There is a book that most people doing North Carolina research should have. It is entitled "The Formation of the North Carolina Counties 1663-1943". It was written by David Leroy Corbitt. It contains more than you will ever need to know about how and when the various counties were formed. It is a publication of the Division of Archives and History of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. I have an old copy (3rd printing, 1975) and it cost me $7.00. It may be more now, but it is well worth the cost. Jim Campbell