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Cherokee County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Cherokee County
The Cherokee County Courthouse at Murphy
The Cherokee County Courthouse at Murphy
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.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded 1839
Named for Cherokee people
Seat Murphy
Largest town Andrews
Area
 • Total 467 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Land 455 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.4%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
28,612
 • Density 60/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 11th

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 2010 census, the population was 27,444. The county seat is Murphy, population 1,627 (2010), elevation 1604 ft.

History

The county was formed in 1839 from the western part of Macon County. It was named for the Cherokee Native Americans, some of whom still live in the area.

In 1861 the southeastern part of Cherokee County became Clay County. In 1872 its northeastern part was also separated and became Graham County.

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.

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 - a tributary of the Tennessee River - flows through the county from southeast to northwest.

In April 1974, parts of Cherokee County were affected by a historic weather event - the 1974 Super Outbreak of tornadoes, which 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 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is protected by Tribal Police of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. Following the success of the Harrah's Cherokee Tribal Casino in Cherokee, a second tribal casino on Indian land in the Murphy city limits opened in 2015.

National protected area

  • Nantahala National Forest (part)
  • Cherokee Indian Reservation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, "patchwork land" (part) that includes an outlying Indian Casino near Andrews (under construction as of Summer 2014), to be operated as part of the main Harrah's Casino headquartered in downtown Cherokee, an Indian gaming casino that supports the Eastern Band of the Cherokees.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

US 64 - the longest highway in North Carolina, and a cross country highway, passes through the county 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 Cherokee County, providing connections to Atlanta (to the south) and Knoxville (to the north).

  • US 19
  • US 64
  • US 74
  • US 129
  • NC 60
  • NC 141
  • NC 294

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 3,427
1850 6,838 99.5%
1860 9,166 34.0%
1870 8,080 −11.8%
1880 8,182 1.3%
1890 9,976 21.9%
1900 11,860 18.9%
1910 14,136 19.2%
1920 15,242 7.8%
1930 16,151 6.0%
1940 18,813 16.5%
1950 18,294 −2.8%
1960 16,335 −10.7%
1970 16,330 0.0%
1980 18,933 15.9%
1990 20,170 6.5%
2000 24,298 20.5%
2010 27,444 12.9%
2020 28,774 4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Cherokee County racial composition
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.

Communities

Map of Cherokee County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Cherokee County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Cherokee (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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