NC 601: was born in 1929. It initially ran from NC 60 (current US 421) east to US 17-1/NC 40 (current US 117 Bus) Burgaw.
In 1930, NC 601 was extended wast as new primary routing to the town of Atkinson and was extended from Burgaw northeast to NC 24 near Jacksonville..

NC 601 initial routing

NC 601 extended both directions

In 1932, NC 601 was renumbered as part of an extended NC 201. Today it is part of NC 53. The 1930 County maps for Pender and Onslow show 601 following the modern alignment of NC 53 and not Old Shaw Hwy for example

NC 601 renumbered as NC 201