Clay, James W. North Carolina Atlas. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 1975. (FHL book 975.6 E3c; film 1597810 item 2; computer number 244258.) This atlas shows the formation of counties and the patterns of European settlement.

Although most of the Cherokee Indians were removed from North Carolina in the late 1830s, some remained and many of their descendants still live in the western part of the state. See the “Native Races” section of this outline for further information about American Indians in North Carolina.

North Carolina did not attract heavy settlement after the Revolutionary War and lost much of its population in the westward movement to Tennessee, Illinois, and other new states and territories.

Records

North Carolina’s treacherous coastline prevented significant immigration by sea. Most immigrants arrived at major northern ports such as New York, Baltimore, Boston, and Philadelphia.

There are some incomplete lists of passengers for five minor ports in North Carolina: Beaufort, 1865; Edentown, 1820; New Berne, 1820–1865; Plymouth, 1820–1840; and Washington, 1820–1848. The records of these ports are listed in:

United States. Bureau of Customs. Copies of Lists of Passengers Arriving at Miscellaneous Ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and at Ports on the Great Lakes, 1820–1873. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0575. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1964. (FHL films 830231–46; computer number 216254.) For indexes to these lists, see:

United States. Bureau of Customs. A Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports..., 1820–1874. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0334. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1960. (FHL films 418161–348; computer number 216582.) More detailed information on U.S. immigration sources can be found in the Tracing Immigrant Origins Research Outline (34111).

A few published lists of colonial immigrants are indexed in:

Filby, P. William. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. 16vols. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research, 1981–. (FHL book Ref 973 W32p; computer number 75625.) There are several cumulative indexes. Supplemental volumes are issued annually.

A comprehensive list of about 140,000 immigrants to America from Britain is:

Coldham, Peter Wilson. The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607–1776, and Emigrants in Bondage, 1614–1775. Brøderbund Software, Novato, Calif., 1996. (FHL compact disc no. 9, pt. 350; computer number 784052). This is not circulated to Family History Centers. North Carolina immigrants are numerous. The records may show British hometown, emigration date, ship, destination, and text of the document abstract. These are also indexed in the FamilyFinder™ Index and Viewer described in the “Census” section of this outline.

Useful sources showing migration patterns are:

Dollarhide, William. Map Guide to American Migration Routes, 1735–1815. Bountiful, Utah: AGLL Genealogical Services, 1997. (FHL book 973 E3d; computer number 805237.) This book contains many good maps.

Billington, Ray Allen. Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier. 5th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1982. (FHL book 973 H2bw 1982; computer number 212746.) This book has explanations and maps of settlement and migration of various groups.

North Carolina passenger lists and other lists of immigrants can be found in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Locality Search under:

NORTH CAROLINA- EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATIONNORTH CAROLINA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION