North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. It is divided into 100 counties, each of which has its own government and services. Ashe, Buncombe, DARE, and Carteret are all counties in North Carolina. Ashe County is located in the northwestern part of the state and is home to the New River, the oldest river in North America. Buncombe County is located in the western part of the state and is home to the city of Asheville. DARE County is located in the northeastern part of the state and is home to the Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands. Carteret County is located in the eastern part of the state and is home to the Crystal Coast, a popular tourist destination.