| Rosman | town in S Transylvania County on French Broad River between its junction with East Fork and North Fork. Named by industrialist J. S. Silverstern, who compounded the word from the names of two associates, Rosenthal and Ormansky. Inc. 1901 as Toxaway; name changed to Estatoe in 1903 and to Rosman in 1905. A NASA satellite-tracking station was built nearby in 1962. Produces lumber. Alt. 2,188. |
| Ross Creek | rises in central Buncombe County near Patton Mountain and flows S into Swannanoa River. Named for an early settler. Often called Chunn Cove Creek. |
| Ross Falls | former waterfalls (8.1 ft. drop in a distance of 0.9 mi.) in Catawba River a short distance N of the South Carolina state line in SW Mecklenburg and SE Gaston Counties. The site is now under the waters of Lake Wylie. |
| Rosser | community in NE Lee County. |
| Rosy | community in S central Transylvania County. |
| Roten | community in W Ashe County. Alt. approx. 3,050. |
| Rougemont | community in NW Durham County. Named for nearby Red Mountain. French rouge (red) and mont (mountain). Alt. 561. Effort to incorporate in 2005 failed. |
| Rough Branch | rises in N Jackson County and flows NW into Hornbuckle Creek. |
| Rough Butt Bald | on the Jackson-Haywood county line. Alt. 6,010. |
| Rough Butt Creek | rises in E Jackson County and flows NW to join Piney Mountain Creek in forming Caney Fork. |