North Carolina Counties Directory & Interactive Map
Complete official guide to all 100 counties in North Carolina (NC). Explore 2024 US Census population estimates, county seats, FIPS codes, land areas, and interactive mapping tools powered by GeoMap Suite.
North Carolina County Breakdown
Showing 8 of 8 documented counties and seats.
County Name | FIPS | County Seat | Population (Census) | Land Area | Quick Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County (Raleigh) | 37183 | Raleigh | 1,129,410 | 835 sq mi | Lookup |
| Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) | 37119 | Charlotte | 1,115,482 | 524 sq mi | Lookup |
| Guilford County (Greensboro) | 37081 | Greensboro | 541,299 | 649 sq mi | Lookup |
| Forsyth County (Winston-Salem) | 37067 | Winston-Salem | 382,590 | 408 sq mi | Lookup |
| Cumberland County (Fayetteville) | 37051 | Fayetteville | 334,728 | 653 sq mi | Lookup |
| Durham County | 37063 | Durham | 324,833 | 286 sq mi | Lookup |
| Buncombe County (Asheville) | 37021 | Asheville | 269,452 | 656 sq mi | Lookup |
| Union County | 37179 | Monroe | 238,267 | 632 sq mi | Lookup |
Geographic Structure of North Carolina Counties
County Administration & Governance
In North Carolina, county governments manage vital public infrastructure, tax assessments, law enforcement, judicial courts, election administration, and public records. The county seat (Raleigh and other municipal headquarters) houses the primary courthouse, commissioners, and sheriff’s department.
All North Carolina counties carry a unique 5-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, where the first two digits (37) designate the state and the remaining three digits identify each specific jurisdiction.
Geographic & Demographic Highlights
- Most Populous County:Wake County (Raleigh) (1,129,410 residents)
- Largest by Land Area:Wake County (Raleigh) (835 sq mi)
- State Capital:Raleigh
- Census Bureau Region:South United States
Demographic calculations derive from the United States Census Bureau 2024 Population Estimates Program (PEP) and TIGER/Line geographic boundary files.