1876 artwork by Henry Mitchell, via Wikipedia Commons
North Carolina ranks 12th among states and provinces with markers in this database. North Carolina is a state in the United States of America located in the American South. It is also in the South Atlantic region. North Carolina is some 54 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 10.5 million people. The state is divided into 100 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In North Carolina we have discovered historical markers in 518 cities and towns lying in 536 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 4,675 historical markers in North Carolina, by our count. We have cataloged 4,651 historical markers and 291 war memorials—each individually presented on 4,877 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 2.2% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another 24 historical markers in North Carolina that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first North Carolina marker in the database, Nat’l Rochester, was added February 3, 2007. It was photographed in Oxford in Granville County and was erected in 2003. The last one added was submitted on May 13, 2024, and titled Susie Sharp. It is in Reidsville in Rockingham County and had been erected in 2023. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in North Carolina was erected in 1806. It was this one: Wachovia Settlement, and one of our correspondents found it in Oldtown in Forsyth County on March 12, 2012.
North Carolinians don’t want to forget their Civil War history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from North Carolina about the Civil War—805 of them—than about any other historical topic. A close second is Industry and Commerce with 763 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Civil War topic was Bennett Place, added July 1, 2007. It had been erected in 1962 in Durham in Durham County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 5, 2024, and titled In Memoriam. It had been erected in Mount Pleasant in Cabarrus County. The earliest marker erected with the Civil War topic that we have listed was erected in 1868. It is Confederate War Memorial, found in Fayetteville in Cumberland County on May 19, 2010.
What is the most interesting historical marker in North Carolina? What we know is that Cherokee Indian Reservation / (Leaving) Cherokee Reservation is the most viewed entry in the database from North Carolina since it was added in 2008. It is located near Cherokee in Swain County. This year so far, the most viewed North Carolinian entry is located in Kenansville in Duplin County. It is Liberty Hall.
Counties, Cities and Towns
The North Carolina county with the most historical markers listed in this database is Guilford County, with 291 of them. It is followed by Forsyth County with 256 markers. The Greensboro area of Guilford County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 165. In Forsyth County the area with the most markers, 158, is Winston-Salem.
Historical Markers in These North Carolina Counties
Checking the database for the city or town in North Carolina with the most markers we find Raleigh in Wake County at the top of the list with 169 markers in or near it. And Greensboro shows up again in next place, just missing out with 165 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 28401 at the top of the list with 131 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 28401 is assigned to Wilmington NC including the Cape Fear delivery area.) It is followed by ZIP Code 27101 with 106 markers. (27101 is assigned to Winston Salem NC.)
Historical Markers Near These North Carolina Cities and Towns
Getting back to Guilford County, the first marker added to the database from there, Confederate Hospital, was added September 3, 2007. It was erected in 1950 in Greensboro. The last one submitted was uploaded on May 7, 2024, and is titled Ai Church, in Oak Ridge. The earliest marker erected in Guilford County that we have listed was erected in 1887. It was Col. Arthur Forbis, found in Greensboro on September 19, 2008.
By Cosmos Mariner, May 11, 2024
Latest Entry from North Carolina “Susie Sharp”
And finally the first, last, and oldest markers from Raleigh. The first: Lamar Stringfield, was added May 2, 2008. It had been erected in 1988. The last: Gettysburg added on March 11, 2024. The earliest marker erected was erected in 1870: Confederate Monument, added on February 12, 2013.
Who Puts Up Historical Markers?
The North Carolina Division of Archives and History is currently in charge of the familiar silver and black official historical markers found all over the state and the Division of Highways typically installs and maintains those that are roadside. You will also find official markers erected by the Department of Conservation and Development, a predecessor. They erected their first marker in 1936, and we have 1,445 of their markers in the database.
In addition, North Carolina Civil War Trails—not government affiliated—also erected numerous historical markers, and we have 1,178 of their North Carolina markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
By J. J. Prats, February 18, 2017
A Division of Archives and History Historical Marker
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of North Carolina have been marked with history. Check out Columbus County, Pamlico County and Jones County. We've only found, respectively, 4, 2, and 1 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of North Carolina might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
North Carolina ranks 12th among states and provinces with markers in this database. North Carolina is a state in the United States of America located in the American South. It is also in the South Atlantic region. North Carolina is some 54 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 10.5 million people. The state is divided into 100 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In North Carolina we have discovered historical markers in 518 cities and towns lying in 536 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 4,675 historical markers in North Carolina, by our count. We have cataloged 4,651 historical markers and 291 war memorials, each individually presented on 4,877 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 2.2% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another 24 historical markers in North Carolina that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first North Carolina marker in the database, Nat’l Rochester, was added February 3, 2007. It was photographed in Oxford in Granville County and was erected in 2003. The last one added was submitted on May 13, 2024, and titled Susie Sharp. It is in Reidsville in Rockingham County and had been erected in 2023. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in North Carolina was erected in 1806. It was this one: Wachovia Settlement, and one of our correspondents found it in Oldtown in Forsyth County on March 12, 2012.
North Carolinians don’t want to forget their Civil War history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from North Carolina about the Civil War, 805 of them, than about any other historical topic. A close second is Industry and Commerce with 763 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Civil War topic was Bennett Place, added July 1, 2007. It had been erected in 1962 in Durham in Durham County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 5, 2024, and titled In Memoriam. It had been erected in Mount Pleasant in Cabarrus County. The earliest marker erected with the Civil War topic that we have listed was erected in 1868. It is Confederate War Memorial, found in Fayetteville in Cumberland County on May 19, 2010.
What is the most interesting historical marker in North Carolina? What we know is that Cherokee Indian Reservation / (Leaving) Cherokee Reservation is the most viewed entry in the database from North Carolina since it was added in 2008. It is located near Cherokee in Swain County. This year so far, the most viewed North Carolinian entry is located in Kenansville in Duplin County. It is Liberty Hall.
Counties, Cities and Towns.
The North Carolina county with the most historical markers listed in this database is Guilford County, with 291 of them. It is followed by Forsyth County with 256 markers. The Greensboro area of Guilford County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 165. In Forsyth County the area with the most markers, 158, is Winston-Salem.
Checking the database for the city or town in North Carolina with the most markers we find Raleigh in Wake County at the top of the list with 169 markers in or near it. And Greensboro shows up again in next place, just missing out with 165 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 2 8 4 0 1 at the top of the list with 131 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 2 8 4 0 1 is assigned to Wilmington NC including the Cape Fear delivery area.) It is followed by ZIP Code 2 7 1 0 1 with 106 markers. (2 7 1 0 1 is assigned to Winston Salem NC.)
Getting back to Guilford County, the first marker added to the database from there, Confederate Hospital, was added September 3, 2007. It was erected in 1950 in Greensboro. The last one submitted was uploaded on May 7, 2024, and is titled Ai Church, in Oak Ridge. The earliest marker erected in Guilford County that we have listed was erected in 1887. It was Col. Arthur Forbis, found in Greensboro on September 19, 2008.
And finally the first, last, and oldest markers from Raleigh. The first: Lamar Stringfield, was added May 2, 2008. It had been erected in 1988. The last: Gettysburg added on March 11, 2024. The earliest marker erected was erected in 1870: Confederate Monument, added on February 12, 2013.
Who Puts Up Historical Markers?.
The North Carolina Division of Archives and History is currently in charge of the familiar silver and black official historical markers found all over the state and the Division of Highways typically installs and maintains those that are roadside. You will also find official markers erected by the Department of Conservation and Development, a predecessor. They erected their first marker in 1936, and we have 1,445 of their markers in the database.
In addition, North Carolina Civil War Trails, not government affiliated, also erected numerous historical markers, and we have 1,178 of their North Carolina markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path.
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of North Carolina have been marked with history. Check out Columbus County, Pamlico County and Jones County. We've only found, respectively, 4, 2, and 1 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of North Carolina might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
North Carolina ranks 12th among states and provinces with markers in this database. North Carolina is a state in the United States of America located in the American South. It is also in the South Atlantic region. North Carolina is some 54 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 10.5 million people. The state is divided into 100 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In North Carolina we have discovered historical markers in 518 cities and towns lying in 536 different ZIP Codes. 
