North Carolina is one of the original thirteen colonies of the United States that took part in ensuring the nation had its independence. It was founded as part of the Province of Carolina under a charter granted by King Charles II in 1663. However, it was not until 1710 that it became a separate colony and officially joined the Union on November 21, 1789, becoming the 12th state of the United States. Today, as of 2025, the state is divided into 100 counties and contains 552 municipalities, which include cities, towns, and villages.
Jump Into What Matters
What makes each City and town in North Carolina Stand out is that, unlike many states in the US, where cities and towns are different based on the population of residents, in North Carolina, the classification is not influenced by this but rather by residents’ preferences. However, when it comes to how municipalities are formed, they must still be formed under legislative approval and follow specific criteria, such as population density and nearness to existing municipalities.
State Information Overview
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Municipalities | 552 |
| Number of Cities | Not legally differentiated |
| Number of Towns | Not legally differentiated |
| Number of Counties | 100 |
| Population | 10 million Residents |
| Land Area | 53,819 square miles |
Cities and Towns by Alphabetical Letter
Cities in North Carolina that start with A
- Aberdeen
- Advance
- Ahoskie
- Alamance
- Albemarle
- Alexis
- Alliance
- Altamahaw
- Anderson Creek
- Andrews
- Angier
- Ansonville
- Apex
- Aquadale
- Arapahoe
- Archdale
- Archer Lodge
- Arrowhead Beach
- Asheboro
- Asheville
- Ashley Heights
- Askewville
- Atkinson
- Atlantic
- Atlantic Beach
- Aulander
- Aurora
- Autryville
- Avery Creek
- Avon
- Ayden
Cities in North Carolina that start with B
- Badin
- Bailey
- Bakersville
- Bald Head Island
- Balfour
- Banner Elk
- Barbecue
- Barker Heights
- Barker Ten Mile
- Barnardsville
- Bath
- Bayboro
- Bayshore
- Bayview
- Bear Grass
- Beaufort
- Beech Mountain
- Belhaven
- Bell Arthur
- Belmont
- Belville
- Belvoir
- Belwood
- Bennett
- Benson
- Bent Creek
- Bermuda Run
- Bessemer City
- Bethania
- Bethel
- Bethlehem
- Beulaville
- Biltmore Forest
- Biscoe
- Black Creek
- Black Mountain
- Bladenboro
- Blowing Rock
- Blue Clay Farms
- Boardman
- Bogue
- Boiling Spring Lakes
- Boiling Springs
- Bolivia
- Bolton
- Bonnetsville
- Boone
- Boonville
- Bostic
- Bowdens
- Bowmore
- Brandywine Bay
- Brevard
- Briar Chapel
- Brices Creek
- Bridgeton
- Broad Creek
- Broadway
- Brogden
- Brookford
- Brunswick
- Bryson City
- Buies Creek
- Bunn
- Bunnlevel
- Burgaw
- Burlington
- Burnsville
- Butner
- Butters
- Buxton
Cities in North Carolina that start with C
- Cajah’s Mountain
- Calabash
- Calypso
- Camden
- Cameron
- Candor
- Canton
- Cape Carteret
- Cape Colony
- Caroleen
- Carolina Beach
- Carolina Meadows
- Carolina Shores
- Carrboro
- Carthage
- Cary
- Casar
- Cashiers
- Castalia
- Castle Hayne
- Caswell Beach
- Catawba
- Cedar Point
- Cedar Rock
- Centerville
- Cerro Gordo
- Chadbourn
- Chapel Hill
- Charlotte
- Cherokee
- Cherry Branch
- Cherryville
- Chimney Rock Village
- China Grove
- Chocowinity
- Chowan Beach
- Claremont
- Clarkton
- Clayton
- Clemmons
- Cleveland
- Cliffside
- Clinton
- Clyde
- Coats
- Cofield
- Coinjock
- Colerain
- Columbia
- Columbus
- Como
- Concord
- Conetoe
- Connelly Springs
- Conover
- Conway
- Cooleemee
- Cordova
- Cornelius
- Cove City
- Cove Creek
- Cramerton
- Creedmoor
- Creswell
- Cricket
- Crossnore
- Crouse
- Cullowhee
- Cypress Landing
Cities in North Carolina that start with D
- Dallas
- Dana
- Danbury
- Davidson
- Davis
- Deep Run
- Deercroft
- Delco
- Dellview
- Delway
- Denton
- Denver
- Dillsboro
- Dobbins Heights
- Dobson
- Dortches
- Dover
- Drexel
- Dublin
- Duck
- Dudley
- Dundarrach
- Dunn
- Durham
Cities in North Carolina that start with E
- Earl
- East Arcadia
- East Bend
- East Flat Rock
- East Laurinburg
- Eastover
- East Rockingham
- East Spencer
- Eden
- Edenton
- Edneyville
- Efland
- Elizabeth City
- Elizabethtown
- Elkin
- Elk Park
- Ellenboro
- Ellerbe
- Elm City
- Elon
- Elrod
- Elroy
- Emerald Isle
- Emma
- Enfield
- Engelhard
- Enochville
- Erwin
- Etowah
- Eureka
- Everetts
- Evergreen
Cities in North Carolina that start with F
- Fair Bluff
- Fairfield
- Fairfield Harbour
- Fairmont
- Fairplains
- Fairview CDP
- Fairview town
- Faison
- Faith
- Falcon
- Falkland
- Fallston
- Farmington
- Farmville
- Fayetteville
- Fearrington Village
- Five Points
- Flat Rock CDP
- Flat Rock village
- Fletcher
- Fontana Dam
- Forest City
- Forest Hills
- Forest Oaks
- Foscoe
- Fountain
- Four Oaks
- Foxfire
- Franklin
- Franklinton
- Franklinville
- Fremont
- Frisco
- Fruitland
- Fuquay-Varina
Cities in North Carolina that start with G
- Gamewell
- Garland
- Garner
- Garysburg
- Gaston
- Gastonia
- Gatesville
- Germanton
- Gerton
- Gibson
- Gibsonville
- Glen Alpine
- Glen Raven
- Glenville
- Glenwood
- Gloucester
- Godwin
- Gold Hill
- Goldsboro
- Goldston
- Gorman
- Governors Club
- Governors Village
- Graham
- Graingers
- Grandfather Village
- Grandy
- Granite Falls
- Granite Quarry
- Grantsboro
- Greenevers
- Green Level
- Greensboro
- Greenville
- Grifton
- Grimesland
- Grover
- Gulf
Cities in North Carolina that start with H
- Half Moon
- Halifax
- Hallsboro
- Hamilton
- Hamlet
- Hampstead
- Harkers Island
- Harmony
- Harrells
- Harrellsville
- Harrisburg
- Hassell
- Hatteras
- Havelock
- Haw River
- Hayesville
- Hays
- Hemby Bridge
- Henderson
- Hendersonville
- Henrietta
- Hertford
- Hickory
- Hiddenite
- Highlands
- High Point
- High Shoals
- Hightsville
- Hildebran
- Hillsborough
- Hobgood
- Hobucken
- Hoffman
- Holden Beach
- Hollister
- Holly Ridge
- Holly Springs
- Hookerton
- Hoopers Creek
- Hope Mills
- Horse Shoe
- Hot Springs
- Hudson
- Huntersville
Cities in North Carolina that start with I
- Icard
- Indian Beach
- Indian Trail
- Ingold
- Iron Station
- Ivanhoe
Cities in North Carolina that start with J
- JAARS
- Jackson
- Jackson Heights
- Jackson Springs
- Jacksonville
- James City
- Jamestown
- Jamesville
- Jefferson
- Jonesville
Cities in North Carolina that start with K
- Kannapolis
- Keener
- Kelford
- Kelly
- Kenansville
- Kenly
- Kernersville
- Kill Devil Hills
- King
- Kings Grant
- Kings Mountain
- Kingstown
- Kinston
- Kittrell
- Kitty Hawk
- Knightdale
- Kure Beach
Cities in North Carolina that start with L
- La Grange
- Lake Junaluska
- Lake Lure
- Lake Norman of Catawba
- Lake Norman of Iredell
- Lake Park
- Lake Royale
- Lake Santeetlah
- Lake Waccamaw
- Landis
- Lansing
- Lasker
- Lattimore
- Laurel Hill
- Laurel Park
- Laurinburg
- Lawndale
- Leggett
- Leland
- Lenoir
- Lewiston Woodville
- Lewisville
- Lexington
- Liberty
- Light Oak
- Lilesville
- Lillington
- Lincolnton
- Linden
- Linville
- Littleton
- Locust
- Long Creek
- Long View
- Louisburg
- Love Valley
- Lowell
- Lowesville
- Lowgap
- Lucama
- Lumber Bridge
- Lumberton
Cities in North Carolina that start with M
- Macclesfield
- Macon
- Madison
- Maggie Valley
- Magnolia
- Maiden
- Mamers
- Manns Harbor
- Manteo
- Marble
- Marietta
- Marion
- Mar-Mac
- Marshall
- Marshallberg
- Mars Hill
- Marshville
- Marvin
- Matthews
- Maury
- Maxton
- Mayodan
- Maysville
- McAdenville
- McDonald
- McFarlan
- McLeansville
- Mebane
- Mesic
- Micro
- Middleburg
- Middlesex
- Midland
- Midway
- Millers Creek
- Millingport
- Mills River
- Milton
- Milwaukee
- Mineral Springs
- Minnesott Beach
- Mint Hill
- Misenheimer
- Mocksville
- Momeyer
- Moncure
- Monroe
- Montreat
- Mooresboro
- Mooresville
- Moravian Falls
- Morehead City
- Morganton
- Morrisville
- Morven
- Mountain Home
- Mountain View
- Mount Airy
- Mount Gilead
- Mount Holly
- Mount Olive
- Mount Pleasant
- Moyock
- Mulberry
- Murfreesboro
- Murphy
- Murraysville
- Myrtle Grove
Cities in North Carolina that start with N
- Nags Head
- Nashville
- Navassa
- Nebo
- Neuse Forest
- New Bern
- New Hope
- Newland
- New London
- Newport
- Newton
- Newton Grove
- Norlina
- Norman
- Northchase
- Northlakes
- North Topsail Beach
- Northwest
- North Wilkesboro
- Norwood
Cities in North Carolina that start with O
- Oakboro
- Oak City
- Oak Island
- Oak Ridge
- Ocean Isle Beach
- Ocracoke
- Ogden
- Old Fort
- Old Hundred
- Oriental
- Orrum
- Ossipee
- Oxford
Cities in North Carolina that start with P
- Pantego
- Parkton
- Parmele
- Patterson Springs
- Peachland
- Peletier
- Pembroke
- Pikeville
- Pilot Mountain
- Pinebluff
- Pinehurst
- Pine Knoll Shores
- Pine Level
- Pinetops
- Pinetown
- Pineville
- Piney Green
- Pink Hill
- Pinnacle
- Pittsboro
- Plain View
- Pleasant Garden
- Pleasant Hill
- Plymouth
- Polkton
- Polkville
- Pollocksville
- Porters Neck
- Potters Hill
- Powellsville
- Princeton
- Princeville
- Proctorville
- Prospect
- Pumpkin Center
Cities in North Carolina that start with R
- Raeford
- Raemon
- Raleigh
- Ramseur
- Randleman
- Ranlo
- Raynham
- Red Cross
- Red Oak
- Red Springs
- Reidsville
- Rennert
- Rex
- Rhodhiss
- Richfield
- Richlands
- Rich Square
- Riegelwood
- River Bend
- River Road
- Roanoke Rapids
- Robbins
- Robbinsville
- Roberdel
- Robersonville
- Rockfish
- Rockingham
- Rockwell
- Rocky Mount
- Rocky Point
- Rodanthe
- Rolesville
- Ronda
- Roper
- Roseboro
- Rose Hill
- Rosman
- Rougemont
- Rowland
- Roxboro
- Roxobel
- Royal Pines
- Ruffin
- Rural Hall
- Ruth
- Rutherford College
- Rutherfordton
Cities in North Carolina that start with S
- Salem
- Salemburg
- Salisbury
- Saluda
- Salvo
- Sandy Creek
- Sandyfield
- Sanford
- Saratoga
- Sawmills
- Saxapahaw
- Scotch Meadows
- Scotland Neck
- Seaboard
- Sea Breeze
- Seagrove
- Sedalia
- Selma
- Seven Devils
- Seven Lakes
- Seven Springs
- Severn
- Shallotte
- Shannon
- Sharpsburg
- Shelby
- Siler City
- Silver City
- Silver Lake
- Simpson
- Sims
- Skippers Corner
- Smithfield
- Smithtown
- Sneads Ferry
- Snow Hill
- Southern Pines
- Southern Shores
- South Henderson
- South Mills
- Southmont
- Southport
- South Rosemary
- South Weldon
- Sparta
- Speed
- Spencer
- Spindale
- Spivey’s Corner
- Spout Springs
- Springdale
- Spring Hope
- Spring Lake
- Spruce Pine
- Staley
- Stallings
- Stanfield
- Stanley
- Stantonsburg
- Star
- Statesville
- Stedman
- Stem
- St. Helena
- St. James
- Stokes
- Stokesdale
- Stoneville
- Stonewall
- Stony Point
- Stovall
- St. Pauls
- St. Stephens
- Sugar Mountain
- Summerfield
- Sunbury
- Sunset Beach
- Surf City
- Swannanoa
- Swan Quarter
- Swansboro
- Swepsonville
- Sylva
Cities in North Carolina that start with T
- Tabor City
- Tarboro
- Tar Heel
- Taylorsville
- Taylortown
- Teachey
- Thomasville
- Toast
- Tobaccoville
- Topsail Beach
- Trenton
- Trent Woods
- Trinity
- Troutman
- Troy
- Tryon
- Turkey
- Tyro
Cities in North Carolina that start with U
- Unionville
Cities in North Carolina that start with V
- Valdese
- Valle Crucis
- Valley Hill
- Vanceboro
- Vandemere
- Vander
- Vann Crossroads
- Varnamtown
- Vass
Cities in North Carolina that start with W
- Waco
- Wade
- Wadesboro
- Wagram
- Wake Forest
- Wakulla
- Walkertown
- Wallace
- Wallburg
- Walnut Cove
- Walnut Creek
- Walstonburg
- Wanchese
- Warrenton
- Warsaw
- Washington
- Washington Park
- Watha
- Waves
- Waxhaw
- Waynesville
- Weaverville
- Webster
- Weddington
- Welcome
- Weldon
- Wendell
- Wentworth
- Wesley Chapel
- West Canton
- West Jefferson
- West Marion
- Westport
- Whispering Pines
- Whitakers
- White Lake
- White Oak
- White Plains
- Whiteville
- Whitsett
- Wilkesboro
- Williamston
- Wilmington
- Wilson
- Wilson’s Mills
- Windsor
- Winfall
- Wingate
- Winston-Salem
- Winterville
- Winton
- Woodfin
- Woodland
- Woodlawn
- Wrightsboro
- Wrightsville Beach
Cities in North Carolina that start with Y
Yadkin College
Yadkinville
Yanceyville
Youngsville
Cities in North Carolina that start with Z
- Zebulon
Note
North Carolina has no towns in alphabetical order, beginning with the letters Q, and X
Interactive North Carolina Map
Questions & Answers
How many cities are in North Carolina?
North Carolina is divided into 100 counties and contains 552 municipalities, which include cities, towns, and villages. However, the exact number of cities is not there since North Carolina Laws don’t define how cities, towns, or even villages are formed, instead they solely lie into how residents decide to call the
What is the nicest city in North Carolina to live in?
Raleigh the state capital and Charlotte the most populous city
