Waxhaws facts for kids
The Waxhaws is a special area that crosses the border between North Carolina and South Carolina in the United States. It includes parts of what are now Lancaster, Union, and Mecklenburg counties. The name "Waxhaws" comes from the Waxhaw people, who were the first Indigenous people to live there. Today, much of this land belongs to the Catawba Indian Nation.
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Where are the Waxhaws Located?
The Waxhaws region is found in the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina. It's southwest of the Uwharrie Mountains. This area stretches from just south of Charlotte, North Carolina, down to Lancaster, South Carolina. It also goes from Monroe, North Carolina, in the east to the Catawba River in the west.
The region is mostly covered in forests and has many hills. However, it does not have mountains. One town in the area is named Waxhaw, North Carolina. This town started its government in 1889. It's important to remember that the town of Waxhaw is just one small part of the larger "Waxhaws" region. Many historical records talk about the whole region, not just the town.
A Look Back: History of the Waxhaws
Originally, European settlers called this area the Waxhaw Settlement. It was named after the Waxhaw people, who lived there first. Sadly, many Waxhaw people died from diseases brought by Europeans. These diseases spread after the first contact with settlers. The remaining Waxhaw people were killed or scattered during the Yamasee War in 1715.
Around 1740, new settlers began to arrive in the Waxhaws. These included people from Ireland, Scotland-Ireland, and Germany. They started building farms in the region. The Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church was built in 1752.
The Waxhaws During the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, brave American fighters were active in the Waxhaws. These "Patriot militiamen" were led by Colonel William Davie. In 1781, British forces under General Charles Cornwallis briefly took over Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte was the biggest town in the region then.
However, the local American fighters quickly drove the British out. Cornwallis later called Charlotte "a hornet's nest of rebellion." Because of this, Charlotte is still nicknamed "The Hornet's Nest." The most important battle in the region during the war was the Battle of Waxhaws. This battle did not involve local fighters.
In this battle, a British cavalry group called the Loyalist cavalry force easily defeated American soldiers. These American soldiers were from Virginia and were part of the Continental Army. Many of them were killed while trying to surrender. The place where this battle happened is now the town of Buford, South Carolina.
Presidents from the Waxhaws
Two United States presidents were born and grew up in the Waxhaws region. The seventh president, Andrew Jackson, was one of them. When he was born, there was no clear border between North and South Carolina. The exact spot where he was born is still not certain.
When he was thirteen, Andrew Jackson joined the fight for his new country. He was captured by the British. An officer told him to clean his boots, but Andrew bravely refused. He reportedly got a sword cut for saying no, which left scars on his hand and face for life. Andrew Jackson later became the seventh president of the United States. (Currier and Ives print, 1876)
Later in his life, Andrew Jackson said he was born on the South Carolina side of the new border. Some people think he said this for political reasons. However, a midwife said she helped deliver Jackson in a cabin north of the border.
The eleventh president of the United States, James K. Polk, was also born in the Waxhaws region. He became president on March 4, 1845. His birthplace is now Pineville, North Carolina. During the American Civil War, in 1864, Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's army marched through parts of the Waxhaws region.
