North Carolina Highway 21

Established as an original state highway, it traversed from the South Carolina state line (continuing as SC 47 to Lake View) north through Lumberton, Fayetteville, and Lillington before ending at NC 10, in Raleigh.[1]

In 1925, NC 21 was rerouted south of Fayetteville, replacing NC 22 through Dublin, Elizabethtown, and Clarkton, before ending at NC 20 (now US 74 Bus/US 76 Bus, in Whiteville. Its old alignment was replaced by NC 22 (now US 301) to Lumberton and then NC 70 (now NC 41). In 1928, its southern terminus was rerouted again from Elizabethtown to Delco, replacing NC 231; its old route to Whiteville became part of NC 23 (now US 701). In 1929, its northern terminus was extended on new primary routing to Creedmoor, ending at US 15/NC 75. From 1929-1932, NC 21 was rerouted several times through downtown Raleigh. In 1932, US 401 was assigned as a concurrency with NC 21 between Fayetteville and Raleigh.[1]

In 1934, NC 21 was decommissioned; its route was reassigned as the following:

• From Delco to Fayetteville became NC 28 (now part of NC 24 and NC 87).
• From Fayetteville to Raleigh became US 15 (now only US 401 remains).
• From Raleigh to Creedmoor became NC 13 (now NC 50).