Brasstown, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brasstown, North Carolina
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Downtown Brasstown
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 Brasstown, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
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| 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
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| 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.
Contents
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 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.
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
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 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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Murphy | Chattahoochee National Forest | Chattahoochee National Forest | |
| Chattahoochee National Forest |  |
Hayesville | ||
 Brasstown  |
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| Lake Nottely | Chattahoochee National Forest | Warne |
