Cherokee County
The Associated Press
CHEROKEE COUNTY. A rainbow spans mountain tops near Murphy, N.C."There are a lot of nice places, and it's a good place to live. We enjoy the scenery. It's just a nice small place to be away from everybody. There's not a lot of nonsense and aggravation."
- Robert Scott, 25, salesman, Cherokee County Cycles, Andrews, N.C.
County seat: Murphy
Other major towns: Andrews, Brasstown
Population: 26,568 (93.8 percent white, 2.0 percent black, 1.5 percent American Indian, 0.3 percent Asian, 1.4 percent Hispanic)
Household income: $35,221
Geographical features: Cherokee County is North Carolina's westernmost county, located in the southern tip of the Great Smoky Mountains and bordered by Tennessee and Georgia. The county is within two hours driving distance from four major metropolitan cities - Chattanooga, Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., and Knoxville - and is home to many lakes, rivers, streams and mountains. Moderate weather is found in the county nearly year round. The county is 467 square miles and portions of the county fall within the boundaries of the Nantahala National Forest.
Points of Interest: John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown; John Franklin Cobb House, Bellview; Cherokee County Courthouse, Murphy; Robert Lafayette Cooper House, Murphy; Fields of the Wood Bible Park; Andrews Train Depot.
Outdoor recreation opportunities: Golf; boating and fishing on the Hiwassee, Apalachia and Cherokee lakes and the Hiwassee River
Top employers: Southwest Health Care Systems (Murphy Medical Center), Cherokee County government and school system, Moog Components Inc., Snap-on Tools Inc., Indian Head Industries Inc.
Notable residents: Cincinnati Bengals football player Carl Pickens and Ty Cobb, baseball player in the early 1900s.
Looking back: The county was formed in 1839 from the western part of Macon County. Parts were split off to make Clay County in 1861 and Graham County in 1872.
Looking ahead: Tourism is a big growth area, but leaders also are trying to develop a wider economic base that includes business, industry and permanent residents. The county also is looking to explore as many areas as possible to become green, including a large solar project under way at Martins Creek Elementary School.
Tourism contact: www.cherokeecountychamber.com, 828-837-2242.