This Kids Count report examines county and statewide trends in the well-being of North Carolina's children from the 1970s through the 1990s. The statistical portrait is based on 40 indicators of well-being in five categories: (1) demographics; (2) physical well-being, including infant mortality rate and percent low birth weight; (3) intellectual well-being, including dropout rate and children in subsidized child care; (4) social well-being, including divorce rate and teen birth rate; and (5) economic well-being, including median family income and child poverty rate. Multiple comparisons are provided to allow examination of state and county data from several perspectives. The state-level mean, median, highest, and lowest numbers are also provided for each indicator for the latest year available. Following a section on using this data guide, the bulk of the report is comprised of data tables for each county, delineating indicator information for the 1970s, 1980s, 1990, and the latest available. Additional county data are provided for seven indicators for which trend information is not available. State- and national-level trend information is provided in tabular and graphic format. State-level findings indicate that infant mortality has decreased by 68 percent over the last 25 years. Teen suicide has increased 150 percent over the last 25 years. There have been substantial increases in the child abuse and neglect rate and foster care placement. The percent of children in poverty is currently 20 percent. The report concludes with data definitions and sources as well as a county index. (KB)