NC 27 original routing 1922 Auto Trails

NC 27 extended to Albemarle 1923 Auto Trails

NC 24 extended to Toluca 1929 Official

In late 1934, NC 27 was extended eastward to Carthage (replacing all of NC 74 east of Albermarle), by crossing Lake Norwood and dropping south to Pee Dee (along current NC 73), then east to Wadeville (old NC 27), and north to Troy (along current NC 109), then east to Biscoe along today's 27 to end at the NC 22 SB split in Carthage, which in 1934 was US 501 (US 15 came through in 1936). At this time NC 27 was routed over the historic Swift Island Bridge

NC 74 Albemarle to Carthage 1933 Official

NC 27 extended to Carthage 1935 Gen Draft

Early Charlotte Changes:
In 1936, NC 27 changed routing through Charlotte. Instead of Rozelles Ferry Rd, NC 27 entered on Tuckaseegee Rd/Thrift Rd to Morehead St (also US 29-74 then), then east to McDowell St, then north to 7th St and then out Central Ave on its way to Albemarle. This routing west of town had been NC 27A (and 271 before that). The previous approach along Rozelles Ferry Rd became part of NC 271 (later NC 16). NC 27 still went through Paw Creek and all the same points west of Charlotte.

NC 27-A on Thrift Rd 1933 Official

NC 27-A becomes 27 1936 Official

Early Charlotte Routings:

NC 27 duplex with NC 15
1922 Auto Trails

NC 27 using Central Ave 1932 Texaco

NC 27 moves from Rozelles Ferry to Thrift Rd 1937 Texaco

In 1938, NC 27 was extended west as new routing to Casar and replaced some of NC 182 over to NC 26 (now NC 226) Polkville.
In 1940 or 1941, NC 27 west was truncated to NC 10-18 Toluca. The extension to Polkville became part of NC 10.
Between 1948-50, NC 27 east was extended through Cameron and ending at NC 87 (along a previously unnumbered road) in Spout Springs.
About 1953, NC 27 west was extended the short distance to the modern location of NC 10.

NC 182 to Polkville 1936 Official

NC 27 to Polkville 1938 Official

NC 10 to Polkville 1941-42 Official

NC 27 ends at NC 10-18 1941-42 Official NC 27 extended to modern NC 10 1953 Official

In 1957 or 1958, NC 27 was sent around the southside of Albermarle. It is unclear whether there was a NC 27A or 27 Business within Albermarle at any point after that. ('63 Official implies yes, but '65 Official definitely no). Today it is simply Main St all the way through. If NC 27 ever used "Old Charlotte Rd" coming into town, it stopped doing so before 1926.

NC 27 through Albemarle 1955 Official

NC 27 reroute to new bypass 1958 Official

In 1958, NC 27 was rerouted at Johnsonville and extended east (crossing NC 87 2 miles north of Spout Springs) through Lillington, Coates, Buies Creek and ending at NC 50 Benson. Buies Creek to Benson had been the second NC 40. The rest was new primary routing. The piece from Johnsonville to Spout Creek was demoted, but in 1962 or 1963 was assigned to NC 24.

NC 27 extended to NC 87 1950 Gen Draft

NC 27 extended to Benson 1958 Official

Between 1959-61, NC 27 was given the direct routing it has today between Lake Norwood and Troy as new construction. This left behind NC 73, a new second NC 27A (just SR 1174-old NC 27 today), and NC 109.

NC 27 through Wadeville 1958 Official

NC 27-A appears 1963 Official

In 1962 or 1963, NC 24 was added as a 100+ mile duplex from Charlotte to nearly NC 87!
In Sept 1987 (NCDOT), NC 27 was rerouted at Coats to follow NC 55 south to US 421 Erwin, then follow US 421 back to Buies Creek. The direct route from Coats to Buies Creek became SR 1006.
In July 1989 (NCDOT), NC 27 was rerouted in the Buies Creek again, mostly back to its pre-1987 routing here, except the old route had passed through Campbell University's campus using Pearl Street.

NC 27 routed via Erwin 1989 Official

NC 27 restored but bypasses Campbell Univ 1993 Official

It is unclear when NC 27 was multiplexed with NC 50 to US 301, though I believe it was in the 90's or later.
In 2019, NC 27 was placed on newly constructed bypass around the south of Troy, leaving behind NC 24-27 Business.

Modern Charlotte Changes:
By 1946, NC 27's route within Charlotte was altered slightly, such that it ran along McDowell St directly to Central Ave without using 7th St (which remained part of US 74) before heading east to Albermarle.
Between 1948-50, NC 27 was rerouted in Charlotte again, following the new Independence Blvd. out of Downtown east to the current NC 27 split from US 74.
Around the time the US 29 bypass (now I-85) was completed, definitely by 1960, NC 27 was removed from Tuckaseegee/Thrift Rds east of the freeway and placed on the new Freedom Dr.

NC 27 not using 7th 1946 Amoco

NC 27 moved to Independence 1955 Gen Draft

NC 27 moved to Freedom Dr 1963 Official

In 1966, NC 27 was removed from US 29 Morehead St and sent directly to US 74 Independence Blvd on an extended Freedom Dr.

NC 27 removed from Morehead 1966 Official

NC 27 rerouted to Morehead/McDowell/7th 1990 Mecklenburg County

In July 1989 (NCDOT), NC 27 was rerouted in Charlotte to follow US 29 north (then NC 49 south) on Morehead St to McDowell St northeast to 7th St southeast to the ramps to US 74 Independence Blvd at Charlottetowne Ave.
In 2020, NC 27 was rerouted in Charlotte to use Freedrom Dr past US 29 Morehead to instead follow I-277 through downtown