Cherokee County, North Carolina

Cherokee County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It borders Tennessee to its west and Georgia to its south. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,774.[1] The county seat is Murphy, elevation 1604 ft.[2][3]

Cherokee County
County
Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy
Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy
Official seal of Cherokee County
Seal
Official logo of Cherokee County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Cherokee County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°08′N 84°04′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1839
Named forCherokee Indians
SeatMurphy
Largest townAndrews
Area
 • Total467 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Land455 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,774
 • Estimate 
(2022)
29,512
 • Density63.2/sq mi (24.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.cherokeecounty-nc.gov

History

This area was occupied for thousands of years by indigenous peoples who settled in the river valleys. It was part of the historic Cherokee homelands, a large territory composed of areas of what are now western Virginia, western North and South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and northeastern Georgia.

The county was formed in 1839 from the western part of Macon County in the year that the United States removed most of the Cherokee from the Southeast on what became known as the Trail of Tears. The county was named for the Cherokee Native Americans. It is near the Qualla Boundary, now lands of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This is the only such recognized tribe in North Carolina. The tribe is primarily composed of descendants of Cherokee who remained in North Carolina at the time of removal.

As European-American population increased in the area in the 19th century, the state legislature created new counties. In 1861 the southeastern part of Cherokee County became Clay County. In 1872, its northeastern part was separated and organized as Graham County.

In the late 19th century, there was widespread interest in Native American cultures. In the 1870s, the Valentine brothers of Richmond, Virginia, caused extensive damage to at least eight ancient mounds in Cherokee, Haywood, Jackson, and Swain counties. They roughly excavated and looted them, seeking artifacts for the museum of their father, Mann S. Valentine, which he operated in Richmond.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 467 square miles (1,210 km2), of which 455 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.4%) is water.[5]

Located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, Cherokee County contains a varied natural landscape. Portions of the county fall within the boundaries of the Nantahala National Forest. The Hiwassee River flows into Tennessee after passing through this county from southeast to northwest; it is a tributary of the Tennessee River. Both rivers are known to have had several historic Cherokee towns and villages located along their banks.

In April 1974, parts of Cherokee County were affected by a historic weather event, the 1974 Super Outbreak of tornadoes. This affected parts of 13 states and was the second-largest such event to be recorded in the U.S.

Indian reservation

Portions of the Qualla Boundary, also known as the Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation, are located in Cherokee County. These are non-contiguous and are separate from the main part of the Qualla Boundary, which is in Swain and Jackson counties. The land is exclusive territory of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is protected by their Tribal Police. Following the success of Harrah's Cherokee Tribal Casino in Cherokee, the EBCI opened a second tribal casino in 2015 on a plot of their land here, located within the Murphy city limits.

National protected area

State and local protected areas
  • Cherokee Lake Recreation Area
  • Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Hanging Dog Recreation Area
  • Nantahala National Forest Game Land (part)[6]

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

US 64, the longest highway in North Carolina, and a cross-country highway, passes through the county from east–west. US 74, which links Chattanooga, Asheville, Charlotte, and Wilmington, is a major 4-lane highway through the county. US 19 and US 129 also pass through the county, providing connections to Atlanta to the south and Knoxville to the north. There is also a plan to extend Interstate 24 from Chattanooga, to Charlotte.

Major Infrastrure

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18403,427—
18506,83899.5%
18609,16634.0%
18708,080−11.8%
18808,1821.3%
18909,97621.9%
190011,86018.9%
191014,13619.2%
192015,2427.8%
193016,1516.0%
194018,81316.5%
195018,294−2.8%
196016,335−10.7%
197016,3300.0%
198018,93315.9%
199020,1706.5%
200024,29820.5%
201027,44412.9%
202028,7744.8%
2022 (est.)29,512[7]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12]
2020[13]

2020 census
Cherokee County racial composition[14]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 25,366 88.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 373 1.3%
Native American 417 1.45%
Asian 158 0.55%
Pacific Islander 3 0.09%
Other/Mixed 1,561 5.43%
Hispanic or Latino 899 3.12%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,774 people, 12,471 households, and 8,465 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 24,298 people, 10,336 households, and 7,369 families residing in the county. The population density was 53 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 13,499 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.82% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 1.63% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.3% were of American, 10.8% Irish, 10.6% German and 10.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.7% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,336 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,992, and the median income for a family was $33,768. Males had a median income of $26,127 versus $18,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,814. About 11.70% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.20% of those under age 18 and 18.00% of those age 65 or over.

Law, government, and politics

Government

Mandated by the laws of the State of North Carolina, Cherokee County is governed by an elected five-member board of commissioners who each serve a four-year term. The board directs the actions of the appointed Cherokee County Manager. The commission, as of 2020, is composed of Republicans Cal Stiles, Randy Phillips, Gary (Hippie) Westmoreland, Dr. Dan Eichenbaum, and Jan Griggs.[16][17]

Cherokee County faces more than $50 million in costs related to lawsuits over its Department of Social Services practice of separating children from families with an unlawful form to bypass judicial approval.[18]

Sheriff and police

Court protection, jail management, and security for county owned property plus patrol and detective services for unincorporated county areas is provided by the Cherokee County Sheriff. Towns Murphy and Andrews have municipal police departments. The Qualla Boundary tribal police provide security for the Cherokee Nation's Qualla Boundary territories throughout the county.[19][20]

Fire and EMS

Fire protection is provided by thirteen all-volunteer fire departments in the county including those at Culberson and Murphy.[21] Cherokee County Fire Inspector activity is part of the Cherokee County Building Code Enforcement Office.[22]

Politics
United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, North Carolina[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 12,628 76.89% 3,583 21.82% 212 1.29%
2016 10,844 76.47% 2,860 20.17% 477 3.36%
2012 9,278 72.11% 3,378 26.25% 211 1.64%
2008 8,643 68.67% 3,785 30.07% 158 1.26%
2004 7,517 67.12% 3,635 32.46% 47 0.42%
2000 6,305 65.17% 3,239 33.48% 130 1.34%
1996 3,883 49.26% 3,129 39.69% 871 11.05%
1992 4,021 45.91% 3,686 42.09% 1,051 12.00%
1988 4,557 63.78% 2,567 35.93% 21 0.29%
1984 4,894 63.73% 2,776 36.15% 9 0.12%
1980 3,849 54.37% 3,114 43.99% 116 1.64%
1976 3,210 46.88% 3,571 52.15% 67 0.98%
1972 4,113 62.28% 2,411 36.51% 80 1.21%
1968 3,768 53.18% 2,402 33.90% 915 12.91%
1964 3,106 44.83% 3,823 55.17% 0 0.00%
1960 4,294 57.32% 3,197 42.68% 0 0.00%
1956 3,830 57.40% 2,843 42.60% 0 0.00%
1952 3,228 48.98% 3,363 51.02% 0 0.00%
1948 2,615 46.93% 2,771 49.73% 186 3.34%
1944 2,625 50.41% 2,582 49.59% 0 0.00%
1940 2,674 45.68% 3,180 54.32% 0 0.00%
1936 3,214 48.06% 3,473 51.94% 0 0.00%
1932 3,131 48.14% 3,348 51.48% 25 0.38%
1928 3,239 62.89% 1,911 37.11% 0 0.00%
1924 2,314 56.73% 1,742 42.71% 23 0.56%
1920 2,506 58.73% 1,761 41.27% 0 0.00%
1916 1,362 50.00% 1,362 50.00% 0 0.00%
1912 734 34.67% 906 42.80% 477 22.53%
1908 1,310 62.62% 782 37.38% 0 0.00%
1904 980 59.65% 663 40.35% 0 0.00%
1900 1,157 59.73% 774 39.96% 6 0.31%
1896 987 56.11% 770 43.77% 2 0.11%
1892 692 47.72% 692 47.72% 66 4.55%
1888 888 56.89% 673 43.11% 0 0.00%
1884 678 56.74% 517 43.26% 0 0.00%
1880 649 47.34% 722 52.66% 0 0.00%

As is becoming increasingly universal for Appalachia, Cherokee is a powerfully Republican county. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Cherokee County since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and the past five Republican candidates have all exceeded 65 percent of the county's vote, with Donald Trump exceeding 75 percent.

In the North Carolina House of Representatives. Cherokee County lies within the 50th Senate district, represented by Republican Senator Jim Davis, it also lies within the 120th district, and is represented by Republican Kevin Corbin in the North Carolina Senate.

Cherokee County is a member of the regional Southwestern Commission council of governments.

Communities
Map of Cherokee County with municipal and township labels

Towns

Census-designated place

Village

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Beaverdam
  • Hothouse
  • Murphy
  • Notla
  • Shoal Creek
  • Valleytown

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cherokee County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. "The History of Murphy, North Carolina". Mountain Country Cabin Rentals. July 2, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Stone, Jessi (August 3, 2016). "Protecting the past: Mounds hold key to understanding Cherokee history". Smoky Mountain News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  6. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cherokee County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  13. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cherokee County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. "Cherokee County, NC | Official Website". www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  17. "NC SBE Contest Results". Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  18. Martin, Kate (August 19, 2021). "County wary of lawsuit costs as insurer tries to reduce its liability". Carolina Public Press. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  19. "Sheriff's Office | Cherokee County, NC". www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov. Retrieved August 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. "Home - Murphy, NC Police". www.murphypolice.com. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  21. "Resource Directory • Cherokee County, NC • CivicEngage".
  22. "Fire Inspection Office | Cherokee County, NC". www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov. Retrieved August 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  24. "Violet Populated Place Profile / Cherokee County, North Carolina Data". northcarolina.hometownlocator.com.
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