The State Archives of North Carolina is essential—and easy to overuse as a first stop. A durable order:

1. County hub matrix + formation check.
2. Census, land, probate in the correct jurisdiction.
3. Local library / society materials named on the hub.
4. State Archives for grants, military, private manuscripts, and microfilm substitutes.

Capital-area tip: Wake researchers get both county and state layers—use both deliberately. Guide: Repositories.