# List of counties in North Carolina

The U.S. state of North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh-highest number of counties in the country.
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II rewarded eight persons on March 24, 1663, for their faithful support of his efforts to regain the throne of England. He gave the eight grantees, called Lords Proprietor, the land called Carolina, in honor of King Charles I, his father. The Province of Carolina, from 1663 to 1729, was a North American English (1663–1707), then British (from 1707 union with Scotland) colony. In 1729, the Province of North Carolina became a separate entity from the Province of South Carolina.
The establishment of North Carolina counties stretches over 240 years, beginning in 1668 with the creation of Albemarle County and ending with the 1911 creation of Avery and Hoke counties. Five counties have been divided or abolished altogether, the last being Dobbs County in 1791.
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry. North Carolina's FIPS code is 37, which when combined with the county code is written as 37XXX.

## List

| County | FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Pop. (2024) | Area |
| 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 | 183,040 | 434 sq mi (1,124 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 36,693 | 264 sq mi (684 km$^2$) |
| 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" | 11,379 | 236 sq mi (611 km$^2$) |
| Anson County | 007 | Wadesboro | 1750 | Bladen County | George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe | 22,432 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km$^2$) |
| Ashe County | 009 | Jefferson | 1799 | Wilkes County | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge and governor of North Carolina | 27,266 | 429 sq mi (1,111 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 17,811 | 248 sq mi (642 km$^2$) |
| Beaufort County | 013 | Washington | 1712 | Bath County | Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor | 44,576 | 963 sq mi (2,494 km$^2$) |
| Bertie County | 015 | Windsor | 1722 | Chowan County | James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 16,939 | 741 sq mi (1,919 km$^2$) |
| Bladen County | 017 | Elizabethtown | 1734 | New Hanover County | Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade | 29,777 | 888 sq mi (2,300 km$^2$) |
| Brunswick County | 019 | Bolivia | 1764 | Bladen County and New Hanover County | George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg | 167,112 | 1,050 sq mi (2,719 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 279,210 | 660 sq mi (1,709 km$^2$) |
| Burke County | 023 | Morganton | 1777 | Rowan County | Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina | 88,545 | 514 sq mi (1,331 km$^2$) |
| Cabarrus County | 025 | Concord | 1792 | Mecklenburg County | Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 244,925 | 364 sq mi (943 km$^2$) |
| Caldwell County | 027 | Lenoir | 1841 | Burke County and Wilkes County | Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina | 80,739 | 475 sq mi (1,230 km$^2$) |
| Camden County | 029 | Camden | 1777 | Pasquotank County | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists | 11,184 | 310 sq mi (803 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 70,259 | 1,330 sq mi (3,445 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 22,363 | 429 sq mi (1,111 km$^2$) |
| Catawba County | 035 | Newton | 1842 | Lincoln County | Catawba Indians | 167,054 | 416 sq mi (1,077 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 83,874 | 709 sq mi (1,836 km$^2$) |
| Cherokee County | 039 | Murphy | 1839 | Macon County | Cherokee Indians | 30,373 | 467 sq mi (1,210 km$^2$) |
| Chowan County | 041 | Edenton | 1668 | Albemarle County | Chowan Indian tribe | 13,891 | 234 sq mi (606 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 12,042 | 221 sq mi (572 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 102,194 | 468 sq mi (1,212 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 50,054 | 955 sq mi (2,473 km$^2$) |
| Craven County | 049 | New Bern | 1705 | Bath County | William, Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 104,167 | 773 sq mi (2,002 km$^2$) |
| Cumberland County | 051 | Fayetteville | 1754 | Bladen County | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II | 338,430 | 658 sq mi (1,704 km$^2$) |
| Currituck County | 053 | Currituck | 1668 | Albemarle County | Traditionally said to be an Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank" | 32,278 | 526 sq mi (1,362 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 38,183 | 1,542 sq mi (3,994 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 177,809 | 568 sq mi (1,471 km$^2$) |
| Davie County | 059 | Mocksville | 1836 | Rowan County | William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina | 45,383 | 266 sq mi (689 km$^2$) |
| Duplin County | 061 | Kenansville | 1750 | New Hanover County | Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull | 50,539 | 820 sq mi (2,124 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 343,628 | 298 sq mi (772 km$^2$) |
| Edgecombe County | 065 | Tarboro | 1741 | Bertie County | Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster General for Ireland | 49,124 | 507 sq mi (1,313 km$^2$) |
| Forsyth County | 067 | Winston-Salem | 1849 | Stokes County | Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812 | 398,143 | 412 sq mi (1,067 km$^2$) |
| Franklin County | 069 | Louisburg | 1779 | Bute County | Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States | 79,771 | 494 sq mi (1,279 km$^2$) |
| Gaston County | 071 | Gastonia | 1846 | Lincoln County | William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 242,010 | 364 sq mi (943 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 10,299 | 346 sq mi (896 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 8,179 | 302 sq mi (782 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 61,544 | 538 sq mi (1,393 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 20,671 | 267 sq mi (692 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 558,816 | 658 sq mi (1,704 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 46,992 | 730 sq mi (1,891 km$^2$) |
| Harnett County | 085 | Lillington | 1855 | Cumberland County | Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress | 146,096 | 601 sq mi (1,557 km$^2$) |
| Haywood County | 087 | Waynesville | 1808 | Buncombe County | John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer | 63,048 | 555 sq mi (1,437 km$^2$) |
| Henderson County | 089 | Hendersonville | 1838 | Buncombe County | Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 120,771 | 375 sq mi (971 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 19,169 | 360 sq mi (932 km$^2$) |
| Hoke County | 093 | Raeford | 1911 | Cumberland County and Robeson County | Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War | 55,382 | 392 sq mi (1,015 km$^2$) |
| Hyde County | 095 | Swan Quarter | 1712 | Bath County | Edward Hyde (1667–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 4,583 | 1,459 sq mi (3,779 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 206,361 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km$^2$) |
| Jackson County | 099 | Sylva | 1851 | Haywood County and Macon County | Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States | 45,281 | 495 sq mi (1,282 km$^2$) |
| Johnston County | 101 | Smithfield | 1746 | Craven County | Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 249,794 | 796 sq mi (2,062 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 9,462 | 474 sq mi (1,228 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 68,537 | 259 sq mi (671 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 55,332 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 97,611 | 305 sq mi (790 km$^2$) |
| Macon County | 113 | Franklin | 1828 | Haywood County | Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | 38,717 | 520 sq mi (1,347 km$^2$) |
| Madison County | 115 | Marshall | 1851 | Buncombe County and Yancey County | James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States | 22,352 | 451 sq mi (1,168 km$^2$) |
| Martin County | 117 | Williamston | 1774 | Halifax County and Tyrrell County | Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina | 21,523 | 457 sq mi (1,184 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 45,269 | 445 sq mi (1,153 km$^2$) |
| Mecklenburg County | 119 | Charlotte | 1762 | Anson County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom | 1,206,285 | 546 sq mi (1,414 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 15,030 | 222 sq mi (575 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 26,364 | 502 sq mi (1,300 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 108,417 | 706 sq mi (1,829 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 97,990 | 543 sq mi (1,406 km$^2$) |
| New Hanover County | 129 | Wilmington | 1729 | Craven County | The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover | 243,333 | 329 sq mi (852 km$^2$) |
| Northampton County | 131 | Jackson | 1741 | Bertie County | James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician | 16,580 | 551 sq mi (1,427 km$^2$) |
| Onslow County | 133 | Jacksonville | 1734 | New Hanover County | Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the House of Commons | 212,954 | 905 sq mi (2,344 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 152,877 | 401 sq mi (1,039 km$^2$) |
| Pamlico County | 137 | Bayboro | 1872 | Beaufort County and Craven County | Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Indian tribe | 12,550 | 562 sq mi (1,456 km$^2$) |
| 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" | 41,418 | 289 sq mi (749 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 70,077 | 934 sq mi (2,419 km$^2$) |
| 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' | 13,460 | 329 sq mi (852 km$^2$) |
| Person County | 145 | Roxboro | 1791 | Caswell County | Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot | 40,143 | 404 sq mi (1,046 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 180,783 | 656 sq mi (1,699 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 20,320 | 238 sq mi (616 km$^2$) |
| Randolph County | 151 | Asheboro | 1779 | Guilford County | Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress | 148,389 | 790 sq mi (2,046 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 41,990 | 480 sq mi (1,243 km$^2$) |
| Robeson County | 155 | Lumberton | 1787 | Bladen County | Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War | 118,624 | 949 sq mi (2,458 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 93,517 | 573 sq mi (1,484 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 153,384 | 524 sq mi (1,357 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 65,587 | 567 sq mi (1,469 km$^2$) |
| Sampson County | 163 | Clinton | 1784 | Duplin County | John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council | 60,404 | 948 sq mi (2,455 km$^2$) |
| Scotland County | 165 | Laurinburg | 1899 | Richmond County | The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom | 33,898 | 321 sq mi (831 km$^2$) |
| Stanly County | 167 | Albemarle | 1841 | Montgomery County | John Stanly (1774–1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 67,326 | 405 sq mi (1,049 km$^2$) |
| Stokes County | 169 | Danbury | 1789 | Surry County | John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre | 45,857 | 456 sq mi (1,181 km$^2$) |
| Surry County | 171 | Dobson | 1771 | Rowan County | The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon | 71,547 | 537 sq mi (1,391 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 13,945 | 540 sq mi (1,399 km$^2$) |
| Transylvania County | 175 | Brevard | 1861 | Henderson County and Jackson County | Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning "across" and sylva meaning "woods" | 34,103 | 380 sq mi (984 km$^2$) |
| Tyrrell County | 177 | Columbia | 1729 | Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County | John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor | 3,517 | 597 sq mi (1,546 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 263,386 | 640 sq mi (1,658 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 42,337 | 269 sq mi (697 km$^2$) |
| Wake County | 183 | Raleigh | 1771 | Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County | Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon | 1,232,444 | 857 sq mi (2,220 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 19,081 | 444 sq mi (1,150 km$^2$) |
| Washington County | 187 | Plymouth | 1799 | Tyrrell County | George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st president of the United States | 10,654 | 422 sq mi (1,093 km$^2$) |
| 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" | 54,997 | 313 sq mi (811 km$^2$) |
| Wayne County | 191 | Goldsboro | 1779 | Dobbs County | Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War | 120,338 | 558 sq mi (1,445 km$^2$) |
| Wilkes County | 193 | Wilkesboro | 1778 | Surry County | John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist, and politician | 66,186 | 756 sq mi (1,958 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 79,958 | 373 sq mi (966 km$^2$) |
| Yadkin County | 197 | Yadkinville | 1850 | Surry County | The Yadkin River | 37,995 | 338 sq mi (875 km$^2$) |
| 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 | 18,993 | 313 sq mi (811 km$^2$) |

## Historic counties

| County | Created | Abolished | Fate |
| Albemarle County | 1664 | 1738 | Partitioned into Bertie County, Chowan County, Currituck County, Pasquotank County, Perquimans County, and Tyrrell County |
| Bath County | 1696 | 1738 | Partitioned into Beaufort County, Bladen County, Carteret County, Craven County, Hyde County, New Hanover County, and Onslow County |
| Bute County | 1764 | 1779 | Partitioned into Franklin County and Warren County |
| Dobbs County | 1758 | 1791 | Partitioned into Greene County and Lenoir County |
| Tryon County | 1768 | 1779 | Partitioned into Lincoln County and Rutherford County |
For several months in 1784, Cumberland County was known as Fayette County and sent representatives to the North Carolina General Assembly of April 1784 under this name.

### Proposed counties

In the state's history, two counties have officially been proposed, but not created—Hooper County and Lillington County, in 1851 and 1859, respectively. The former was to be created from parts of Richmond and Robeson Counties, and the latter was to be created from parts of New Hanover County. Both of the proposals failed in their respective referendums. Later on, Scotland County would be created in the area where Hooper County was proposed, and Pender County would fill the area where Lillington County was proposed.