The Highways of North Carolina
U.S. 19-E 
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Photo: US 19-E at NC 226 (Mark Clifton)		 US 19E
U.S. 19-E  48 miles
The Road: Begins at US 19-19E Cane River (Yancey County) and ends at the Tennessee Line near Elk Park (Avery County). The route continues to US 19-19E in Bluff City, TN.
Towns and Attractions: Yancey Co.: Burnsville
Mitchell Co.: Spruce Pine
Avery Co.: Pisgah Nat'l Forest
 
History: US 19E was born in 1930 as a renumbering of US 19. US 19E followed SR 1454 Cane River Middle School Rd to about Riverside. US 19E likely used SRs 1195 and 1196 to zig zag over to Main St Burnsville. US 19 used SR 1428 Main St through town, then some US 19E. It used Old US 19E to Windom. Past there US 19E used today's US 19E until Micaville, where it used SR 1186 and a little NC 80 and SR 1424. East of there, 19E picked up US 19E again, plus several short loops of old highway to Mitchell County.
US 19E followed US 19E in Mitchell county except for a brief Old US 19E east of Eastatoe over to Spruce Pine. US 19E used Greenwood Rd then NC 226 to cross North Toe River, then Oak St and Cabin road to continue east. US 19 then used essentially US 19E all the way to Tennessee.

1928 Gen Draft
US 19 through Spruce Pine
1930 Official
US 19E is born


In 1935, AASHO tried to get Tennessee to renumber US 19E as US 19-A. Tennessee declined to do this, but this change showed up on some commercial maps 1935-37. However the 1935, 1936 and 1938 Official maps all show US 19E in place and there is no mention of this in AASHO correspondence with North Carolina.

1935 Gen Draft
US 19E becoming US 19A?
1935 Gen Draft

Between 1937-44, US 19E was removed from SE 1141 Cabin Rd east of Spruce Pine.
In 1960, US 19E was placed on its modern routing in the Eastatoe area. The old route is SR 1233 Veed Garland Rd; SR 1157 Hoot Owl Rd; SR 1234 Burleson Cir; SR 1235/1236 Old US 19E
In 1962, US 19E was placed on its modern routing through Micaville and Newdale. The old route is SR 1186 Micaville Loop; NC 80; SR 1435 Stream Rd; NC 80; SR 1424 Deneen RdSR 1185 Sycamoe Cir; SR 1423 Newdale Church Rd
Between 1963-68, US 19E was placed on its modern routing around Burnsville and Windom. The old route is SR 1428 Main St and SR 1427 Burnsdale School Rd.

1962 Yancey County
US 19E through Burnsville
1962 Yancey County
1968 Yancey County
US 19E bypasses Burnsville
1968 Yancey County


In September 1977 (NCDOT), US 19E received its current routing skirting the south side of Spruce Pine. The old route is SR 1274 Greenwood Rd; SR 1403 Highland Ave; SR 1275 Oak Ave.

1968 Mitchell County
US 19E through Spruce Pine
1968 Mitchell County
1987 Mitchell County
US 19E bypasses Spruce Pine
1987 Mitchell County


In December 1984 (NCDOT), US 19E was extended south slightly to the current US 19/19W junction as new construction, leaving behind SR 1454.

1968 Yancey County
US 19E south end (1930-1984)
1968 Yancey County
1987 Yancey County
US 19E south end (since 1984)
1987 Yancy County

Comments: US 19E should really just be US 19.
I drove all of US 19E once but it was in the middle of the night in 1988 so I don't have any real memory of the route.
Last Update: 14 March 2025

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