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Carolina Curious: Why does NC have 100 counties?

North Carolina has maintained 100 counties since its last two were established in 1911. Adobe Stock image.

North Carolina has maintained 100 counties since its last two were established in 1911. Adobe Stock image.

According to the State Library of North Carolina, Albemarle was the state's original county first formed in 1664 before ceasing to exist in 1689. From its ashes new counties would spring forth.

Archivist Alison Thurman with the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources says this came as the population grew and settled across North Carolina and residents had to travel further to their county seats.

"That's really how those counties keep getting divided out of each other," Thurman says, "It's just the normal progression of the population needing a closer courthouse."

She says Hoke and Avery were the final two counties established in 1911, reaching the state's magical number of 100. But it remains unclear why no more were added at the time.

"We do know that they had petitions to form other counties during that same time per

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