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Brasstown, North Carolina
Downtown Brasstown
Downtown Brasstown
Brasstown, North Carolina is located in North Carolina
Brasstown, North Carolina
Brasstown, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Clay
Area
 • Total 12.21 sq mi (31.63 km2)
 • Land 12.17 sq mi (31.52 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
1,736 ft (529 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
28902
Area code(s) 828
GNIS feature ID 1019281

Brasstown is a small community in North Carolina, United States. It's mostly in Clay County, but part of it stretches into Cherokee County. A stream called Brasstown Creek flows through the area, marking the county line.

Brasstown's History and Name

The name "Brasstown" comes from a misunderstanding of a Cherokee word. The Cherokee name, "Itse'yĭ", meant 'New Green Place' or 'Place of Fresh Green'. But it sounded similar to another Cherokee word, "Ûňtsaiyĭ", which meant "brass". That's how the name "Brasstown" came to be!

Early Days in Brasstown

Brasstown is the oldest place where people have continuously lived in Clay County. It was built along an old Native American path called the Unicoi Turnpike. In 1813, this path became a road where people paid a fee to use it. A store and an inn were built that same year.

The Brasstown, N.C., post office in January 1926
The Brasstown post office in January 1926

The biggest church in Brasstown, Little Brasstown Baptist, started in 1850. The town got its first post office in 1871. It closed for a bit but reopened in 1889.

Schools and Roads

In the 1920s, children went to Little Brasstown School House. Later, they attended Ogden school, which even had high school classes. Ogden school closed in 1975. Today, students from Clay County go to public schools about 10 miles (16 km) away in Hayesville.

Building the main road, US 64, through Brasstown began in 1921.

A Unique Time Zone

Did you know Brasstown once had its own special time zone? As late as 1934, Cherokee County used Central time, and Clay County used Eastern time. To avoid confusion, especially with events at the folk school, Brasstown clocks were set halfway between the two! So, if it was 1 p.m. in Murphy and 2 p.m. in Hayesville, it was 1:30 p.m. in Brasstown.

Brasstown, N.C. on Aug. 28, 2022
Brasstown in 2022

Local Businesses and Community

A creamery (a place that makes dairy products) opened in Brasstown in 1924. It made butter and later ice cream and milk. It could make a lot of butter each week! The creamery closed in 1974, and now an art gallery is in its building.

Around the 1930s, a gold mine operated in Brasstown. The community also has a volunteer fire department, which started in 1976. In 2023, the fire department moved into a new building.

The Brasstown Community Center opened in 1998. It's a large building with a kitchen, a gym, a playground, and a walking track. It's also where people in town go to vote.

The Annual Opossum Drop

Clay's Corner, home of the Possum Drop, in Brasstown, N.C
Clay's Corner, home of the Possum Drop

For many years, Brasstown was known for its unique New Year's Eve event called "The Possum Drop." Instead of dropping a ball like in New York City, a box with a living opossum was lowered from the roof of a local store at midnight. The opossum was then released safely.

The event started small in 1990. Over the years, it grew and even got attention from news outlets like The New York Times. However, animal welfare groups raised concerns about the use of a live animal. Because of these concerns and legal challenges, the event stopped being held.

Today, many locals celebrate New Year's Eve with music, dancing, and food at the nearby John C. Campbell Folk School.

Education and Arts

John C. Campbell Folk School

The John C. Campbell Folk School is a very special place in Brasstown. It's dedicated to keeping alive and teaching the traditional arts and crafts of the Appalachian Mountains. It was started in 1925 and is the largest and oldest folk school in the United States.

The land for the school was given by Fred O. Scroggs, who wanted to make sure mountain culture and its teachings were preserved. Each year, more than 6,000 adult students and 100,000 visitors come to the school. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Healthcare Services

Brasstown is served by Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. This hospital is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west in Peachtree. It opened in 1979 and is an important healthcare center for the western part of North Carolina.

Tri-County Race Track

The Brasstown sign in downtown Brasstown, North Carolina 01
The Brasstown sign across from Clay's Corner

The Tri-County Race Track is a fun place in Brasstown. It's a 1/4-mile dirt oval track where car races are often held on Friday evenings. Even famous NASCAR driver Bill Elliott gained experience racing here!

Jack Wimpey built the track in 1968, and the first race happened the next year. In 2018, special VIP viewing areas were added.

Notable People from Brasstown

  • Olive Dame Campbell – She was a folklorist (someone who studies folk culture) and founded the John C. Campbell Folk School.
  • Bob Dalsemer – He is well-known for writing and calling square and contra dances.
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