Unaka, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Unaka, North Carolina
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 Unaka, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Unaka, North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cherokee |
| Elevation | 1,644 ft (501 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1023032 |
Unaka is a small, quiet place in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and people living together, but it doesn't have its own official town government like a city or a village would.
Unaka is located in a very scenic area, nestled within the huge Nantahala National Forest. This forest is a protected natural space, full of trees, wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
About Unaka
Unaka is found in the western part of North Carolina. It is about 9.6 miles (which is about 15.5 kilometers) northwest of a larger town called Murphy. If you look at a map of North Carolina, Unaka is in the mountainous, western corner of the state.
What's in a Name?
The name Unaka has a special meaning. It comes from the Cherokee language. In Cherokee, "Unaka" means "white." This name was chosen because of how the low-lying clouds and fog often look like white blankets covering the nearby Unicoi Mountains. It's a beautiful way to describe the natural scenery of the area.
Community Life
Even though Unaka doesn't have its own town government, it is still a community where people live. For many years, it even had its own post office. This post office helped people send and receive mail, connecting them to the outside world. However, the post office in Unaka closed on February 15, 1986. Today, residents get their mail through other nearby post offices.
