/p. 82)
DAVIDSON gained from ROWAN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1834, ch. 60, sec. 1/p. 50; N.C. Sess. Laws 1835, ch. 83, sec. 1/pp. 82-83)
ROWAN exchanged with SURRY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1835, ch. 82, sec. 1/p. 82)
20 December 1836
DAVIE created from ROWAN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1836-1837, ch. 4, secs. 1, 13/pp.22-25)
15 December 1838
HENDERSON created from BUNCOMBE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1838-1839, pub., ch. 12, sec. 1/pp. 20-21)
4 January 1839
CHEROKEE created from MACON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1838-1839, pub., ch. 10, sec. 1/p. 18)
11 January 1841
CALDWELL created from BURKE and WILKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1840-1841, pub., ch. 11, secs. 1-2/pp. 31-32)
CLEVELAND created from LINCOLN and RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1840-1841, pub., ch. 9, sec. 1/p. 25; N.C. Sess. Laws 1842-1843, pub., ch. 7, sec. 1/p. 8)
STANLY created from MONTGOMERY. (Subsequently, two spellings, either STANLY or STANLEY, were used in legislation and other documents until STANLY was enacted as the official spelling by legislation on 13 July 1971). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1840-1841, pub., ch. 13, secs. 1, 11/pp. 37-40)
WILKES gained small area from IREDELL. Change with IREDELL too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1841_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1840-1841, priv., ch. 41, sec. 1/p. 158)
19 December 1842
McDOWELL created from BURKE and RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1842-1843, pub., ch. 10, sec. 1/p. 14)
UNION created from ANSON and MECKLENBURG. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1842-1843, pub., ch. 12, sec. 1/p. 20)
14 January 1843
CATAWBA created from LINCOLN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1842-1843, pub., ch. 8, secs. 1, 4/pp. 8-9, and ch. 9, sec. 13/p. 13).
9 December 1844
HENDERSON gained from RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1844-1845, pub., ch. 24, secs. 1-2/pp. 30-31)
24 December 1844
McDOWELL gained from RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1844-1845, pub., ch. 30, secs. 1, 4/pp. 43-44)
6 January 1845
HYDE gained from CARTERET [Ocracoke Island and barrier islands]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1844-1845, pub., ch. 25, sec. 1/p. 31)
7 January 1845
CLEVELAND gained from RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1844-1845, pub., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 30)
21 December 1846
GASTON created from LINCOLN; LINCOLN gained from CATAWBA. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1846-1847, ch. 24, secs. 1-2/p. 73)
15 January 1847
ALEXANDER created from CALDWELL, IREDELL, and WILKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1846-1847, ch. 22, secs. 1,6/pp. 62-66, and ch. 23, sec. 18/ p. 72)
16 January 1847
SAMPSON gained from NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1846-1847, ch. 128, sec. 1/pp. 273-274)
18 January 1847
POLK created from HENDERSON and RUTHERFORD. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1846-1847, ch. 26, sec. 1/pp. 80-81)
16 January 1849
Creation of POLK repealed by state legislature. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 18, sec. 1/pp. 50-51)
FORSYTH created from STOKES. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 23, secs. 1-2/p. 58)
26 January 1849
HENDERSON and RUTHERFORD regained territory lost to creation of POLK in 1847 when POLK's creation repealed on 16 January 1849. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 19, secs. 1-2/pp. 51-55)
POLK eliminated when it lost all territory to HENDERSON and RUTHERFORD following repeal of POLK's creation by state legislature. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 19, secs. 1-2/pp. 51-55)
27 January 1849
WATAUGA created from ASHE, CALDWELL, WILKES, and YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 25, sec. 1/pp. 66-67)
29 January 1849
ALEXANDER gained from CALDWELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 17, sec. 1/p. 50)
BUNCOMBE gained from YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 16, sec. 1/pp. 48-49)
19 April 1849
ALAMANCE created from ORANGE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1848-1849, ch. 14, sec. 1/pp. 39-40, and ch. 15, secs. 22-25, 28/pp. 40-48; N.C. Sess. Laws 1852-1853, ch. 22, secs. 1, 3/pp. 71-72)
27 January 1851
Boundary between ALAMANCE and ORANGE defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 43, sec. 1/p. 111)
Creation of HOOPER (proposed) from RICHMOND and ROBESON authorized, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Corbitt, xx; N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 34, secs. 1-2/pp. 84-85, and ch. 35, secs. 12-13/pp. 88-90)
MADISON created from BUNCOMBE and YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 36, sec. 1/p. 91)
28 January 1851
HENDERSON gained from BUNCOMBE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 45, secs. 1-4/pp. 113-114)
29 January 1851
JACKSON created from HAYWOOD and MACON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 38, sec. 1/pp. 97-98)
MACON lost to creation of JACKSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 38, sec. 1/pp. 97-98)
1 May 1851
YADKIN created from SURRY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1850-1851, ch. 40, sec. 1/p. 100, and ch. 41, secs. 27, 29-30/pp. 101-109; N.C. Sess. Laws 1852-1853, ch. 22, secs. 2-3/pp. 71-72)
12 November 1852
Boundary between BEAUFORT and CRAVEN defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1852-1853, ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 73)
17 December 1852
ALEXANDER gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owners [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1852_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1852-1853, ch. 33, sec. 1/pp. 84-85)
20 January 1855
POLK re-created from HENDERSON and RUTHERFORD (with same boundaries as 1847). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1854-1855, pub., ch. 10, sec. 1/pp. 26-27)
7 February 1855
HARNETT created from CUMBERLAND. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1854-1855, pub., ch. 8, sec. 1/pp. 22-23)
13 February 1855
WILSON created from EDGECOMBE, GREENE, JOHNSTON, NASH, and WAYNE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1854-1855, pub., ch. 12, sec. 1/pp. 30-31)
2 February 1857
CALDWELL gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1857_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1856-1857, priv., ch. 48, sec. 1/pp. 19-20)
February 1859
ALLEGHANY created from ASHE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1858-1859, pub., ch. 3, sec. 1/p. 8)
16 February 1859
CALDWELL gained from BURKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1858-1859, priv., ch. 103, secs. 1-2/pp. 94-95)
WAYNE gained small area from WILSON [not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1858-1859, priv., ch. 102, sec. 1/p. 94)
17 February 1859
Creation of LILLINGTON (proposed) from NEW HANOVER authorized, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Corbitt, xx; N.C. Sess. Laws 1858-1859, pub., ch. 6, secs. 1-2/pp. 15-16)
15 February 1861
TRANSYLVANIA created from HENDERSON and JACKSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1860-1861, pub., ch. 10, sec. 1/p. 19)
16 February 1861
MITCHELL created from CALDWELL, WATAUGA, and YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1860-1861, pub., ch. 8, sec. 1/p. 14)
20 February 1861
CLAY created from CHEROKEE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1860-1861, pub., ch. 6, sec. 1/pp. 8-9)
23 February 1861
Boundary between GREENE and WAYNE defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1860-1861, priv., ch. 76, sec. 1/pp. 48-49)
May 1861
CALDWELL gained from MITCHELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws, 1861, 1st ext. sess., priv., ch. 22)
4 September 1861
YANCEY gained from MITCHELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1861, 2d ext. sess., priv., ch. 34, secs. 1-2/pp. 90-91)
21 September 1861
MACON gained from JACKSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1861, 2d ext. sess., priv., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 118)
19 January 1863
TRANSYLVANIA gained from JACKSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1862-1863, priv., ch. 4, secs. 1, 5/pp. 6-7)
24 February 1866
MITCHELL gained from YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1866, spec. sess., priv., ch. 70, sec. 1/p. 141)
12 April 1869
WATAUGA gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1869_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1868-1869, pub., ch. 218, sec. 1/p. 565)
14 December 1869
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1869_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1869-1870, pub., ch. 6, sec. 1/p. 48)
17 December 1869
ALLEGHANY gained small area from SURRY [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1869_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1869-1870, pub., ch. 8, sec. 1/p. 49)
24 January 1870
ALLEGHANY gained small area from SURRY [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1870_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1869-1870, pub., ch. 21, sec. 1/p. 61)
3 February 1870
DARE created from CURRITUCK, HYDE, and TYRRELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1869-1870, pub., ch. 36, secs. 1, 4, 16/pp. 71-75)
22 March 1870
BURKE gained small area from McDOWELL [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1870_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1869-1870, pub., ch. 96, sec. 1/p. 145)
28 January 1871
McDOWELL gained small area from BURKE (repealed act of 22 March 1870) [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1871_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 50, secs. 1-2/p. 108)
24 February 1871
SWAIN created from JACKSON and MACON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 94, sec. 1/pp. 155-156)
16 March 1871
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1871_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 125, sec. 1/p. 193)
BURKE authorized to gain area along South Mountain from RUTHERFORD [change apparently never effected, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 129, sec. 1/p. 197)
31 March 1871
NASH gained from EDGECOMBE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 171, sec. 1/p. 256)
3 April 1871
WATAUGA gained small area from CALDWELL [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1871_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1870-1871, pub., ch. 202, sec. 1/p. 319)
9 January 1872
MITCHELL gained from YANCEY. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 36, sec. 1/p. 41)
30 January 1872
GRAHAM created from CHEROKEE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 77, sec. 1/p. 127-128)
31 January 1872
Boundary between GREENE and WAYNE defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 84, sec. 1/pp. 134-135)
2 February 1872
ALLEGHANY gained small area from ASHE [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1872_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 109, sec. 1/p. 156)
CLAY gained from MACON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 101, sec. 1/pp. 151-152, and ch. 170, sec. 1/pp. 258-259)
8 February 1872
GRAHAM gained small area from SWAIN [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1872_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 154, sec. 1/p. 242)
SAMPSON gained from NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 144, sec. 1/pp. 222-223)
2 May 1872
PAMLICO created from BEAUFORT and CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1871-1872, pub., ch. 132, secs. 1-2/pp. 180-181, and ch. 182, secs. 2, 6/pp. 285-286)
1 March 1873
CURRITUCK gained small area from DARE [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1873_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1872-1873, pub., ch. 127, sec. 1/p. 206)
3 March 1873
FRANKLIN gain from GRANVILLE authorized, dependent upon local referendum that apparently failed [no change]; change effected, without referendum, on 3 February 1875. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1872-1873, pub., ch. 143, secs. 1-2/pp. 224-225)
12 April 1873
COLUMBUS gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1872-1873, pub., ch. 97, sec. 1/pp. 143-144)
10 February 1874
SWAIN gained small area from GRAHAM [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1874_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1873-1874, pub., ch. 93, sec. 1/p. 123)
5 March 1874
PAMLICO gained from BEAUFORT. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1873-1874, pub., ch. 152, secs. 1-2/p. 233)
2 April 1874
CUMBERLAND gained from BLADEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1873-1874, pub., ch. 131, secs. 1, 3/pp. 168-169)
3 February 1875
FRANKLIN gained from GRANVILLE, with same boundaries proposed in 1873. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 63, sec. 1/pp. 49-52; Pearce, 79)
16 February 1875
PENDER created from NEW HANOVER. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 91, sec. 1/p. 93)
3 March 1875
CARTERET authorized to gain the area east and north of Adams Creek from CRAVEN, dependent upon local referendum that apparently failed [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 122, secs. 1-3/p. 122)
5 March 1875
PAMLICO gained from BEAUFORT. (N.C. Sess Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 129, sec. 1/pp. 129-130)
16 March 1875
ALLEGHANY gained small area from SURRY [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1875_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 160, sec. 1/p. 186)
17 March 1875
Boundary between CRAVEN and PAMLICO clarified [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 182, sec. 1/p. 211)
5 August 1875
LINCOLN authorized to gain the northwestern corner of GASTON (area northwest of Flint Hill Road), dependent upon local referendum that apparently failed [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1874-1875, pub., ch. 125, sec. 1/pp. 124-125)
3 February 1877
COLUMBUS gained from BRUNSWICK. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1876-1877, pub., ch. 72, sec. 1/pp. 119-121)
1 March 1877
ASHE gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owners. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1876-1877, pub., ch. 153, sec. 1/p. 249)
3 March 1877
HERTFORD authorized to gain area west of Powellsville from BERTIE, dependent upon local referendum that apparently passed [line cannot be demarcated as described, not mapped]; act repealed, effective 1 April 1883. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1876-1877, pub., ch. 165, secs. 1, 3/pp. 339-341)
WATAUGA gained small area from ASHE and WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1877_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1876-1877, pub., ch. 167, secs. 1-2/pp. 341-342)
8 March 1879
BRUNSWICK gained from COLUMBUS. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1879, pub., ch. 159, sec. 1/p. 295)
14 March 1879
ASHE gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1879_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1879, pub., ch. 295, sec. 1/p. 472; N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, pub., ch. 24, sec. 1/p. 47)
Boundary between BLADEN and COLUMBUS defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1879, pub., ch. 318, sec. 1/pp. 492-493; N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 107, sec. 1/p. 158)
Boundary between MACON and state of Georgia defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1879, pub., ch. 319, sec. 1/pp. 493-494)
14 April 1881
DURHAM created from ORANGE and WAKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1881, pub., ch. 138, secs. 1, 13, 24/pp. 273-282)
5 May 1881
VANCE created from FRANKLIN, GRANVILLE, and WARREN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1881, pub., ch. 113, secs. 1, 4/pp. 169-175)
28 February 1883
Boundary between CHEROKEE and CLAY defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 196, sec. 1/pp. 324-325)
7 March 1883
BLADEN gained small area from COLUMBUS. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 251, sec. 1/p. 410)
9 March 1883
Boundary between DUPLIN and WAYNE defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 335, sec. 1/pp. 506-507)
12 March 1883
CARTERET gained from CRAVEN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 409, sec. 1/pp. 584-585)
WILSON gained from EDGECOMBE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 396, secs. 1-2/pp. 572-573)
1 April 1883
Boundary change of 3 March 1877, authorizing HERTFORD to gain area west of Powellsville from BERTIE, repealed [not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 353, secs. 1-3, 7/pp. 518-519)
5 April 1883
CALDWELL gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1883_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1883, pub., ch. 244, secs. 1-4/pp.403-404)
18 February 1885
CARTERET gained from CRAVEN (amended act of 12 March 1883). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1885, pub., ch. 81, sec. 1/p. 131)
21 February 1885
Boundary between ASHE and WILKES (between Mulberry and Phillips Gaps) adjusted to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1885, pub., ch. 109, sec. 1/p. 160)
3 March 1885
CALDWELL gained small area from BURKE [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1885_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1885, pub., ch. 193, sec. 1/p. 363)
11 March 1885
Boundary between CHEROKEE and CLAY defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1885, pub., ch. 343, sec. 1/p. 603-604)
GRAHAM gained small area from MACON to accommodate local property owner [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1885_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1885, pub., ch. 330, sec. 1/p. 586)
10 February 1887
CLEVELAND (not CLEAVELAND) enacted as official spelling of county name by legislature. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1887, pub., ch. 62, sec. 1/p. 111)
3 March 1887
Act of 21 February 1885, adjusting boundary between ASHE and WILKES, repealed [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1887, pub., ch. 177, sec. 1/pp. 401-402)
SWAIN gained small area from JACKSON [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1887_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1887, pub., ch. 180, sec. 1/ pp. 405-406)
5 March 1889
ALLEGHANY gained from ASHE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1889, pub., ch. 256, sec. 1/pp. 268-269)
7 March 1889
Boundary between MITCHELL and YANCEY defined [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1889, pub., ch. 289, sec. 1/pp. 292-293)
11 March 1889
Boundary between BUNCOMBE and HAYWOOD defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1889, pub., ch. 399, sec. 1/pp. 389-390)
FORSYTH gained from DAVIDSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1889, pub., ch. 449, sec. 1/pp. 426-427)
5 May 1890
HYDE exchanged with TYRRELL. (Corbitt, 267-268; N.C. Sess. Laws 1921, pub., ext. sess., ch. 43, sec. 1/pp. 81-82)
27 February 1891
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1891_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1891, pub., ch. 166, sec. 1/p. 153; N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 61)
7 March 1891
CLAY gained from CHEROKEE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1891, pub., ch. 418, secs. 1-2/p. 484)
9 March 1891
ASHE gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1891, pub., ch. 572, sec. 1/pp. 622-623)
31 March 1891
Act of 5 March 1889, whereby ALLEGHANY gained from ASHE, amended to accommodate local property owners south of Peach Bottom Mountain [location unknown, not mapped]; see 15 February 1899. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1891, pub., ch. 236, secs. 1, 4/pp. 193-194)
1 June 1891
BEAUFORT gained from PAMLICO. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1891, pub., ch. 307, secs. 1, 3/pp. 260-261)
2 February 1893
Boundary between EDGECOMBE and NASH clarified [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1893, pub., ch. 62, sec. 1/p. 65)
21 February 1893
Act of 7 March 1889, defining boundary between MITCHELL and YANCEY, repealed [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1893, pub., ch. 139, sec. 1/p. 106)
2 March 1893
Boundary change of 31 March 1891, adjusting boundary between ALLEGHANY and ASHE, amended to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]; see 15 February 1899. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1893, pub., ch. 234, secs. 1, 4/p. 196)
5 March 1895
Creation of SCOTLAND from RICHMOND authorized, dependent upon local referendum that failed (county created by legislature, with same boundaries, 20 February 1899]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, pub., ch. 163, secs. 1, 14/pp. 245-249)
6 March 1895
GRAHAM gained small area from MACON [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1895_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, pub., ch. 155, sec. 1/pp. 202-203)
9 March 1895
Boundary between GREENE and PITT authorized to be changed [line cannot be demarcated as described, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, priv., ch. 145, sec. 1/pp. 191-192)
13 March 1895
Boundary between ASHE and WILKES defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, pub., ch. 341, sec. 1/p. 398)
29 May 1895
ALAMANCE gained from CHATHAM when county commissioners drew the boundary between the two counties south of the line surveyed in 1771. (Corbitt, 247-248; N.C. Sess. Laws 1895, pub., ch. 303, sec. 1/pp. 378-379)
24 April 1897
Boundary change of 29 May 1895, whereby ALAMANCE gained from CHATHAM, repealed by legislature; repeal overturned by voters in local referendum [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1897, pub., ch. 39, secs. 1-2, 6/pp. 88-90)
3 May 1897
Act of 7 March 1891, whereby CLAY gained from CHEROKEE, repealed by legislature; repeal overturned by voters in local referendum [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1897, pub., ch. 362, secs. 1-3, 5/pp. 546-547)
15 February 1899
ASHE gained from ALLEGHANY (map depicts net effect of ALLEGHANY / ASHE boundary adjustments of 1891, 1893, and 1899 to accommodate local property owners). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1899, pub., ch. 105, sec. 1/p. 235)
20 February 1899
SCOTLAND created from RICHMOND. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1899, pub., ch. 127, sec. 1/pp. 256-262)
6 March 1899
WILKES gained small area from ALLEGHANY [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1899, pub., ch. 567, sec. 1/p. 763)
5 February 1901
Boundary between BUNCOMBE and MADISON (at junction of Big and Little Ivy Creeks) adjusted to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1901, pub., ch. 95, sec. 1/p. 273)
14 March 1901
Boundary between ASHE and WILKES "restored" to the "old boundary line" along main ridge of Blue Ridge Mountains [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1901, pub., ch. 714, sec. 1/p. 938)
4 March 1903
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1903, pub., ch. 389, sec. 1/pp. 657-658)
1 March 1905
Boundary between BLADEN and CUMBERLAND defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1905, pub., ch. 623, sec. 1/p. 749)
2 March 1905
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1905, pub., ch. 668, sec. 1/p. 819)
18 February 1907
Boundary between BERTIE and HERTFORD defined [no change]. (Corbitt, 250-251; N.C. Sess. Laws 1907, pub., ch. 210, sec. 1/p. 246)
11 March 1907
Boundary between ASHE and WILKES (in vicinity of Cross and Rattlesnake Mountains) adjusted to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1907, pub., ch. 987, sec. 1/pp. 1387-1388)
2 July 1907
LEE created from CHATHAM and MOORE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1907, pub., ch. 624, secs. 1, 15/pp. 897-903)
5 February 1909
Boundary between ALLEGHANY and WILKES defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1909, pub., ch. 73, sec. 1/pp. 83-84)
20 February 1909
Act of 11 March 1907, adjusting boundary between ASHE and WILKES, amended to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1909, pub., ch. 222, sec. 1/p. 249)
6 March 1909
Boundary between CAMDEN and PASQUOTANK defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1909, pub., ch. 610, sec. 1/p. 973)
8 March 1909
WILKES gained small area from ALLEGHANY (repealed act of 4 March 1903) [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1909, pub., ch. 821, sec. 1/p. 1205)
9 March 1909
Boundary between FRANKLIN and VANCE redefined [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1909, pub., ch. 890, sec. 1/p. 1303)
17 February 1911
HOKE created from CUMBERLAND and ROBESON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 24, sec. 1/pp. 51-57)
21 February 1911
POLK gained from HENDERSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 27, sec. 1/p. 59)
23 February 1911
AVERY created from CALDWELL, MITCHELL, and WATAUGA. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 33, secs. 1, 15/pp. 62-69)
27 February 1911
DURHAM gained from WAKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 47, sec. 1/pp. 114-115)
3 March 1911
WILKES gained small area from ASHE to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 77, sec. 1/p. 239)
4 March 1911
FORSYTH gained from YADKIN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub.-loc., ch. 588, sec. 1/pp. 1005-1006)
6 March 1911
Act of 20 Feb 1909, adjusting boundary between ASHE and WILKES, amended to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, ch. 132, sec. 1/p. 298)
Common boundaries of CHOWAN, TYRRELL and WASHINGTON defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub., ch. 115, sec. 1/p. 278)
HARNETT gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1911, pub.-loc., ch. 591, sec. 1/pp. 1009-1010)
12 February 1913
Acts of 20 February 1909 and 6 March 1911, adjusting boundary between ASHE and WILKES, repealed [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1913, pub., ch. 16, sec. 1/p. 47)
5 March 1913
NEW HANOVER authorized to gain Eagles Island from BRUNSWICK, under conditions which were never fulfilled [no change]; act repealed on 8 March 1915. (Corbitt, 38n; Lee, Brunswick, 170; N.C. Sess. Laws 1913, pub., ch. 50, sec. 1/p. 95)
8 March 1913
WILKES gained small area from ASHE to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1913, pub., ch. 82, sec. 1/p. 127)
15 February 1915
WATAUGA gained small area from ASHE [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1915_pt. for location]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1915, pub., ch. 34, sec. 1/p. 58)
8 March 1915
NEW HANOVER reauthorized to gain Eagles Island from BRUNSWICK, under conditions which were never fulfilled [no change]. (Corbitt, 38n; Lee, Brunswick, 170; N.C. Sess. Laws 1915, pub., ch. 162, secs. 1-2/pp. 240-241)
4 December 1916
CLEVELAND gained from GASTON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1915, pub., ch. 203, secs. 1-3, 13/pp. 278-283; Weathers, 77-78)
12 February 1917
CLEVELAND's 1916 gain from GASTON confirmed by legislature. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1917, pub., ch. 31, sec. 1/pp. 84-86; Weathers, 77-78)
7 March 1919
DARE gained from CURRITUCK [barrier islands]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1919, pub., ch. 163, secs. 1-4/pp. 339-340; N.C. Sess. Laws 1927, pub.-loc., ch. 382, sec. 1/pp. 404-405)
28 February 1921
Boundary between CLEVELAND and GASTON defined [no discernible change]. (Corbitt, 265-266; N.C. Sess. Laws 1921, reg. sess., pub., ch. 71, sec. 1/pp. 318-320)
1 March 1921
FORSYTH gained from DAVIDSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1921, reg. sess., pub., ch. 80, sec. 1, pp. 330-331)
19 December 1921
Boundary agreement between HYDE and TYRRELL, of 5 May 1890, confirmed and ratified by legislature [no change]. (Corbitt, 267-268; N.C. Sess. Laws 1921, ext. sess., pub., ch. 43, sec. 1/pp. 81-82)
21 August 1924
Boundary between CALDWELL and WATAUGA defined [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1924, ext. sess., pub., ch. 36, sec. 1/pp. 81-82)
10 February 1925
Boundary between DAVIE and FORSYTH defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1925, pub.-loc., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 73)
6 March 1925
BUNCOMBE gained from McDOWELL. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1925, pub.-loc., ch. 353, sec. 1/pp. 395-398)
9 March 1925
Boundary between CALDWELL and WATAUGA defined [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1925, pub.-loc., ch. 520, sec. 1/pp. 627-629)
7 March 1927
FORSYTH gained from YADKIN. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1927, pub.-loc., ch. 490, sec. 1/pp. 524-526)
9 March 1929
Boundary between ALLEGHANY and WILKES (in vicinity of Bryans Knob) adjusted to accommodate local property owners [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1929, pub.-loc., ch. 211, secs. 1-2/pp. 178-179)
9 February 1931
LENOIR gained small area from DUPLIN. (Corbitt, 260-262)
27 April 1931
WILKES gained small area from ASHE to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1931, pub.-loc., ch. 425, sec. 1/p. 380)
8 March 1933
ASHE gained small area from WILKES (repealed act of 27 April 1931) [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1933, pub.-loc., ch. 122, sec. 1/p. 125)
18 April 1933
ALLEGHANY gained small area from WILKES to accommodate local property owner [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1933, pub.-loc., ch. 341, sec. 1/p. 331)
31 March 1939
Boundary between ALLEGHANY and WILKES defined [no discernible change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1939, pub.-loc., ch. 464, sec. 1/pp. 512-513)
25 March 1949
Boundary between HOKE and SCOTLAND clarified [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1949, ch. 565, secs. 1-2/p. 566)
29 May 1957
ASHE gained small area from WILKES (repealed act of 8 March 1913) [location unknown, not mapped]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1957, ch. 876, sec. 1/pp. 802-803)
1 January 1958
MOORE gained from HOKE. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1957, ch. 196, secs. 1, 6/pp. 202-204)
31 March 1959
Boundary between HOKE and MOORE clarified [no discernible change]. (Corbitt, xxvi-xxvii; N.C. Sess. Laws 1959, ch. 188, sec. 1/p. 173)
18 June 1959
BUNCOMBE exchanged with HENDERSON. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1959, ch. 1145, sec. 1/pp. 1291-1294)
12 March 1963
Boundary between DUPLIN and SAMPSON defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1963, ch. 35, secs. 1-2/p. 28)
13 July 1971
STANLY (not STANLEY) enacted as official spelling of county name by legislation which reaffirmed the spelling used in the legislation that created the county. (Two spellings, either STANLY or STANLEY, were used in legislation and other documents between 11 November 1841 and 13 July 1971).until STANLY was enacted as the official spelling by legislation on 13 July 1971). (N.C. Sess. Laws 1971, ch. 851, secs. 1-2/p. 1252)
1 January 1983
Boundary between TYRRELL and WASHINGTON clarified [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1983, ch. 11, secs. 1-2/pp. 7-8, and ch. 120, sec. 1/p. 80)
10 August 1987
Boundary between CRAVEN and PITT defined [no change]. (N.C. Sess. Laws 1987, ch. 762, sec. 1/pp. 1573-1574)