Locust is a small rural city in Stanly and Cabarrus counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 2,930 at the 2010 censu…Locust is a small rural city in Stanly and Cabarrus counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 2,930 at the 2010 census. Locust is located in southwestern Stanly County. Through annexations, the city limits now extend west into Cabarrus County. Locust is bordered by the town of Stanfield to the south.