NC 130 was established around 1928 as a renumbering of part of NC 201 between NC 30 in Supply, to the intersection of Moore Street and Atlantic Avenue in Southport. In 1930, NC 130 was extended west along NC 30 to Shallotte, then northwest along new primary routing to NC 23 near Whiteville. In 1940, NC 130 made its final westward extension, by overlapping with US 701 to US 74 in Whiteville; in concurrency, it travels with US 74 until Boardman, then replaced NC 71 through Fairmont and Rowland before ending at US 74/NC 71 in Maxton. By 1944, NC 130 was rerouted in Shallotte onto Whiteville Road and Powell Street to US 17 on Village Road; its old alignment of Bridger Road and Mulberry Street was downgraded to secondary roads. In 1949, NC 130 was extended north on new primary routing from Southport, through the Sunny Point Army Terminal and Orton Plantation, to US 17/US 74/US 76 in Belville. In 1957, NC 130 was truncated in Shallotte; with Supply to Southport becoming part of NC 211 and Southport to Belville part of NC 40. In 1959, NC 130 was extended on new primary routing to Holden Beach. By 1962, NC 130 was adjusted onto Main Street instead of Village Road in Shallotte, downgrading Powell Street to secondary road. In 1965, NC 130 was rerouted on new bypass southeast of Fairmont, with its old alignment through town becoming NC 130 Business. In 1972, US 74/NC 130 was placed on new alignment between the Lumber River and Chadbourn; its old alignment through Boardman and Evergreen became Old US 74. In 1975, US 74/NC 130 was rerouted onto new alignment north of Chadbourn to NC 410, where then continued together south into town; five months later, the concurrencies would change to US 74 Bus. and US 76 Bus. between Chadbourn and Whiteville. NC 130 was rerouted in 2012 onto new four-lane Smith Avenue in Shallotte; NC 130 Business was established continuing along the old alignment with US 17 Bus. and onto Holden Beach Road, then on new routing on Edgewater Drive back to the mainline.
North Carolina Highway 130 Business is a business loop that goes through downtown Fairmont, via Iona Street, Main Street and Cottage Street; it also shares a short concurrency with NC 41. It was established in 1965 when mainline NC 130 was moved to a bypass route south of town.
Shallotte alternate spur
North Carolina Highway 130A was established in 1944 as cutoff between NC 130 and US 17. By 1962, US 17 was rerouted onto new primary highway in Shallotte, thus decommissioning the cutoff as NC 130 was adjusted further west.
Shallotte business loop
North Carolina Highway 130 Business is a business loop in Shallotte.