Balsam, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balsam, North Carolina
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View from the Balsam Mountain Inn
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 Balsam, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Balsam, North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Jackson |
| Incorporated | 1951 (inactive) |
| Named for | Balsam Mountains |
| Area | |
| • Land | 3.2 sq mi (8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,304 ft (1,007 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 49 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28707
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| FIPS code | 828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1018943 |
Balsam is a small, unincorporated community in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. It is named after the beautiful Great Balsam Mountains nearby. This area is special because it has the highest standard-gauge railroad east of the Rocky Mountains, at 3,315 feet (1,010 meters) high. A standard-gauge railroad means the distance between the two rails is the same as most trains in the world.
The community is located near Balsam Gap. This gap is a mountain pass found between the Great Balsam Mountains and the Plott Balsams. These are two of the tallest mountain ranges in the Appalachian Mountains. The town and the mountains get their names from two types of trees: the red spruce (sometimes called "he-balsam") and the Fraser fir (known as "she-balsam"). These trees are common at the highest points in the Southern Appalachian mountains.
Who Lives in Balsam?
According to a count done in 2000, only 49 people lived in Balsam. These people lived in 14 different homes, and 11 of those were families. The community is very small, with a low number of homes for its size.
A Look at Balsam's Past
Balsam used to be a popular stop for tourists traveling on the Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad. Later, this became part of the Southern Railway. In the early 1900s, visitors would travel from Asheville, North Carolina by train to the Balsam depot. From there, they would walk up the hill to stay at the Balsam Mountain Inn.
Today, the old train depot is no longer in its original spot. It was moved to a private location in the 1960s. The original train tracks are now rarely used by the Norfolk Southern Railway. The Balsam Mountain Inn is still open today. It was fixed up in 1990 and again in 2004, and it still has a restaurant. It helps people remember what the area was like a long time ago.
Another important building, Knight's Store, stands near where the train depot used to be. This building was built in the early 1900s but closed its doors in 1979.
The community of Willets is close to Balsam. Sometimes people think it's part of Balsam, but it's actually a separate place. Balsam once had many stores, churches, houses, the Balsam Mountain Inn, its own train depot, and a school. However, most of these buildings are now just memories.
In the 1970s, a new four-lane highway (US 74/23) was built. This road cut through the community, causing some buildings to be torn down. It also made Balsam more connected to the outside world. Today, many people who live in Balsam travel to work in nearby towns like Sylva and Waynesville.
All the old stores in Balsam have closed, but some of the old store buildings are still standing. The schools in Balsam were combined with Scotts Creek Elementary in 1951. Any old mills that were once there are now closed and gone. Balsam still has a post office and its famous inn. The old Balsam Depot was moved up a hill in the 1960s and turned into a house. Balsam is now much quieter than it was when it was a busy tourist town from the 1890s to the 1930s.
Fun Things to Do in Balsam
Balsam is located near several popular places for outdoor activities. Some of these spots can be reached from the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Waterrock Knob
- Moonshine Creek Campground
- Graveyard Fields
- Balsam Mountain Inn
See also
In Spanish: Balsam para niños
