NC 286: An original state highway, running from VA 10 (current Lower Alarka Rd) south on SR 1304 Cold Springs Rd, then US 19-74 west, then NC 28 south to Franklin, then south along US 441 Business and US 23-441 to Georgia, except it used the lengthy "Old US 23" below Union and the other short "Old US 23's near Georgia.
NC 286 below Franklin was renumbered as part of NC 285 about 1927.
Around 1938, NC 286 was renumbered as part of NC 28. It is unclear if NC 286's north end was moved to the current NC 28 jct with US 19-74 or if NC 28 was assigned first. The Swain County portion of NC 28 below US 19-74 was completely reworked, a lot of it on new alignments. Surviving NC 286 segments are Poppy Dr; bits of SR 1128 Sawmill Creek Rd/SR 1127 Davis Branch Rd; a bit of Old Brush Creek Rd; a bit of SR 1133 Brush Creek Rd

NC 286 original route 1924 Official

NC 285 replaces NC 286 below Franklin 1933 Official

NC 28 replaces NC 286 1938 Official