North Carolina Highway 27 is a primary state highway

State highway

State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

 in the state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. The route traverses 198 miles (318.6 km) through southern and central North Carolina, about 100 miles (160.9 km) of it as a concurrency with North Carolina Highway 24.

Route description

NC 27 begins in Cleveland County near the unincorporated community of Toluca

Toluca, North Carolina

Toluca is an unincorporated community in both Lincoln, and Cleveland counties. It is located south of Laurel Hill, at the intersection of NC 27, and NC 18, near NC 27's western terminus at NC 10....

 at a T-intersection with NC 10. From there it runs southeast to the city of Lincolnton

Lincolnton, North Carolina

Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...

. In Lincolnton, it serves as Main Street, and runs past the Lincoln County courthouse. From Lincolnton, it runs southeast again to Stanley

Stanley, North Carolina

Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....

 where it follows Main Street. It enters Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

 along Mount Holly Road, and follows several major thoroughfares through Charlotte, including Freedom Drive, Morehead Street, and Independence Boulevard.

On the east side of Charlotte, it begins its 100 miles (160.9 km) long concurrency with NC 24, approximately 1/2 of its total length. The two highways leave the city along Albemarle Road and remain joined until the unincorporated community of Johnsonville

Johnsonville, North Carolina

Johnsonville is an unincorporated community located in the Johnsonville Township of Harnett County, North Carolina. It is located at the intersection of NC 24 and NC 27. Residences in the community normally have a Cameron or a Sanford address.-See also:...

. Along this segment, they pass through the cities of Midland

Midland, North Carolina

Midland is a town in southern Cabarrus County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it lies in the region known as the Piedmont. The name of the town is derived from its location approximately one-half way between Charlotte and Oakboro on the...

, Locust

Locust, North Carolina

Locust is a small rural city in Stanly and Cabarrus counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 2,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Locust is located at ....

, Albemarle

Albemarle, North Carolina

Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...

, Troy

Troy, North Carolina

Troy is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,430 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County. The short story by Charles W...

, Biscoe

Biscoe, North Carolina

Biscoe is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,700 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Biscoe, an important customer of the local lumber business.- History :...

, and Carthage

Carthage, North Carolina

Carthage is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Moore County.-Geography:Carthage is located at ....

. They share further concurrencies with NC 109

North Carolina Highway 109

North Carolina Highway 109 is a north–south state highway in North Carolina. It primarily connects small towns in the central Piedmont region of the state. The route is a two-lane road for most of its length, but the segment between Winston-Salem and Thomasville is being upgraded to a...

, NC 22, and US 15.

From the split with NC 24, the road runs northeast to Lillington

Lillington, North Carolina

Lillington is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,915 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Harnett County.-Geography:Lillington is located at ....

 where it follows Main Street, and leaves town as a concurrency with US 421. It passes Campbell University

Campbell University

Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...

 in Buies Creek

Buies Creek, North Carolina

Buies Creek is a census-designated place located in the Neills Creek Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,215 at the 2000 census.-Incorporation:...

 before entering Johnston County and ending in Benson

Benson, North Carolina

Benson is a town located in Johnston County, North Carolina. The town lies at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 40. Each year Benson celebrates Mule Days the 4th Saturday of September, a festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year...

 just short of I-95

Interstate 95 in North Carolina

Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...

. NC 50

North Carolina Highway 50

NC 50 is a major cross-state route in North Carolina that runs from near the Virginia border to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the major north/south route through Wake County and the state capital of Raleigh.-Route description:...

 continues east of NC 27's terminus at US 301

U.S. Route 301

U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...

.

Junction list

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
Cleveland Cleveland County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...	Toluca Toluca, North Carolina Toluca is an unincorporated community in both Lincoln, and Cleveland counties. It is located south of Laurel Hill, at the intersection of NC 27, and NC 18, near NC 27's western terminus at NC 10....	0		NC 27 begins
Lincoln Lincoln County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...		0.7
		4
	Lincolnton Lincolnton, North Carolina Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...	15
		17		West end of NC 150 overlap
		18
	Boger City Boger City, North Carolina Boger City is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 554 at the 2000 census, at which time it was erroneously listed as a census designated place.-Geography:...	19		East end of NC 150 overlap
		21
Gaston Gaston County, North Carolina Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...	Stanley Stanley, North Carolina Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....	30
	Mount Holly Mount Holly, North Carolina Mount Holly is a small suburban city in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The city is situated on the western bank of the Catawba River in the Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina, north of Interstate 85, south of North Carolina State Highway 16, and west of Charlotte....	37
Mecklenburg Mecklenburg County, North Carolina -Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...	Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...	40
		45	– Spartanburg Spartanburg, South Carolina thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of... , Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
		47		South end of US 29 overlap
		47.5
		48		North end of US 29 & NC 49 overlap
		48.3	(South Tryon Street Tryon Street Tryon Street is a major north-south street of Charlotte, North Carolina. It traverses through the center of Uptown Charlotte and is the address for some of the city's tallest buildings like the Bank of America Corporate Center and Hearst Tower. U.S... )	South end of NC 49 overlap
		50		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; west end of US 74 overlap
		NC 24 overlaps with US 74 (exits 243 to 246)
		54		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; east end of US 74 overlap
		56		West end of NC 24 overlap
	Mint Hill Mint Hill, North Carolina Mint Hill is a suburban town in southeastern Mecklenburg and northwestern Union counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, it is a major suburb on the outskirts of Charlotte and near the Cabarrus County line...	61
		62.5
Cabarrus Cabarrus County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 131,063 people, 49,519 households, and 36,545 families residing in the county. The population density was 360 people per square mile . There were 52,848 housing units at an average density of 145 per square mile...	Midland Midland, North Carolina Midland is a town in southern Cabarrus County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it lies in the region known as the Piedmont. The name of the town is derived from its location approximately one-half way between Charlotte and Oakboro on the...	70
Stanly Stanly County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...	Locust Locust, North Carolina Locust is a small rural city in Stanly and Cabarrus counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 2,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Locust is located at ....	75
	Red Cross Red Cross, North Carolina Red Cross is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States.-History:With growth resulting from the expansion of suburban communities around Charlotte, Red Cross incorporated on August 1, 2002. The people wanted to keep their area agricultural and rural to the extent that it was possible....	79
	Albemarle Albemarle, North Carolina Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...	89.5		North end of US 52 overlap and west end of NC 73 overlap
		90		South end of US 52 overlap
		92
Montgomery Montgomery County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 26,822 people, 9,848 households, and 7,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile . There were 14,145 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...		98		East end of NC 73 overlap; enter Uwharrie National Forest Uwharrie National Forest Uwharrie National Forest is a federally-designated national forest region located primarily in Montgomery County, but also extending into Randolph and Davidson counties in south central North Carolina. It is the smallest of the four National Forests in North Carolina, with a total area of 50,369...
		106		South end of NC 109 overlap
	Troy Troy, North Carolina Troy is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,430 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County. The short story by Charles W...	109		North end of NC 109 overlap; south end of NC 109 Business overlap
		110		North end of NC 109 Business overlap
	Biscoe Biscoe, North Carolina Biscoe is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,700 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Biscoe, an important customer of the local lumber business.- History :...	116
		117
Moore Moore County, North Carolina Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...		129
		134		North end of NC 22 overlap
	Carthage Carthage, North Carolina Carthage is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Moore County.-Geography:Carthage is located at ....	139		South end of NC 22 overlap
		140		South end of US 15 & 501 overlap
		142		North end of US 15 & 501 overlap
	Cameron Cameron, North Carolina Cameron is a town in Moore County, North Carolina in the United States. The population was 151 at the 2000 census.-History:Cameron grew up around a plank road that was followed in later years by a railroad. The town was planned in 1875 and incorporated in 1876. Cameron was at the end of the Raleigh...	149
		151
Harnett Harnett County, North Carolina -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 91,025 people, 33,800 households, and 24,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 153 people per square mile . There were 38,605 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile...	Johnsonville Johnsonville, North Carolina Johnsonville is an unincorporated community located in the Johnsonville Township of Harnett County, North Carolina. It is located at the intersection of NC 24 and NC 27. Residences in the community normally have a Cameron or a Sanford address.-See also:...	159		East end of NC 24 overlap
	Pineview Pineview, North Carolina Pineview is an unincorporated community located in the Barbecue Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The community is centered around the intersection of North Carolina Highway 87 and North Carolina Highway 27. Pineview was formerly a great producer of dewberries...	161
	Lillington Lillington, North Carolina Lillington is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,915 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Harnett County.-Geography:Lillington is located at ....	179		South end of US 401 and NC 210 overlap
		180		North end of US 421 overlap
		181		North end of US 401 and NC 210 overlap
		186		South end of US 421 overlap; Harnett County Airport at intersection
	Coats Coats, North Carolina Coats is a town in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coats is located at ....	190
Johnston Johnston County, North Carolina -Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...	Benson Benson, North Carolina Benson is a town located in Johnston County, North Carolina. The town lies at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 40. Each year Benson celebrates Mule Days the 4th Saturday of September, a festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year...	197		North end of NC 50 overlap
		198		NC 27 ends

History

NC 27 was one of North Carolina's original 1922 state highways. Its original routing connected Charlotte to Lincolnton. It used several different streets through Charlotte, but followed roughly the same route. The road was extended several times:

• 1923: east to Albemarle
• 1928: west to Toluca (current terminus)
• 1934: east to Carthage (using the concurrency with NC 24)
• 1948-50: east to Cameron
• 1958: east to Benson (current terminus)

NC 27 has had a tumultuous history through Charlotte. It has always served as a major east–west route through the city, but it has been rerouted numerous times on different city streets as traffic patterns changed. All of the following roads have carried NC 27 at one time or another:

• Rozelles Ferry Rd. (1923–1936)
• Mount Holly Road (1923–present)
• Trade St.(1923-?)
• Hawthorne Lane(1924–1936)
• Central Ave.(1924–1955)
• Albemarle Rd.(1924–present)
• Mint St.(1936–1946)
• Moorhead St. (1936–present)
• Thrift Rd.(1936–1946)
• McDowell St. (1946–1955)
• Independence Blvd. (1955–present)
• Freedom Dr. (?-Present)