Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-09-20
WHEN THE. HUNDRED COUNTIES
OF NORTH CAROLINA STARTED

The late j. Bryan Grimes who for
over two score Of years was secret
airy OF State for North Carolina. was
enjoying q reputation in the capital
city for being an industrious scholar
and a man who contributed much to
the historical records of the State of
North Carolina. Among his histori-
cal contributions was an illustrated
chart showing the dates of establish
mcnt and origin of the 100 counties
Of the state.
The chart traces the growth. of the
counties by periods, the first period
being between the years of 1898 and
1922, during which time Albemarle,
Bath and Clarendon counties were
established.
During the second period, which
covers the years of 1922 to 1929 ter
new counties were born, all of them
IN the eastern section O fthe state
and most of them on the coast. These
counties were Pasquotank, Currituck
Perqulmons, Chowan, BERTHE, Tyrrell,
Beaufort, Hyde Carteret, Craven ana
New Hanover. Through the course
OF years these counties We're sub
divided.
Only one-Currituck-remained
intact as long as a century. In 1870
this county gave birth to its first off
spring, Dare county, which also is
made up of parts of Tyrrell and Of
Hyde Counties.
Eight counties were formed between
the years of 1929 and 1850, these be-
ing Edgecombe in 1883, Rladen 1884
Arson, 1749, Onslow 1874, Duplir
1744 Johnston 1746, Granville 1746;
and Northampton 1741. Northamp-
ton was a subdivision Of BERTHE coun-
ty, Edgecombe and Johnson counties
were Subdivisions of Craven county
while Granville was an early offspring
of Edgecombe. Duplin, Onslow, Blad-
en- and AnsOn were subdivisions of
New Hanover County, an offspring
of Clarendon, one of the three early
counties.
New Hanover produced more coun-
ties through it's subdivisions which
themselves were subdivided, than any
of the 10 counties in existence in 20,
From Duplin, a subdivision of 1744,
came Sampson county in 1884. Ons-
low has remained intact. Pender coun
ty wa sa direct offspring of New Han
over county in 1875. A part of Bla-
den went to make Orange county in
1851. A single subdivision in 1886
was the birth of Robson. Cumber-
land, another Bladen offspring, was
born in 1854, giving birth to Moore
county in 1884, Harnett in 1855 and
with Robeson Hoke in 1911. From An
son county ami It's subdivisions came
Richmond in 1873; Stanley, 1S41;
Union IN 1872; Cabarras in 1892;
TIyon which was abolished in 1898
giving birth to Lincoln and Ruther-
ford counties, Castor, 1S46; Ca:aw-
ba, 1872; Cleveland 1871; Polk, '55;
Davidson, 1922 ;Davie 1886; Rowan,
1853; part of which went to make up
Guilford in 1870; Burke 1777; IredelI
1888; Buneombe 1871; Haywood,
1868; Macon 1928: Cherokee 1889
Clay, 1867; Graham, 1871; Swain
1871; jackson, 1850; Henderson '5s
Pennsylvania, 1861; Madison, 1850
Mcdowell 1912; Mitchell 1861; Yam
cey, 1888; Surry, 1870; Wilkes 1777
Ashe, 1887; Stokes, 1889; Allegheny
1859; Watauga, 1s49; Alexander ir
1916; Caldwell, 1S41; Avery, 1911
Yaokin, 1850; Forsyth 1S4S.
In 1879 Gates county was form
ed from parts of Perquimons, Chow.
an and Hertford counties, the latter
of which was an offspring of BERTHE.
Martin county was founded in TIA
Washington 1889; Pitt 1861; Pamli.
co 1872: Jones 1779; Halifax 1853
Bute1764 Qater abolished) Frank
lin 1873; Warren 1879; Vance 1881
Wilson 1855; Durham, 1881; Lice
1907; Alamance 1S4S, Brunswick in
1864; Columbus 1868; Orange 1751
Chatham, 1870; Caswell, 1777; Per.
son, 1871; Guilford 1910; Wuke in
1910; Rockingham 1885; Randolph
1873; Dobbs 1853 Cater abolished }
Wayne, 1879; Glasgow, now Greene
1893. and Ienoir 1891