Jackson County is a county located in the far southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, which replaced Webster. Jackson County comprises the Cullowhee, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area. Cullowhee is the site of Western Carolina University (WCU). In the early 21st century, the university has more than 12,000 students, nearly twice the number of the permanent residents of Cullowhee. The university has a strong influence in the region and county. More than 10 percent of the county residents identify as Native American, mostly Cherokee, as the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based at Qualla Boundary, land that consists of territory in both Jackson and neighboring Swain County. It is the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina, and one among three Cherokee tribes nationally. The other two are based in what is now the state of Oklahoma, former Indian Territory.

Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA, with a total population of 297,726 as of 2018.

Halifax County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,691. Its county seat is Halifax.Halifax County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

Warren County is a county located in the northeastern Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina, on the northern border with Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 20,972. Its county seat is Warrenton. It was a center of tobacco and cotton plantations, education, and later textile mills.