The Highways of North Carolina
N.C. 72 
< 71 | Home | 73 >
Photo: NC 72 leaving US 74 (Adam Prince)
NC 72
N.C. 72  34 miles
The Road: Begins at NC 71-211-710 Red Springs and ends at US 74-NC 130 east of Orrum, all within Robeson County
Towns and Attractions: Robeson Co: Red Springs, Lumberton
History: NC 72 was born in late 1934, replacing NC 70 from Red Springs to US 74 (now NC 711) near Lumberton.

1933 official map
NC 70, Aberdeen to Lumberton
1936 official map
NC 211 and NC 72 replace NC 70


In 1951, NC 72 was extended east to US 74-301 (now SR 2499) replacing a piece of US 74 that was rerouted.
1941-42 Official
US 74 through Pembroke
1950 Esso
NC 72 extended over to US 74-301


Between 1954-57, NC 72's east end was moved to the current I-95 exit with NC 72-711. The old NC 72 east end became SR 1589 Kenic Rd and Cottonwood Rd (road is cut off by I-95).
In 1983 or 1984, NC 72 was extended east through Lumberton to its current endpoint. This had been secondary for a while but was the route of US 74 for years.

1978 official map
old US 74, secondary road
1984-85 official map
NC 72 extended east


The first NC 72 appeared in 1930 as new primary highway, running from NC 70 (now NC 41) Fairmont east to US 74/NC 20 near Orrum.
In 1931, NC 72 was renumbered as part of NC 71. Today it is the eastern half of NC 130 Business and NC 130.

1930 Official
NC 72 appears
1933 Gen Draft
NC 71 extends over NC 72

Comment:
NC 72's duplex with NC 710 goes back to at least 1944.

Last Update: 9 November 2008

Previous: N.C. 71  |  Next: N.C. 73
Top  |  NCRoads.com Home ------------------------------------------------