Cherokee, North Carolina ᏣᎳᎩ (Tsalagi), ᎡᎳᏬᏗ (Elawodi) | |
|---|---|
 Tsalagi Road | |
| Motto: "Trails of Legends and Adventures" | |
 Interactive map of Cherokee, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates:35°28′37″N83°19′13″W / 35.47694°N 83.32028°W /35.47694; -83.32028 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Counties | Swain andJackson |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.07 sq mi (31.26 km2) |
| • Land | 12.07 sq mi (31.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,438 ft (743 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,195 |
| • Density | 181.8/sq mi (70.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 28719 |
| Area code | 828 |
| FIPS code | 37-12140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2629369[2] |
Cherokee/ˈtʃɛrəˌkiː/[3] (Cherokee:ᏣᎳᎩ,romanized: Tsalagi) is acensus-designated place (CDP) inSwain andJackson counties inWestern North Carolina, United States, within theQualla Boundary land trust.[4] Cherokee is located in theOconaluftee River Valley around the intersection ofU.S. Routes 19 and441. As of the2020 census, the CDP had a population of 2,195. It is the capital of the federally recognizedEastern Band of Cherokee Indians, one of three recognized Cherokee tribes and the only one in North Carolina.
The community also serves as a tourist destination, with numerous campgrounds, motels, and hotels serving visitors to theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, with a major entrance to the park lying within the community. The Cherokee Historical Association runs theOconaluftee Indian Village, aliving-history museum, as well as the popular outdoor dramaUnto These Hills, and is associated with theMuseum of the Cherokee People. Cherokee serves as the southern terminus of theBlue Ridge Parkway. TheOconaluftee River flows through the town and is popular for tubing.
Cherokee is the capital of theEastern Band of Cherokee Indians and part of the traditional homelands of the Cherokee people. In the 1870s, the Eastern Band purchased the land for what is called the "Qualla Boundary".[5][6] To continue the heritage of the Cherokee in the town, several signs for Cherokee's streets and buildings are written in bothCherokee syllabary and English. As a census-designated place (CDP), Cherokee overlaps most or part of three of the seven communities of the Qualla Boundary: Painttown, Wolftown, and Yellowhill.
Cherokee and its surrounding Qualla Boundary is in the very mountainous Swain and Jackson counties. The highest elevation is 6,643-foot (2,025 m)Kuwohi at the border with Tennessee. Kuwohi is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[7] TheOconaluftee River flows through downtown Cherokee.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,138 | — | |
| 2020 | 2,195 | 2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 206 | 9.38% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 20 | 0.91% |
| Native American | 1,643 | 74.85% |
| Asian | 27 | 1.23% |
| Other/Mixed | 151 | 6.88% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 148 | 6.74% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 2,195 people, 867 households, and 561 families residing in the CDP.
| Climate data for Cherokee, North Carolina, 1991–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.3 (7.9) | 50.6 (10.3) | 58.6 (14.8) | 68.0 (20.0) | 74.7 (23.7) | 80.1 (26.7) | 82.7 (28.2) | 82.0 (27.8) | 77.9 (25.5) | 68.8 (20.4) | 58.3 (14.6) | 49.2 (9.6) | 66.4 (19.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.4 (2.4) | 39.6 (4.2) | 46.4 (8.0) | 55.2 (12.9) | 62.9 (17.2) | 69.6 (20.9) | 72.7 (22.6) | 71.7 (22.1) | 66.4 (19.1) | 55.9 (13.3) | 45.9 (7.7) | 39.2 (4.0) | 55.2 (12.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 28.7 (−1.8) | 34.2 (1.2) | 42.3 (5.7) | 51.2 (10.7) | 59.1 (15.1) | 62.8 (17.1) | 61.4 (16.3) | 55.0 (12.8) | 43.0 (6.1) | 33.4 (0.8) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 43.9 (6.6) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.74 (120) | 5.00 (127) | 5.84 (148) | 4.93 (125) | 4.71 (120) | 5.13 (130) | 5.21 (132) | 4.21 (107) | 4.04 (103) | 3.06 (78) | 4.18 (106) | 5.66 (144) | 56.71 (1,440) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.6 (6.6) | 0.9 (2.3) | 0.9 (2.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.0 (5.1) | 6.5 (17) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 10.4 | 12.2 | 11.8 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 9.4 | 7.7 | 8.9 | 11.1 | 131.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.0 |
| Source: NOAA[10][11] | |||||||||||||
The EBCI negotiated an agreement with the state, and in 1997 openedHarrah's Cherokee Casino for gaming. It has generated jobs and revenue for the tribe, providing money that the EBCI applies to its people's education, welfare and culture. In 2005, nearly four million people visited the casino and generated aper capita profit of roughly $8,000 annually.[12] Each member of the tribe is paid some annual income; the tribe reinvests other monies for health and related services, and long-term development.
Since the late 20th century, most manufacturing and textile plants left the area, moving their jobs offshore to lower wage areas, such as Southeast Asia. The regional economy suffered. Many of the Cherokee had to rely on jobs related to national park tourism and recreation, which provided work for about half of the year. Many tribal members had to rely on public assistance to survive during the winter.[12]
Cherokee is atourist-oriented area, located at the entrance toGreat Smoky Mountains National Park and at the southern end of theBlue Ridge Parkway. In addition to the casino, it is the site of attractions such as:
Eastern Cherokee history, culture, and crafts are portrayed in thehistorical dramaUnto These Hills, presented annually during the tourist season.
The Cherokee area offers many campgrounds, trails and river adventures. It is also home to threeroadside attractions with zoos: Cherokee Bear Zoo, Chief Saunooke Bear Park, and Santa's Land.
The zoos have been considered controversial.Bob Barker, a retired game show host and animal rights activist, has called for closing theblack bear zoos at these attractions.[14][15]
Cherokee Wonderland andFrontier Land were two amusement parks that operated in the area in the late 1960s and into the early 21st century, respectively. The latter was converted into a water park before being closed to make way for development of Harrah's Cherokee. When they were open, both parks featured their own3 ft (914 mm)narrow gauge railroads (namedCherokee Wonderland Railroad andFrontier Land Railroad).[16]
Cherokee Central Schools operates the K–12 public schools.[21][22]Cherokee High School is the local high school.
The private elementary school,New Kituwah Academy, is based on language immersion in Cherokee.
Previously theBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) provided educational services, and in their schools students were not permitted to speak Cherokee.[23]
Scenes from movies such asDavy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier,Digging to China,Forces of Nature,The Fugitive, andStroszek were shot in Cherokee.[24]
TheCherokee One Feather newspaper has served the community for decades.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Cherokee travel guide from Wikivoyage
35°28′37″N83°19′14″W / 35.47694°N 83.32056°W /35.47694; -83.32056
Municipalities and communities ofSwain County, North Carolina,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofJackson County, North Carolina,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| Village | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
