It connects the cities of Cherryville, Dallas, and Gastonia.

In November 1979, NC 279 was extended southeast to the South Carolina state line; overlapping with NC 150 through Dallas and upgrading secondary roads Lower Dallas Highway (SR 2264) and New Hope Road (SR 2302).

At some unknown date, NC 279's western terminus was redirected from the intersection of Church and Mountain streets to Church Street and Rudsil Avenue, in Cherryville.

[2][3] North Carolina Highway 277 (NC 277) was established in 1931 as a new primary routing; it connected U.S. Route 74 (US 74)/NC 20, in Gastonia to NC 150 in Cherryville.

In 1938, its western terminus was moved through downtown Cherryville to NC 274; it is unknown when it was overlapped with NC 274 to end at Church and Mountain streets.