Hiwassee, North Carolina facts for kids

Picture from atop the Hiwassee Dam in North Carolina.

Hiwassee is a small village located in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. It sits right next to the impressive Hiwassee Dam. The village is also near the large, human-made Hiwassee Reservoir, which is part of the Hiwassee River.

A Look at Hiwassee's History

Hiwassee Dam once had its own post office. This post office served the community from 1937 until 1958.

How the Library Started

People working on the dam wanted a library. This wish led to the start of North Carolina's oldest regional library. The Nantahala Regional Library began on May 1, 1937. The library branch in Hiwassee village later closed. However, other library locations are still open today.

Hiwassee Dam High School

Hiwassee Dam High School is the westernmost public school in North Carolina. It first opened its doors in the fall of 1939. Four smaller schools joined together to create HDHS. Later, three more schools also became part of HDHS in the 1940s and 1950s. The high school moved into a brand new building in 1956.

Community Services Grow

The Hiwassee Dam Fire Department started in 1974. Its first station was built in the late 1980s. New fire stations were built in 1992, 2012, and 2021. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office also opened a local office in Hiwassee Dam in September 2024. In 2023, there were plans for a new park with trails and a playground. This park would be near the Hiwassee Dam schools. However, the project was put on hold in 2024.

All About Hiwassee Dam

The Hiwassee Dam was built between 1936 and 1940. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) constructed it. This was part of a big government plan called the New Deal. The New Deal was started by President Franklin Roosevelt to help the country during tough times.

Dam Details and Power

The TVA still takes care of the Hiwassee Dam today. The dam stands 307 feet (94 m) tall. It stretches 1,376 feet (419 m) across the Hiwassee River. This powerful dam creates 185,000 kilowatts of electricity.

A World Record Dam

For a while, Hiwassee Dam was the world's tallest "overflow" dam. This means water could flow over its top. It held this record until the Aswan High Dam was finished. The Aswan High Dam is on the Nile River in Egypt. It was completed in the early 1970s. The depth from the top of the dam to the riverbed is 285 feet.

Hiwassee Reservoir: A Big Lake

The Hiwassee Reservoir is a large, human-made lake. It is used for fun activities like boating and fishing. It also helps make electricity and controls floods. The reservoir is surrounded by beautiful forests. These include the Nantahala National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest.

Wildlife and Water Depth

The Hiwassee Reservoir is important for local animals, like deer. It is also very close to the Appalachia Reservoir. The reservoir is fairly shallow in most places. Its average depth is 142 feet (43 m). But in some spots, it can be deeper than 200 feet (61 m).