Table:
County | FIPS Code | County Seat | Created | Origin | Etymology | Population estimate / (2011) | Area
Alamance County | 1 | Graham | 1849 | Orange County | The Battle of Alamance which was derived from the local Native American word meaning "blue clay" found in the Great Alamance Creek | 153,291 | 435 sq mi / (1,127 km2)
Alexander County | 3 | 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 | 37,087 | 263 sq mi / (681 km2)
Alleghany County | 5 | 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" | 11,052 | 236 sq mi / (611 km2)
Anson County | 7 | Wadesboro | 1750 | Bladen County | George, Lord Anson (1697–1762), a celebrated English admiral who circumnavigated the globe | 26,143 | 537 sq mi / (1,391 km2)
Ashe County | 9 | Jefferson | 1799 | Wilkes County | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813), a Revolutionary patriot, superior court judge, and governor of North Carolina | 27,143 | 427 sq mi / (1,106 km2)
Avery County | 11 | Newland | 1911 | Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County | Waightstill Avery (1741–1821), a soldier of the Revolution and Attorney General of North Carolina | 17,572 | 247 sq mi / (640 km2)
Beaufort County | 13 | Washington | 1712 | Original county | Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, who in 1709 became one of the Lords Proprietor | 47,691 | 959 sq mi / (2,484 km2)
Bertie County | 15 | Windsor | 1722 | Chowan County | James or Henry Bertie, two Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 20,874 | 741 sq mi / (1,919 km2)
Bladen County | 17 | Elizabethtown | 1734 | New Hanover County | Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade | 35,190 | 887 sq mi / (2,297 km2)
Brunswick County | 19 | Bolivia | 1764 | Bladen County and New Hanover County | George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg | 110,097 | 1,050 sq mi / (2,719 km2)
Buncombe County | 21 | 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 | 241,419 | 660 sq mi / (1,709 km2)
Burke County | 23 | Morganton | 1777 | Rowan County | Thomas Burke (1747–1783), a member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina | 90,904 | 515 sq mi / (1,334 km2)
Cabarrus County | 25 | Concord | 1792 | Mecklenburg County | Stephen Cabarrus (1754–1808), member of the legislature and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 181,468 | 365 sq mi / (945 km2)
Caldwell County | 27 | Lenoir | 1841 | Burke County and Wilkes County | Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), the first president of the University of North Carolina | 82,395 | 474 sq mi / (1,228 km2)
Camden County | 29 | Camden | 1777 | Pasquotank County | Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714–1794), who opposed the taxation of the American colonists | 10,014 | 306 sq mi / (793 km2)
Carteret County | 31 | 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 | 67,373 | 1,341 sq mi / (3,473 km2)
Caswell County | 33 | 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 | 23,403 | 428 sq mi / (1,109 km2)
Catawba County | 35 | Newton | 1842 | Lincoln County | Catawba Nation | 154,181 | 414 sq mi / (1,072 km2)
Chatham County | 37 | 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 | 64,195 | 709 sq mi / (1,836 km2)
Cherokee County | 39 | Murphy | 1839 | Macon County | Cherokee Nation | 27,194 | 497 sq mi / (1,287 km2)
Chowan County | 41 | Edenton | 1668 | Albemarle County | Chowan Native American tribe | 14,831 | 233 sq mi / (603 km2)
Clay County | 43 | Hayesville | 1861 | Cherokee County | Henry Clay (1777–1852), statesman and orator who represented Kentucky in both the House of Representatives and Senate | 10,563 | 221 sq mi / (572 km2)
Cleveland County | 45 | 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 | 97,489 | 469 sq mi / (1,215 km2)
Columbus County | 47 | Whiteville | 1808 | Bladen County and Brunswick County | Christopher Columbus (1451–1507), navigator, explorer, and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas | 57,712 | 954 sq mi / (2,471 km2)
Craven County | 49 | New Bern | 1705 | Bath County | William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697), who was a Lords Proprietor of colonial North Carolina | 104,786 | 774 sq mi / (2,005 km2)
Cumberland County | 51 | Fayetteville | 1754 | Bladen County | Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), a military leader and son of George II | 324,885 | 658 sq mi / (1,704 km2)
Currituck County | 53 | Currituck | 1668 | Albemarle County | Traditionally said to be an American Indian word for wild geese, also rendered "Coratank" | 23,955 | 526 sq mi / (1,362 km2)
Dare County | 55 | Manteo | 1870 | Currituck County, Hyde County, and Tyrrell County | Virginia Dare (b. 1587), the first child born of English parents in America | 34,307 | 1,562 sq mi / (4,046 km2)
Davidson County | 57 | Lexington | 1822 | Rowan County | William Lee Davidson (1746–1781), an American Revolutionary War general who was mortally wounded at Cowan's Ford | 162,695 | 567 sq mi / (1,469 km2)
Davie County | 59 | Mocksville | 1836 | Rowan County | William Richardson Davie (1756–1820), a member of the Federal Convention and governor of North Carolina | 41,552 | 267 sq mi / (692 km2)
Duplin County | 61 | Kenansville | 1750 | New Hanover County | Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin (1710–1787), who was the 9th Earl of Kinnoull | 59,542 | 819 sq mi / (2,121 km2)
Durham County | 63 | 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 railroad station was located | 273,392 | 298 sq mi / (772 km2)
Edgecombe County | 65 | Tarboro | 1741 | Bertie County | Richard Edgcumbe, 1st Baron Edgcumbe (1680–1758), a Lord High Treasurer and Paymaster-General for Ireland | 56,041 | 507 sq mi / (1,313 km2)
Forsyth County | 67 | Winston-Salem | 1849 | Stokes County | Benjamin Forsyth (d. 1814), an American officer during the War of 1812 | 354,952 | 413 sq mi / (1,070 km2)
Franklin County | 69 | Louisburg | 1779 | Bute County | Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), an author, politician, statesman, and Founding Father of the United States | 61,140 | 495 sq mi / (1,282 km2)
Gaston County | 71 | Gastonia | 1846 | Lincoln County | William Gaston (1778–1844), a United States Congressman and justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 207,031 | 364 sq mi / (943 km2)
Gates County | 73 | Gatesville | 1779 | Chowan County, Hertford County, and Perquimans County | Horatio Gates (1727–1806), an American general during the Revolution at the Battle of Saratoga | 12,043 | 346 sq mi / (896 km2)
Graham County | 75 | Robbinsville | 1872 | Cherokee County | William Alexander Graham (1804–1875), a United States Senator, governor of North Carolina, and United States Secretary of the Navy | 8,802 | 302 sq mi / (782 km2)
Granville County | 77 | 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 | 59,976 | 537 sq mi / (1,391 km2)
Greene County | 79 | 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 | 21,556 | 266 sq mi / (689 km2)
Guilford County | 81 | 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 | 495,279 | 658 sq mi / (1,704 km2)
Halifax County | 83 | Halifax | 1758 | Edgecombe County | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716–1771), a British statesman and President of the Board of Trade | 54,173 | 731 sq mi / (1,893 km2)
Harnett County | 85 | Lillington | 1855 | Cumberland County | Cornelius Harnett (1723–1781), an American Revolutionary and delegate in the Continental Congress | 119,256 | 601 sq mi / (1,557 km2)
Haywood County | 87 | Waynesville | 1808 | Buncombe County | John Haywood (1754–1827), a North Carolina State Treasurer | 58,855 | 555 sq mi / (1,437 km2)
Henderson County | 89 | Hendersonville | 1838 | Buncombe County | Leonard Henderson (1772–1833), Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court | 107,927 | 375 sq mi / (971 km2)
Hertford County | 91 | 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 | 24,433 | 360 sq mi / (932 km2)
Hoke County | 93 | Raeford | 1911 | Cumberland County and Robeson County | Robert Hoke (1837–1912), a Confederate general during the American Civil War | 49,272 | 392 sq mi / (1,015 km2)
Hyde County | 95 | Swan Quarter | 1712 | Original county / Originally named Wickham County | Edward Hyde (c. 1650–1712), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 5,822 | 1,424 sq mi / (3,688 km2)
Iredell County | 97 | 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 | 161,202 | 597 sq mi / (1,546 km2)
Jackson County | 99 | Sylva | 1851 | Haywood County and Macon County | Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the 7th President of the United States | 40,285 | 494 sq mi / (1,279 km2)
Johnston County | 101 | Smithfield | 1746 | Craven County | Gabriel Johnston (1699–1752), a governor of colonial North Carolina | 172,595 | 796 sq mi / (2,062 km2)
Jones County | 103 | Trenton | 1778 | Craven County | Willie Jones (1740–1801), opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution and declined an invitation to the Constitutional Convention | 10,020 | 473 sq mi / (1,225 km2)
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 | 58,752 | 259 sq mi / (671 km2)
Lenoir County | 107 | Kinston | 1791 | Dobbs County / Originally named Glasgow County | William Lenoir (1751–1839), a captain in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain | 59,339 | 402 sq mi / (1,041 km2)
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 | 78,932 | 307 sq mi / (795 km2)
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 | 45,104 | 446 sq mi / (1,155 km2)
Macon County | 113 | Franklin | 1828 | Haywood County | Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), a member and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | 34,074 | 519 sq mi / (1,344 km2)
Madison County | 115 | Marshall | 1851 | Buncombe County and Yancey County | James Madison (1751–1836), the 4th President of the United States | 20,816 | 452 sq mi / (1,171 km2)
Martin County | 117 | Williamston | 1774 | Halifax County and Tyrrell County | Josiah Martin (1737–1786), the last governor of colonial North Carolina | 24,180 | 461 sq mi / (1,194 km2)
Mecklenburg County | 119 | Charlotte | 1762 | Anson County | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom | 944,373 | 546 sq mi / (1,414 km2)
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 | 15,445 | 222 sq mi / (575 km2)
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 | 27,667 | 502 sq mi / (1,300 km2)
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 | 89,352 | 706 sq mi / (1,829 km2)
Nash County | 127 | Nashville | 1777 | Edgecombe County | Francis Nash (1742–1777), a brigadier general in the Revolutionary War who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown | 96,116 | 543 sq mi / (1,406 km2)
New Hanover County | 129 | Wilmington | 1729 | Craven County | The royal family of England, members of the House of Hanover | 206,189 | 328 sq mi / (850 km2)
Northampton County | 131 | Jackson | 1741 | Bertie County | James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton (1687–1754), a British peer and politician | 21,893 | 551 sq mi / (1,427 km2)
Onslow County | 133 | Jacksonville | 1734 | New Hanover County | Arthur Onslow (1691–1768), Speaker of the British House of Commons | 179,716 | 909 sq mi / (2,354 km2)
Orange County | 135 | Hillsborough | 1752 | Bladen County, Granville County, and Johnston County | William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806), the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic | 135,755 | 401 sq mi / (1,039 km2)
Pamlico County | 137 | Bayboro | 1872 | Beaufort County and Craven County | Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico Native American tribe | 13,197 | 566 sq mi / (1,466 km2)
Pasquotank County | 139 | Elizabeth City | 1668 | Albemarle County | Derived from the Native American word pasketanki which meant "where the current of the stream divides or forks" | 40,696 | 289 sq mi / (749 km2)
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 | 53,399 | 933 sq mi / (2,416 km2)
Perquimans County | 143 | Hertford | 1668 | Albemarle County | Perquimans Native American tribe | 13,487 | 329 sq mi / (852 km2)
Person County | 145 | Roxboro | 1791 | Caswell County | Thomas Person, an American Revolutionary War patriot | 39,637 | 404 sq mi / (1,046 km2)
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 | 171,134 | 655 sq mi / (1,696 km2)
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 | 20,256 | 239 sq mi / (619 km2)
Randolph County | 151 | Asheboro | 1779 | Guilford County | Peyton Randolph (c. 1721–1755), the first President of the Continental Congress | 142,358 | 790 sq mi / (2,046 km2)
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 | 46,611 | 480 sq mi / (1,243 km2)
Robeson County | 155 | Lumberton | 1787 | Bladen County | Thomas Robeson, an officer in the American Revolutionary War | 135,517 | 951 sq mi / (2,463 km2)
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 | 93,329 | 572 sq mi / (1,481 km2)
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 | 138,019 | 524 sq mi / (1,357 km2)
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 | 67,538 | 566 sq mi / (1,466 km2)
Sampson County | 163 | Clinton | 1784 | Duplin County | John Sampson, a member of Josiah Martin's council | 63,734 | 947 sq mi / (2,453 km2)
Scotland County | 165 | Laurinburg | 1899 | Richmond County | The country Scotland, part of the United Kingdom | 35,861 | 321 sq mi / (831 km2)
Stanly County | 167 | Albemarle | 1841 | Montgomery County | John Stanly (1774–1834), a United States Congressman and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons | 60,636 | 404 sq mi / (1,046 km2)
Stokes County | 169 | Danbury | 1789 | Surry County | John Stokes, a soldier of the Revolution who was seriously wounded at the Waxhaw massacre | 47,242 | 456 sq mi / (1,181 km2)
Surry County | 171 | Dobson | 1771 | Rowan County | The county of Surrey in England, birthplace of then governor William Tryon | 73,714 | 538 sq mi / (1,393 km2)
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 | 14,043 | 541 sq mi / (1,401 km2)
Transylvania County | 175 | Brevard | 1861 | Henderson County and Jackson County | Derived from the Latin words, trans meaning across and sylva meaning woods | 32,820 | 381 sq mi / (987 km2)
Tyrrell County | 177 | Columbia | 1729 | Chowan County, Currituck County, and Pasquotank County | John Tyrrell, at one time was a Lords Proprietor | 4,364 | 600 sq mi / (1,554 km2)
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 | 205,463 | 640 sq mi / (1,658 km2)
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 | 45,307 | 270 sq mi / (699 km2)
Wake County | 183 | Raleigh | 1771 | Cumberland County, Johnston County, and Orange County | Margaret Wake, the wife of British colonial governor William Tryon | 929,780 | 857 sq mi / (2,220 km2)
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 | 20,861 | 444 sq mi / (1,150 km2)
Washington County | 187 | Plymouth | 1799 | Tyrrell County | George Washington (1732–1799), the 1st President of the United States | 12,973 | 424 sq mi / (1,098 km2)
Watauga County | 189 | Boone | 1849 | Ashe County, Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County | The Watauga River, which came from a Native American word meaning "beautiful water" | 51,333 | 313 sq mi / (811 km2)
Wayne County | 191 | Goldsboro | 1779 | Dobbs County / Originally named Glasgow County | Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), a general in the American Revolutionary War | 123,697 | 557 sq mi / (1,443 km2)
Wilkes County | 193 | Wilkesboro | 1777 | Surry County | John Wilkes (1725–1797), an English radical, journalist and politician | 68,984 | 760 sq mi / (1,968 km2)
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 | 81,452 | 374 sq mi / (969 km2)
Yadkin County | 197 | Yadkinville | 1850 | Surry County | The Yadkin River | 38,279 | 337 sq mi / (873 km2)
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 | 17,701 | 313 sq mi / (811 km2)

Question: what is the total number of counties listed?
Answer: 100

Question: what number of counties are named for us presidents?
Answer: 3

Question: what is the only county whose name comes from a battle?
Answer: Alamance County

Question: which county covers the most area?
Answer: Dare County

Question: what is the number of counties created in the 1800s?
Answer: 37

Question: other than mecklenburg which county has the largest population?
Answer: Wake County

Question: which county has a higher population, alamance or alexander?
Answer: Alamance County