| Rube Rock Branch | rises in N Haywood County and flows SW into Pigeon River. |
| Rubicon | community in central Moore County served by post office, 1890-1907. |
| Rubyatt | community in SW Montgomery County served by post office, 1912-14. Named for H. O. Ruby, early settler of area. |
| Rudd | community in N Guilford County served by post office, 1902-1907. Alt. 826. Est. 1898 as Sippanaw; later named Morehead. Because of a delay in shipment of merchandise consigned to Morehead City, railroad officials renamed the community to avoid confusion and to honor Senaca and Cicero Rudd, local residents. |
| Rudisill | community in S Catawba County served by post office, 1894-1903. |
| Rufe | former town in W Greene County near the head of Fort Run. Inc. 1887 and name changed from Shine. Shine family prominent in the vicinity as early as 1750. A public school near the site operated as Shine School. |
| Ruffin | community in E Rockingham County. Settled prior to 1860 and known first as Stubblefield for a local family. Name changed to honor Thomas Ruffin (1787-1870), chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court. Inc. 1887; new charter issued 1891; charter repealed 1897. Alt. 712. |
| Ruffin Township | NE Rockingham County. |
| Ruffin's Bridge | See Peacock's Bridge. |
| Rufus | community in NW Caldwell County on Mulberry Creek in Pisgah National Forest. Formerly known as Risden; the present name honors W. Rufus Coffey, a nineteenth-century merchant there. |