Maggie Valley, North Carolina Facts for Kids

Maggie Valley is a town located in Haywood County, North Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,687 people lived there. It's a popular place for tourists to visit.

The town is known for the Cataloochee Ski Area, where people go skiing. It was also once home to the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park. Maggie Valley is part of the larger Asheville metropolitan area.

The town got its name from Maggie Mae Setzer. Her father, John "Jack" Sidney Setzer, started the first post office in the area and decided to name it after his daughter.

History of Maggie Valley
Geography and Location
Wildlife in Maggie Valley
- Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains
- Black Bears in the Area
Population and People
Notable People and Local Attractions
See also

History of Maggie Valley

Before European settlers arrived, the land that is now Maggie Valley was home to the Cherokee people and other native groups for thousands of years. The Cherokee living in western North Carolina are known today as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This is a tribe officially recognized by the government.

Maggie Valley officially became a town on May 10, 1904.

Geography and Location

Maggie Valley is found in the west-central part of Haywood County. U.S. Route 19 is the main road that goes through the town.

Traveling east on U.S. Route 19, you can reach Asheville, which is about 35 miles away.
Going west on the same road, over Soco Gap, you will find Cherokee, about 16 miles away.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that the town covers an area of about 8.2 square kilometers (3.2 square miles). All of this area is land, with no water.

Wildlife in Maggie Valley

Maggie Valley and the surrounding areas are home to various wild animals.

Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains

An elk in a Maggie Valley neighborhood.

Long ago, Elk were common across the United States. However, their numbers dropped a lot in the mid-1800s. This happened because of too much hunting and losing their natural homes.

In 2001, several groups worked together to bring wild elk back to the Great Smoky Mountains. These groups included the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Park Service. The elk were released in the Cataloochee Valley, which is close to Maggie Valley.

Most elk stay in Cataloochee Valley, which is a great place to see them. This valley is in the southeastern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, elk sometimes wander out of the park and into the Maggie Valley area. Today, there are an estimated 200 elk living near Maggie Valley.

Black Bears in the Area

Black bears are also sometimes seen in and around Maggie Valley. During the winter, black bears are less active. They don't truly hibernate like some animals, but they do slow down. This is because there is less food available and temperatures are colder.

Because they are less active in winter, people might see more bears looking for food when they do come out. This can be risky if bears come into neighborhoods or get hit by cars on roads. Locals strongly advise people to:

Never get close to a bear to take pictures.
Never leave food or garbage outside.
Take in bird feeders, especially at night, if they are not being watched.

Population and People

The population of Maggie Valley has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1980	202	—
1990	185	−8.4%
2000	607	228.1%
2010	1,150	89.5%
2020	1,687	46.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,687 people living in the town. There were 833 households and 562 families.

Notable People and Local Attractions

Maggie Valley has been home to or associated with some interesting people and places.

Raymond Fairchild was a famous banjo player. He was a member of the "Hall of Greats" for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.
Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum is a popular attraction in Maggie Valley. It displays many old and unique motorcycles.

Maggie Valley, North Carolina facts for kids

Contents