Rowan County decreased in size from 1771 when Guilford County and Surry County were created; in 1777 when Burke County was created; in 1779 when Lincoln County was created; in 1788 when Iredell County was created; in 1822 when Davidson County was created; and again in 1836 when Davie County was created.

Its population grew from 15,828 in 1790 to 138,428 in 2010.

Click on the maps below to peruse the known towns and villages that came and went over the past two centuries and a half - a few cannot be located since they do not show up on available maps of NC.