Haywood, North Carolina facts for kids

Haywood is a small, unincorporated community in Chatham County, North Carolina. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a town or city. It's located in the southeastern part of Chatham County, near the border with Lee County and Wake County. Haywood sits at a low elevation of about 75 meters (246 feet) above sea level.

A Look Back at Haywood's History

Haywood was first settled in 1796. It was built where two important rivers, the Deep River and the Haw River, meet. This meeting point is actually where the Cape Fear River begins!

Almost the Capital City

Before Haywood was even settled, it was considered for a very important role. In 1788, leaders thought about making Haywood the new capital city of North Carolina. However, Raleigh was chosen instead.

Haywood also missed out on another big opportunity. In 1792, it was considered as the location for what would become the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But again, another place was chosen.

In its first four years, the community's name changed twice. It was first called Lyons, then Haywoodsborough, and finally, Haywood.

The Dream of a River Port

The new community had big hopes for the shipping industry. Haywood's location where two rivers met seemed perfect for an inland port. This meant boats could bring goods in and out.

The state government gave a company called the Cape Fear Navigation Company the right to build and operate "locks" on the Cape Fear River. Locks are special gates that help boats move between different water levels.

However, the rivers were hard to navigate. By 1834, the company lost interest in improving the river above Fayetteville. In 1852, they gave up their rights to another company, the Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Company. This new company also struggled financially and never built a port for Haywood.

The Railroad's Impact

The final blow to Haywood's shipping dreams came with the arrival of the railroad. Haywood made a big mistake by not allowing trains to come into the community. Because of this, the main railroad station was built in Moncure, which is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) to the west. This meant businesses and people went to Moncure instead of Haywood.

Later Years

Haywood's economy was strongest before the Civil War. After the war, during a time called Reconstruction, there was a brief period of change. In 1870, there was an election where people of different races voted together. Political meetings also included people of all races.

However, the 20th century brought economic decline. The local government eventually dissolved, meaning it stopped existing.

The Obediah Farrar House is an important historic building in Haywood. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, which means it's recognized as a place important to the history of the United States.