| Purlear | community in W central Wilkes County on Cole Creek. Named for Isaac Parlier, who settled on nearby Purlear Creek. |
| Purlear Creek | rises in W Wilkes County on the W side of Rendezvous Mountain and flows S into North Prong Lewis Fork Creek. Once known as Isaac Parlier's Creek. |
| Purley | community in N central Caswell County. Probably named for Purley Cobb, local resident. A post office operated there, 1855-1920. Alt. 524. Bright-leaf tobacco was discovered in 1839 on the Slade farm there. |
| Purnell | community in N Wake County on the head of Mud Creek; formerly known as Purnell Crossroads. |
| Purnell Crossroads | See Purnell. |
| Purviance Creek | rises in E New Hanover County and flows E into Masonboro Sound. |
| Purvis | community in W Robeson County. |
| Push | community in S Person County near Aldridge Creek. |
| Putnam | community in N Moore County. Called Johnson City for Harvell Johnson, local resident, until renamed for Israel Putnam (1718-
90), Revolutionary War general, leader, and ancestor of local residents. Alt. 442. |
| Puzzle Creek | rises in E Rutherford County and flows SW into Second Broad River. Quicksand in the creek made it a "puzzle" to early settlers who wondered whether their horses could cross it. |