The Highways of North Carolina
U.S. 701 
< 601 | Home | 701-A | 701 Bus | 1 >
Photo: US 701 at the NC 410 split north of Tabor City (Mapmikey)
US 701
U.S. 701  110 miles
The Road: Begins at the South Carolina State line at Tabor City (Columbus County) and ends at US 301/NC 96 near Four Oaks (Johnston County).
Nationally US 701 runs from Four Oaks to US 17-17A in Georgetown, SC
Towns and Attractions: Columbus Co.: Tabor City, Whiteville 
Bladen Co.: Clarkton, Elizabethtown 
Sampson Co.: Garland, Ingold, Clinton, Newton Grove  
Johnston Co.: Bentonville Battleground  
History: US 701 was born in 1932 running more or less as it does now, as an addition to NC 23.

1931 Official`
NC 23 from Tabor to Four Oaks
1931 Official
1933 Official`
US 701 appears
1933 Official

About 1935, US 701 was straightened out between Clinton (via Beaman Rd) and Newton Grove, leaving behind what is now College St, NC 403, SR 1751 HB Lewis Rd out of Clinton; SR 1714 Lassiter Rd at Monks Crossroads; SR 1800 Bryan Rd and SR 1703 McLamb Rd/Church St through Newton Grove

1930 Sampson County
US 701 original route at Clinton
1930 Sampson County
1930 Sampson County
US 701 straightened at Clinton
1936 Sampson County

In 1947 or 1948, US 701 received an eastern bypass of Clinton using newly constructed Southeast and Northeast Blvd. The old route through Clinton using Southwest Blvd, Lisbon St, College St, and Beaman St became US 701-A (all secondary today).
About 1953, US 701 was rerouted at Tabor City from using NC 410 into SC to using today's US 701 Business (replacing a bit of NC 904) into SC.
About 1956, US 701 received its bypass of Whiteville. Both officials and county maps show the old route through town was secondary after that but today it is US 701 Business.

1955 Official
US 701 through Whiteville
1955 Official
1956 Official
US 701 bypasses Whiteville
1956 Official

Between 1954-57, US 701 was removed from SR 1517 Barnes Loop Rd, SR 1518 (since abandoned), and SR 1523 Beards Chapel Loop Rd in northern Bladen County.
About 1957, US 701 received its bypass of Tabor City. Both officials and county maps show the old route through town was secondary after that but today it is US 701 Business.

1949 Columbus County
US 701 southwest out of Tabor City
1949 Columbus County
1953 Columbus County
US 701 south out of Tabor City
1953 Columbus County
1957 Columbus County
US 701 bypasses Tabor City
1957 Columbus County

Also about 1957, US 701 received its bypass of Clarkton. This was not shown on officials and the 1957 Bladen County map shows the old route as unnumbered but today it is US 701 Business.

1953 Bladen County
US 701 through Clarkton
1953 Bladen County
1957 Bladen County
US 701 bypasses Clarkton
1957 Bladen County

About 1965, US 701 was given its bypass of Ingold, leaving behind SR 1157 Old US 701.

1962 Sampson County
US 701 through Ingold
1962 Sampson County
1968 Sampson County
US 701 bypasses Ingold
1968 Sampson County

In March 1973 (NCDOT), US 701 was placed on US 421's western bypass of Clinton plus newly constructed freeway northeast to connect back to US 701. Southeeast and Northeast Blvds. became US 701 Business.

1949 Sampson County
US 701 bypasses Clinton to the east
1949 Sampson County
1980 Sampson County
US 701 bypasses Clinton to the west
1980 Sampson County

Comments: US 701 is a pretty quiet route for the most part, though it can be used as a back way to the beaches of South Carolina's Grand Strand. Interestingly, there is a sign for Raliegh on US 701 at SC 9 Business in Loris, SC.
The NC 96 multiplex on US 701's northern end did not exist prior to I-95's completion.


Last Update: 26 October 2013

Previous: U.S. 601  |  Next: U.S. 701-A | U.S. 701 Bus | U.S. 1
Top  |  NCRoads.com Home ------------------------------------------------