Cherokee County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherokee County
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![]() The Cherokee County Courthouse at Murphy
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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![]() North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
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)
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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.
Contents
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
- Graham County (northeast)
- Macon County (east)
- Clay County (southeast)
- Union County, Georgia (south)
- Fannin County, Georgia (southwest)
- Polk County, Tennessee (west)
- Monroe County, Tennessee (northwest)
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 | |||
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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
Race | Number | Percentage |
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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
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Townships
- Beaverdam
- Brasstown
- Hothouse
- Murphy
- Notla
- Shoal Creek
- Valleytown
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Cherokee (Carolina del Norte) para niños
![]() | Maria Elvira Salazar |
![]() | Veronica Escobar |
![]() | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen |
![]() | Lucille Roybal-Allard |