Cherokee County is North Carolina's western most county, located in the southern tip of the Great Smoky Mountains and bordered by the states of Tennessee and Georgia. We are within two hours driving distance from four major metropolitan cities. Our county is rich in natural beauty with many lakes, rivers, streams and mountains. The moderate weather our county enjoys is conducive to year around living. Friendly folks and mountain hospitality await all who visit and makes Cherokee County an ideal place to live, work and play.

MURPHY

Murphy, located in Cherokee County, is the county seat and has the distinction of being known as both the first and last town in North Carolina, depending on which way you're going, of course. Murphy combines a rich, interesting past with a strong promising future. Murphy began as an Indian trading post called Huntersville, then Huntington, and finally was named after Archibald D. Murphey, who was a state senator and an advocate of education in Western North Carolina. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 467 square miles. It is 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, and the Hiawassee River flows through the county from southeast to northwest. The county population is around 24,000. 

The county contains 300,100 acres, with 92,363 acres of United States Forest Service Land, 8,700 acres of lakes, and 6,000 acres of Indian land, with the remaining area being farmlands.  The county is surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest.  The highest elevation in the county is about 5,100 feet, on the corner where Cherokee and Clay counties meet at Fires Creek.  The lowest elevation is about 1,200 feet, where Apalachia Lake crosses into Tennessee.

The many lakes and breathtaking mountain views create many scenic backdrops. There are hiking trails, fishing streams, and camping areas, where the air is crisp and clean.  There are nearby white water adventures, golfing, boating, horseback riding and many other activities available in the area.  Cherokee County has theaters, craft shows, antique shops, festivals and fairs.  The crime rate is low and one can find serenity in this beautiful mountain area.

HISTORY

The site of Murphy, along the Hiwassee River, was known to the Cherokee Indians as Tlanusi-yi (the Leech Place), because of a legend about a giant leech named Tlanusi that lived in the river there.  The Trading Path (later called the "Unicoi Turnpike") passed by the future site of Murphy, connecting the Cherokee lands east of the mountains with the "Overhill Towns" of Tennessee.  In 1836, during the Cherokee removal known as the Trail of Tears, the United States army built Fort Bulter in what is today Murphy. Fort Butler acted as the main collection point for Cherokee east of the mountains. From Fort Butler the Cherokee were taken over the mountains on the Unicoi Turnpike to the main internment camps at Fort Cass (today Charletston, TN). Today the Unicoi Turnpike is known as Joe Brown Highway.

Murphy was once the terminus of the Murphy Branch rail line built in the late 1800s.  The tracks between Andrews and Murphy are still in place but have not been in use since the late 1980s after Norfolk Southern decided to close the leg because of a lack of freight traffic. When the railroad began eying the rest of the Murphy Branch past Dillsboro for closure the state of North Carolina stepped in and purchased the tracks to keep the right-of-way alive. It later sold the tracks to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad which had leased them from the state for a number of years. This section of the Murphy Branch has the distinction of being the first stretch of track the state ever purchased in modern times and began a long running practice for the state of North Carolina that eventually became the state's "Rails to Trails" program which maintains railroad rights-of-way for future use.

INTERESTING TRIVIA ABOUT MURPHY

• Carl Pickens, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals was born and played high school football in Murphy.

• Christian rock band Petra performed their final concert in Murphy on December 31, 2005.

• Murphy is mentioned extensively in "A Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins, as the author spent several months living with a local family and working at a sawmill nearby.

• Murphy has been an answer on the game show Jeopardy 3 different times for the following: 1. At one time, it was 1 of only 2 towns in the country to be the terminus of two trains lines (Southern and L&N) 2. One of only 3 towns to have an all marble court house. Only one in which it was actually quarried in the same county. 3. Though not right in Murphy, the largest 10 Commandments in the world is located just outside of Murphy at Fields of the Wood.

ANDREWS

Andrews and its surrounding valley is ringed to the north and east by the Snowbird Mountains. The town of Andrews offers a quiet reminder of days when this area of North Carolina was part of the rugged mountain terrain.

The history of Andrews is closely related to the building of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, which was complete in Andrews in the spring of 1890. Andrews was named in honor of the railroad's second vice president, Colonel A. B. Andrews.

BRASSTOWN AND OTHER COMMUNITIES

Cherokee County has several unique communities sprinkled throughout its mountains and valleys. One of the most well-known is the craft community of Brasstown where the famous John C. Campbell Folk School is located. This school ofers classes in many variations of arts and crafts. They host several festivals throughout the year as well. It attracts visitors from all over the world. Topton, the gateway to the Nantahala Gorge offers many recreational facilities. The Peachtree community is home to Murphy Medical Center, Tri-County Community College and several of the county's industries. Other communities include Hiwassee Dam, which boasts its own high school, Marble, Ranger, Martin's Creek, Bellview, Hanging Dog and Culberson.