Jackson County is acounty located in the western part of theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 43,109.[1] Since 1913, itscounty seat has beenSylva,[2] which replacedWebster.Cullowhee is the site ofWestern Carolina University (WCU). In the early 21st century, the university has more than 12,000 students, nearly twice the number of permanent residents of Cullowhee. The university has a strong influence in the region and county. More than 10 percent of the county residents identify as Native American, mostlyCherokee. The federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based atQualla Boundary, land that consists of territory in both Jackson and neighboring Swain County. This is the only federally recognized tribe in North Carolina, and one among three federally recognized Cherokee tribes nationally. The other two are based in what is now the state of Oklahoma, a formerIndian Territory.
This area was part of Cherokee Nation homelands at the time of European encounter. Cullowhee was one of several historic Cherokee towns that had developed along theTuckasegee River, which has its headwaters here and runs into Swain County to the north. Like several other Cherokee towns in the region, Cullowhee was centered around a single earthworkplatform mound, known as Cullowhee Mound, built by ancestral peoples. It is estimated to have been built about 1000 CE, by people during the period of theSouth Appalachian Mississippian culture. Archeological excavations have revealed evidence of indigenous peoples here since 3000 BCE.
While most Cherokee were forced out of the area through succeeding treaties for land cessions, followed byremoval toIndian Territory in the late 1830s, hundreds of Cherokee stayed inWestern North Carolina. Their descendants form most of the federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), the only tribe in the state to have this status. They are based onQualla Boundary, which is located in Swain and Jackson counties. Their citizens make up most of the more than ten percent of people in Jackson County who identify as Native American on the US census.
The European-American population increased slowly in this isolated, mountainous area of the state. Jackson County was not organized until 1851, when it was created from parts ofHaywood andMacon counties. It was named forAndrew Jackson,President of the United States from 1829 to 1837, who promoted Indian Removal from the Southeast in order to allow development by European Americans.[3] The original county courts were held at the home of Dan Bryson in Beta, Scott Creek township. They were moved to Webster the following year.
In 1861 parts of Jackson andHenderson counties were combined to formTransylvania County. In 1871 parts of Jackson andMacon counties were combined to formSwain County. In 1913Sylva was designated by the legislature as the county seat of Jackson County.
In the 1880s, mining companies began to mine forkaolin, used to produce porcelain.Charles Joseph Harris (11 Sep 1853–14 Feb 1944) moved here fromDenver, Colorado about 1888 and became important to development of the county and Western North Carolina from the late 19th century into the 20th century. He eventually established his own mining companies, and shipped kaolin toTrenton, New Jersey, among other places, which was a major manufacturing center. He also acquired tens of thousands of acres of woodland and established lumber businesses. His two sons, David Rust and Robert Ward Harris, joined him in these family businesses.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 494.88 square miles (1,281.7 km2), of which 491.11 square miles (1,272.0 km2) is land and 3.77 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.76%) is water.[5] TheTuckasegee River flows through the county.
Jackson County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, there were 43,109 people, 16,876 households, and 9,964 families residing in the county, and the median age was 36.2 years.[16]
17.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males age 18 and over.[16]
33.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 66.7% lived in rural areas.[18]
Of the 16,876 households in the county, 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 21.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 26,649 housing units, of which 36.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.0% were owner-occupied and 34.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.1%.[16]
As of the2000 census, there were 13,191 households and 8,587 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km2). There were 19,291 housing units at an average density of 39 units per square mile (15 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.68%White, 1.67%Black orAfrican American, 10.20%Native American (mostlyCherokee), 0.51%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.55% fromother races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 18.5% identify as being of American, 13.7% asEnglish, 11.3% asIrish, 10.5% asGerman and 9.2% as ofScots-Irish ancestry according toCensus 2000. 95.3% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish and 1.5%Cherokee as their first language.
There were 13,191 households, out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% weremarried couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.00% under the age of 18, 17.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,552, and the median income for a family was $40,876. Males had a median income of $27,738 versus $22,029 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,582. About 9.50% of families and 15.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.
As mandated by the laws of North Carolina, Jackson County has a commission-manager form of government. The five members of Board of Commissioners are electedat-large to four-year terms. This system of at-large voting, rather than having representatives elected from single-member districts, favors candidates supported by the majority of the population. Together they appoint and oversee the actions of a County Manager, who administers operations.[20]
Jackson County contains a portion of theQualla Boundary, a land trust of historic territory of the federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is sovereign in its territory and is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. The reservation operatesHarrah's Cherokee Casino, which is open to the public, as are associated resort facilities there.
The Jackson County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, patrol and detective services for all of Jackson County except for incorporated Sylva, which has a municipal police department.[21][22]
Together with Buncombe and Watauga counties, Jackson is considered one of three "swing" counties inWestern North Carolina. Except for 1980, it would vote for the winner in every Presidential election from 1960 to 2008. The exception was 1980, whenJimmy Carter won the county but lost nationally.
In 2012, Jackson County voters favored Republican candidateMitt Romney, who was defeated by PresidentBarack Obama. In 2016 county voters split their vote, favoringDonald Trump for the presidency, but DemocratRoy Cooper for governor. The county was one of four in the state to do so.[23] In 2020, Jackson County voters favored Republicans Donald Trump and gubernatorial challengerDan Forest, but DemocratJoe Biden won the election nationally and Cooper wasreelected as governor. While Trump won the county by a similar margin in 2024, Democrat Josh Stein flipped the county on route to hiselection as governor.
United States presidential election results for Jackson County, North Carolina[24]
In 2020 the county and the state voted for incumbent Donald Trump, but DemocratJoe Biden carried the election overall, winning both the popular vote and electoral college.
In the2016 Republican Primary in Jackson County, Donald Trump received 1,624 votes (or 39.5% of the total votes) followed byTed Cruz, who had 1,434 votes (or 34.9% of the total votes). In the 2016 Democratic Primary,Bernie Sanders received 3,021 votes (57.0% of the total);Hillary Clinton received 2,022 votes (38.1% of the total).[25]
In the general election Donald Trump received 9,870 votes (or 52.7% of the total vote); Hillary Clinton received 7,713 votes (41.2% of the total vote) and Libertarian CandidateGary Johnson received 742 votes (4.0% of total votes in the county).[26]
Norfolk Southern Railway operates a portion known as theMurphy Branch through Jackson County, providing a rail connection with the rest of the country. InSylva, Norfolk Southern connects with theGreat Smoky Mountains Railroad. Interchange between the two lines is handled near the site of the Jackson Paper Company. Great Smoky Mountains RR operates the rest of the Murphy Branch fromDillsboro toAndrews.
Because of competition with independent automobile traffic, passenger rail traffic declined; it was stopped in 1948 from Sylva to Murphy. Despite widespread restructuring in the industry across the country, freight commercial service continued another forty-odd years before ending in 1983. In 2015,Watco, which purchased the section which Norfolk Southern previously owned, was reportedly in talks with the towns and counties in an attempt to build a viable tourist railroad clientele. The major obstacle for such service is the Cowee Mountain Tunnel, which does not meet height and weight specifications for modern rail engines and passenger cars.
Barker's Creek: Named for the creek which starts here and flows through the township before entering theTuckasegee River. It includes the Dicks Creek, Barkers Creek, and Wilmont communities.US 74/23 runs as a four-lanedivided highway through the township. The township is served by Smokey Mountain Elementary School andSmoky Mountain High School. Formerly, the Log Cabin Association Consolidated School served the township, but it closed in 1980 when Smokey Mountain Elementary opened.
Canada: Named for the tallridges, narrowvalleys, and sharppeaks of this part of the county, the main waterway is the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River, which flows into the River Township before joining the West Fork, becoming the Tuckasegee River. There are four major lakes: Bear, Wolf, Tanasee Creek, and Ceader Cliff, in the township. It is served by NC 281 and is one of the most remote locations in the county. It is served by Cullowhee Valley School and Smoky Mountain High School. Before the 1990s, the schools for the area were Canada Consolidated School and Cullowhee High School, both closed in the 1980s.
Caney Fork: Named for the creek that flows through the township, which empties into the Tuckasegee River at East LaPorte. The main road is Caney Fork Road. The area is served by Cullowhee Valley School and Smoky Mountain High School. Prior to 1964, the schools that served the area were Johns Creek Elementary and Cullowhee High School.
Cashiers: Named for a lost horse, the town ofCashiers includes the communities of Panthertown Valley, Whiteside Cove, Fairfield, and Sapphire. It is served byNC 107 andUS 64. TheEastern Continental Divide follows a ridge north of the township, and defines the boundaries between the Cashiers, Canada, and Glenville townships. TheChattooga,Horsepasture, andToxaway rivers all originate or flow through the township. It is served byBlue Ridge School, which consolidated Glenville School and Cashiers Elementary in 1975.
Cullowhee: This is derived from theCherokee name for the valley, which referred to a legendary figure, Judacullah.NC 107, Old NC 107, and NC 107-Alternate all serve the township as major roads; NC 107 is the only 4-lane roadway.Western Carolina University, the village ofForest Hills, and the communities of Speedwell, Old Cullowhee Road, Buzzards Roost, and Dicks Gap are all within the township.
In the nineteenth century, this was one of the first areas in the county to be settled by European Americans, along with Caney Fork, River, Scott Creek, and Canada townships. It is the largest township by population according to the2000 United States census. The Cullowhee Creek, a tributary, and theTuckasegee River both flow through the township; the confluence is around Old Cullowhee Road. The township is served by the local Cullowhee Valley School. Older children go toSmoky Mountain High School inSylva. The former Cullowhee High School closed in 1988.
Downtown Dillsboro
Dillsboro: Named after the Dills family who founded the town, the township also has the town ofDillsboro. Scotts Creek arises to the northwest, flowing from Scott Creek Township through Sylva Township into Dillsboro Township, where it flows into the Tuckasegee River.US 74/23,US 441, andNC 107 converge in two major intersections within the township. The township is served by Smokey Mountain and Fairview elementary schools and bySmoky Mountain High School. It has not had its own school since Dillsboro Elementary closed in 1951. The students were transferred to Log Cabin School in Barkers Creek Township, or Sylva Elementary School in Sylva township.
Greens Creek: Named for the creek which flows through most of the township before emptying into Savannah Creek, this township is served byUS 441, a four-lane highway along the western edge. Greens Creek Road goes through the middle of the township. The township is served by Fairview Elementary School and Smoky Mountain High School. It was formerly served by the Savannah Consolidated School, from 1940 to 1973.
Hamburg: Named for the fort and original name ofGlenville, the township is served byNC 107. The area was once a large valley, but the valley was flooded in 1941 by a dam on the Tuckasegee River, which formedLake Glenville. The West Fork of the Tuckasegee River originates within the township, and flows north into the River Township.Blue Ridge School is located in the township and serves the township. It developed in 1975 from the consolidation of the Glenville School and Cashiers Elementary School.
Mountain: Named for Cullowhee Mountain, this township is served by NC 107 Alternate. The headwaters of Cullowhee Creek are located here, flowing north intoCullowhee Township before joining the Tuckasegee River. It is served by Cullowhee Valley School/Smoky Mountain High School in Cullowhee and Sylva, respectively. It was formerly served by Cullowhee High School and Camp Lab Elementary.
Qualla: Named for theQualla Boundary, which occupies most of the township, Qualla Township is served byUS 441,US 19, andUS 74/23. Smokey Mountain Elementary School is located in the township, resulting from the 1980 consolidation of Qualla Elementary School and Log Cabin Association Consolidated School. It is served by theJackson County Public School System and the Cherokee Reservation School System. Students can choose among Smokey Mountain Elementary/Smoky Mountain High School,Cherokee School, or Swain East Elementary, Swain Middle School, and Swain High School. A Cherokee language immersion school has been founded in the township. The communities of Qualla, Birdtown, Soco,Whittier, Indian Hills, and Wilmont are all located at least partially, if not wholly, within the township.
River: Named for theTuckasegee River, which is formed within the township by the confluence of two streams, it is served byNC 107 and NC 281. The community ofTuckasegee is located in the township. It is served by Cullowhee Valley School/Smoky Mountain High School. Prior to 1958, Tuckasegee School and Cullowhee High School both operated here.
Savannah: Named for Savannah Creek, which runs through the district, this township includes the Viewpoint, Pumpkintown, Savannah, and Fort Wilderness communities. The township is served by four-laneUS 441. Fairview Elementary School and Smoky Mountain High School serve the township as well. From 1940 to 1973, it was home to Savannah Consolidated School. Its higher-grade students went toWebster High School and nowSylva-Webster High School.
Scotts Creek: Named for Scotts Creek, which starts here and flows through the township before passing into Sylva Township. It is served byUS 74/23 and oldUS 19/23, which run through the five communities within the township:Balsam,Willets, Ochre Hill,Addie andBeta. TheMurphy Branch Railroad also runs through the township. Scotts Creek School has served the township since 1951. It had a new building constructed in 2001. The old school building is now used for the Jackson County School of Alternatives (the HUB).
Sylva: Named for William D. Sylva, as is the town and county seat ofSylva, located within the township. It is served byNC 107,US 74/23, andBUS 23. TheJackson County Courthouse and Library are both located in the township. Scotts Creek runs through the township before flowing into the Tuckasegee inDillsboro Township. The township is served by Fairview and Scotts Creek elementary schools andSmoky Mountain High School; the latter serves all the county. Consolidation since the late 20th century closed many smaller schools in the county.
Webster: Also the site of the town ofWebster, this township is at the originalgeographical center of the county. Due to territorial changes, that is nowCullowhee Township. For many years, it had the only town in Jackson County. It is served by NC 116 andNC 107. Thecounty seat designation andcourthouse were located here from 1851 to 1913. Since Sylva was designated as the county seat, Webster lost business. The schools that serve the township are Fairview Elementary School (1973) andSmoky Mountain High School (1960/1988).
The train wreck scene inThe Fugitive was filmed in Dillsboro along theGreat Smoky Mountains Railroad. The wreckage set can still be viewed on outbound train excursions from Dillsboro. The later scene in a small hospital was filmed atHarris Regional Hospital in Sylva.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad was also used in the filming ofMy Fellow Americans. The characters are seen getting on to one of their trains as a stand-in for a charter train full of North Carolina Tar Heels fans headed for the NCAA Final Four.
