<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001233138</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000811589</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>FIRST BANCORP</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>000-15572</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>300 SW Broad St</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Southern Pines</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>NC</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>28387</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>910-246-2500</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>JAMES C CRAWFORD III</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>5573</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>274303.06</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>41341919</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/26/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/01/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1221</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/01/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>05/31/2019</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>903</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>05/31/2019</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/01/2018</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>763</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/01/2018</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/01/2017</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1119</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/01/2017</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/01/2021</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>705</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/01/2021</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/01/2022</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation for Past Services</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>862</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/01/2022</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/26/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ James Crawford</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
