| Roaring Gap | central Buncombe County N of Rice Knob in Elk Mountains. |
| Roaring Gap | community in SE Alleghany County. Est. in 1890 as a summer resort by Alexander Chatham of Elkin, who bought land there and built the first house. Named for the fact that wind is said to rush with a roar through a gap there. Alt. 3,800. Now popular site for summer homes. |
| Roaring River | is formed in central Wilkes County by the junction of Middle Prong Roaring River and North Prong Roaring River and flows SE into Yadkin River. Named because of an early description of the river, which said that it "comes rushing and roaring" out of the Blue Ridge Mountains. |
| Roaring River | community in E central Wilkes County on Yadkin River at the mouth of Roaring River. Alt. 934. Settled about 1770. Inc. 1905; charter repealed 1907. A post office est. there in 1872. |
| Roaring Spout Creek | rises in E Yancey County and flows E into Browns Creek. |
| Roaring Spout Falls | on Roaring Spout Creek, E Yancey County. |
| Robbins | town in N Moore County on Bear Creek. Known as early as 1828 as Mechanicks Hill and Mechanicsville for David Kennedy, local mechanic and gunsmith. Later known as Elise, and inc. 1935 as Hemp. Name changed in 1943 to Robbins for Karl Robbins, owner of a local mill. Alt. 424. |
| Robbinsville | town and county seat, central Graham County. Alt. 2,150. Post office est. 1874. Town authorized to be laid out in 1872 as Robbinsville for local Robbins family. Inc. in 1893 as Robinsville; name changed in 1897 to Robbinsville. Produces carpets and lumber. |
| Robedo | community in central Montgomery County served by post office, 1903-1907. |
| Roberdel | town in central Richmond County on Hitchcock Creek. Settled approx. 1850; inc. 1889. Named for Robert L. Steele, textile manufacturer. Alt. 246. |