NC 201 #1 was an original state route that ran from NC 20 (now NC 133) Belville southwest to Supply, then east to Southport.
About 1928, NC 201 was renumbered as part of NC 30 from Belville to Supply and NC 130 from Supply to Southport.
Today, Supply to Southport is NC 211; Supply to Belville is US 17 except US 17 Bus through Bolivia; SR 1701 Zion Church Rd in Town Creek; SR 1551 Blackwell Rd in Belville.

NC 201 south of Wilmington

NC 30 extended to South Carolina

NC 201 #2 appeared about 1928 as a renumbering of NC 23 from US 217/NC 22 (now Pine St) Lumberton east to NC 21 (now NC 87) Dublin.

NC 23 Lumberton to Dublin

NC 201 Lumberton to Dublin

In 1931, NC 201 was extended with NC 21 to Elizabethtown and NC 23 to White Lake, then as new primary routing to Atkinson. NC 201 then replaced NC 601 from Atkinson east through Burgaw and ending at NC 24 near Jacksonville.

NC 601 Atkinson to Jacksonville

NC 201 replaces NC 601

In late 1934, NC 201 was renumbered as NC 41 from Lumberton to White Lake and NC 53 from White Lake to Jacksonville. Note that NC 201 used SR 1191 Old NC 41 to get to Dublin and today's NC 87 and 87 Business.

NC 41 replaces NC 201

NC 53 replaces NC 201