North Carolina, the Tar Heel State


Land area: 48,718 sq. mi. (29)
Population (2020): 10,439,388 (9), up 9.48% since 2010
Population density: 214.28 per sq. mi. (15)
U.S. Representatives (2023-32): 14, up 1 from 2013-22
Entered Union: 21-Nov-1789 (12)

I liked the Blue Ridge Parkway’s North Carolina section even better than that in Virginia (and that’s taking nothing away from Virginia's stretch). Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi at 6684 feet, is right off the parkway. East of the Blue Ridge is tobacco country. The smell of the tobacco plant is captivating, even if smoking it can kill you. Further east, you come to Kitty Hawk, out on Cape Hatteras, where man first got his wings, thanks to the brothers Wright.

No. of Counties I’ve Visited: 100 of 100

County Pop. (2020)     Latest Visit   County Seat Visited?
Alamance171,4152-Sep-2022Grahamyes
Alexander36,4443-Aug-2020Taylorsvilleyes
Alleghany10,88825-Aug-2017Spartayes
Anson22,05531-Aug-2022Wadesboroyes
Ashe26,57725-Aug-2017Jeffersonyes
Avery17,8064-Aug-2020Newland
Beaufort44,65218-Jun-2021Washingtonyes
Bertie17,9348-Sep-2023Windsoryes
Bladen29,6068-Sep-2023Elizabethtownyes
Brunswick136,6938-Sep-2023Boliviayes
Buncombe269,45229-Nov-2023Ashevilleyes
Burke87,57017-Jul-2022Morgantonyes
Cabarrus225,8042-Sep-2022Concordyes
Caldwell80,65217-Jul-2022Lenoiryes
Camden10,35510-Feb-2021Camdenyes
Carteret67,68617-Jun-2021Beaufortyes
Caswell22,7363-Aug-2020Yanceyvilleyes
Catawba160,61010-May-2023Newtonyes
Chatham76,2856-Sep-2023Pittsboroyes
Cherokee28,77418-Nov-2020Murphyyes
Chowan13,70822-Aug-2016Edentonyes
Clay11,08918-Nov-2020Hayesvilleyes
Cleveland99,51930-Nov-2023Shelbyyes
Columbus50,6238-Sep-2023Whitevilleyes
Craven100,72018-Jun-2021New Bernyes
Cumberland334,7286-Sep-2023Fayettevilleyes
Currituck28,10028-Mar-1998Currituck
Dare36,9152-Sep-2018Manteoyes
Davidson168,93010-May-2023Lexingtonyes
Davie42,71220-Sep-2021Mocksvilleyes
Duplin48,7158-Sep-2023Kenansville
Durham324,83324-Sep-2022Durhamyes
Edgecombe48,9008-Sep-2023Tarboroyes
Forsyth382,5901-Sep-2022Winston-Salemyes
Franklin68,5735-Sep-2021Louisburgyes
Gaston227,94310-May-2023Gastoniayes
Gates10,47810-Feb-2021Gatesville
Graham8,0304-Aug-2020Robbinsvilleyes
Granville60,99224-Sep-2022Oxfordyes
Greene20,45119-Jul-2022Snow Hillyes
Guilford541,2992-Sep-2022Greensboroyes
Halifax48,6226-Sep-2023Halifaxyes
Harnett133,5686-Sep-2023Lillingtonyes
Haywood62,08918-Jul-2022Waynesvilleyes
Henderson116,28130-Nov-2023Hendersonvilleyes
Hertford21,5528-Sep-2023Wintonyes
Hoke52,08225-Sep-2019Raeford
Hyde4,5892-Sep-2018Swanquarter
Iredell186,69310-May-2023Statesvilleyes
Jackson43,10918-Jul-2022Sylvayes
Johnston215,9996-Sep-2023Smithfieldyes
Jones9,17218-Jun-2021Trentonyes
Lee63,2856-Sep-2023Sanfordyes
Lenoir55,1228-Sep-2023Kinstonyes
Lincoln86,81010-May-2023Lincolntonyes
McDowell44,57817-Jul-2022Marionyes
Macon37,0146-Aug-2020Franklinyes
Madison21,19329-Nov-2023Marshallyes
Martin22,0318-Sep-2023Williamstonyes
Mecklenburg1,115,48210-May-2023Charlotteyes
Mitchell14,90310-Aug-2021Bakersvilleyes
Montgomery25,75110-May-2023Troy
Moore99,72718-Jul-2022Carthage
Nash94,9706-Sep-2023Nashvilleyes
New Hanover225,7029-Feb-2021Wilmingtonyes
Northampton17,4716-Sep-2023Jacksonyes
Onslow204,5769-Jan-2019Jacksonvilleyes
Orange148,69622-Sep-2022Hillsboroughyes
Pamlico12,27618-Jun-2021Bayboroyes
Pasquotank40,56810-Feb-2021Elizabeth Cityyes
Pender60,2038-Sep-2023Burgawyes
Perquimans13,00522-Aug-2016Hertfordyes
Person39,0972-Sep-2022Roxboroyes
Pitt170,2438-Sep-2023Greenvilleyes
Polk19,32830-Nov-2023Columbusyes
Randolph144,17110-May-2023Asheboroyes
Richmond42,94610-May-2023Rockinghamyes
Robeson116,5305-Sep-2023Lumbertonyes
Rockingham91,09623-Jun-2022Wentworthyes
Rowan146,87510-May-2023Salisburyyes
Rutherford64,44430-Nov-2023Rutherfordtonyes
Sampson59,03618-Jun-2021Clintonyes
Scotland34,17410-Feb-2021Laurinburgyes
Stanly62,5042-Sep-2022Albemarleyes
Stokes44,5201-Sep-2022Danburyyes
Surry71,35922-Nov-2022Dobson
Swain14,1174-Aug-2020Bryson Cityyes
Transylvania32,98618-Jul-2022Brevardyes
Tyrrell3,2452-Sep-2018Columbiayes
Union238,26731-Aug-2022Monroeyes
Vance42,57824-Sep-2022Hendersonyes
Wake1,129,4106-Sep-2023Raleighyes
Warren18,64224-Sep-2022Warrentonyes
Washington11,0032-Sep-2018Plymouthyes
Watauga54,08612-Aug-2019Booneyes
Wayne117,33319-Jul-2022Goldsboroyes
Wilkes65,96917-Jul-2022Wilkesboroyes
Wilson78,7846-Sep-2023Wilsonyes
Yadkin37,21422-Nov-2022Yadkinvilleyes
Yancey18,47010-Aug-2021Burnsvilleyes

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