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Aside from the endless scenic and recreational opportunities, Cherokee County offers theaters, antique shops, craft shows, flea markets and festivals. You will find plenty of restaurants, accommodations, recreational activities, churches, shopping and historical points of interest for you and your family to enjoy.
Fairs, festivals, and other special events often take center stage in the county. America's oldest wagon train is the highlight of the Old Fashioned 4th of July.
Celebration in Andrews. As autumn colors change, the National Appalachian Jeep Jamboree in Murphy, and the Antique Car Show in Andrews are popular events.
From its eastern edge to its western border, Cherokee County features a delightful mix of tradition and history. To the east is the craft community of Brasstown, home of the John C. Campbell Folk School, a national resource for traditional music, dance, crafts and folk lore. The school's craft shop and The Village Handcrafters' (shops just down the road) offer an opportunity to shop with the artists themselves. Since 1974, the Folk School has set aside the first weekend in October for the annual Fall Festival, a two day celebration featuring craft booths and demonstrations, a variety of music on two stages and lots of great food. Concerts featuring musicians, singers, and storytellers from around the region are presented on Friday nights throughout the year. Community country square-dances are held twice a month, with wonderful live music and dance callers from near and far.
In Murphy visit the unique regal blue marble County Courthouse built of locally quarried stone from the nearby community named Marble. At the Cherokee County Historical Museum you can freely view an extensive collection of Indian artifacts, early American tools, housewares and other exhibits of past mountain life. Nearby is the historic Harshaw Chapel. This simple and beautiful old building, made of slave bricks, sits atop a hill overlooking the town.
Enjoy the awe-inspiring Fields of the Wood, a Biblical theme park west of Murphy. Open from sunrise to sunset every day, this park provides an unforgettable experience set within the natural beauty of the area. An entire mountainside portrays the Ten Commandments written in stone. There is the All Nations Cross and replicas of the Jerusalem tomb of Christ and Golgotha.
Just to the north, the Andrews train depot offers scheduled old fashioned train excursions on the Great Smoky Mountains Railway, while the downtown area features an assortment of quaint stores and antique shops
The county's mountain lakes are ideal for a variety of outdoor sports. Hiwassee, Appalachia and Cherokee Lakes offer boating, fishing, camping. and water-skiing. Marinas on Hiwassee Lake provide boat rentals, fishing supplies and launching ramps.
The Nantahala National Forest offers hiking, camping, backpacking. trout fishing and picnicking. In Topton, the Nanathala River is nationally known for its whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking as it rushes through the spectacular Nanathala Gorge.
A variety of accommodations exsist in Cherokee County. You can stay by the river or in the mountains. There are rooms with views, rooms with fireplaces, and rooms furnished with tasteful antiques. There are bed and breakfasts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are motels, rustic cabins and full service camping facilities. Visitors preferring a more primitive outdoor experience can pitch their tents at the Hanging Dog Recreation Area.
Murphy, the county seat, has the distinction of being known as both the first and last town in North Carolina, depending on which way you're going of course. The county's largest town, Murphy combines a rich, interesting past with a strong promising future. Murphy began as an Indian trading post called Huntersville, Then Huntington, and finally was named after Colonel Archibald D. Murphy, who was a state senator and an advocate of education in Western North Carolina.
Andrews and its surrounding valleys is to the north and east by the Snowbird Mountains. The town of Andrews offers a quiet reminder of days when this area of North Carolina was part of the rugged mountain terrain, when roads were only horse trails, and when everyone looked out for his neighbor. Things haven't changed all that much. Horses still abound in the area and friendliness, neighborliness, and a sense of security still prevail.
The history of Andrews is closely related to the building of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, which was complete in Andrews in the spring of 1890. Andrews was named in honor of the railroad's second vice president, Colonel A.B. Andrews.
Other Communities
Cherokee County has several unique communities sprinkled throughout its mountains and valleys. One of the most well-known is the craft community of Brasstown. Topon, the gateway to the Nantahala Gorge offers many recreational facilities. The Peachtree community is home to Murphy Medical Center, Tri-County Community College and several of the fastest growing areas in the county. Other communities include Hiwassee Dam, which boasts its own high school, Marble, Ranger, Martin's Creek, Bellview, Hanging Dog and Cullberson.
County Profile
Population - County, 20,000, Murphy, 1,600, Andrews, 1,500. Government - County - three commissioners and county manager. Towns - mayor and town councilmen (Murphy) and mayor and board of aldermen (Andrews).
The Cherokee County property tax rate is $.57 per $100.00. In addition, property owners inside the city limits of Andrews pay $.52. There is no state property tax in North Carolina. Sales tax in the county is 6%. North Carolina has a maximum 7% personal income tax.
Getting Around the Country
Transportation - While there are no buses or trains which serve Cherokee County, there are shuttle services that will pick up and deliver passengers to and from regional airports.
Roads - Cherokee County is served by US 64, 74, 19, 129, NC, Spur 60, and NC 294. These highways easily connect to 1 - 40, 1 - 75, and 1 - 85.
Airport - Cherokee County is served by the Andrews - Murphy Airport, located in Andrews. It has a lighted 5,000 foot runway and can accommodate small corporate jets as well as other small planes. Charter flights, sightseeing tours and car rentals can be arranged. Tie-down and hanger space is available, as well as fuel and mechanical service.
(Credits to Cherokee County of Commerce)
115 Highway 64 West - Murphy, NC 28906
(704)837-2242 - Fax(704)837-6012
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