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Some place names included in The North Carolina Gazetteer contain terms that are considered offensive.

Preface to the 2nd edition
Preface to the 1st edition
Acknowledgments
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"The North Carolina Gazetteer is a geographical dictionary in which an attempt has been made to list all of the geographic features of the state in one alphabet. It is current, and it is historical as well. Many features and places that no longer exist are included; many towns and counties for which plans were made but which never materialized are also included. Some names appearing on old maps may have been imaginary, but many of them also appear in this gazetteer.

Each entry is located according to the county in which it is found. I have not felt obliged to keep entries uniform. The altitude of a place, the date of incorporation of a city or town, may appear in the beginning of one entry and at the end of another. Some entries may appear more complete than others. I have included whatever information I could find. If there is no comment on the origin or meaning of a name, it is because the information was not available. In some cases, however, resort to an unabridged dictionary may suggest the meaning of many names."

--From The North Carolina Gazetteer, 1st edition, preface by William S. Powell

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Place Description
Otaré

See Mountain Region.
Oteen

community in central Buncombe County near the E limits of Asheville. Site of a veterans hospital, est. during World War I for tubercular soldiers. Name said to be an Indian word meaning "chief aim" and descriptive of the hospital's efforts to restore health to the disabled.
Othello

community in SE Ashe County.
Otis

community in NE Yadkin County served by post office, 1891-1903.
Ottanola

community in NE Henderson County.
Ottaray

See Mountain Region.
Otter Creek

rises in E Alamance County and flows S into Quaker Scrub Creek.
Otter Creek Township

former township in S Edgecombe County, now township no. 9. Earlier known as Autreys Creek Township.
Otter Gap

NW Macon County between Long Branch and Otter Creek.
Otter Mountain

NW Macon County between Cold Spring Creek and the head of Jane Otter Branch.