About Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a 494-square-mile mountain county in western North Carolina, about an hour west of Asheville. Created in 1851 and named for President Andrew Jackson, it is home to 185 named summits, about 250 named rivers and creeks, and the mountain towns of Balsam, Cashiers, Cherokee, Cullowhee, Dillsboro, Glenville, Sapphire and Sylva. The county seat is Sylva. Jackson County is known for its waterfalls, trout streams, the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and deep Cherokee and Appalachian traditions.
How Jackson County Began
The Cherokee were the first people to live in this region, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians remains part of the area today. Kituwah, the original Cherokee “Mother Town,” sits just outside nearby Bryson City.
The Tuckasegee River, which flows almost the length of the county, was once the dividing line between Haywood and Macon counties. In 1851, a special act of the North Carolina General Assembly created Jackson County from parts of both. After its earliest court sessions met at a private home in Beta, county government settled in Webster.
The arrival of the Southern Railway in 1884 changed everything. Sylva grew up around the depot, was incorporated in 1899, and quickly became the county's business center. A 1912 Southern Railway guide noted that although Webster was still the county seat, Sylva was “in many respects a far more important town.” In 1913, county voters chose to move the county seat from Webster to Sylva, and the new Jackson County Courthouse was completed on the hill above Main Street in 1914. Today the restored courthouse is home to the Jackson County Public Library and is one of the most photographed buildings in North Carolina.
Timber, tanning, farming and mining built the early economy. The county was especially known for kaolin, a fine white clay used to make china and porcelain; the same 1912 railroad guide called Jackson County “famous for its extensive and profitable kaolin workings.” Apple orchards, cattle and sheep, and C.J. Harris's tannery in Sylva also kept the county busy.
Trout fishing has drawn visitors for well over a century. In 1883, the travel guide The Heart of the Alleghanies reported that nearly every creek flowing into the Tuckasegee River “teems with trout,” naming Scott Creek, Caney Fork and Dark Ridge Creek. Today Jackson County is North Carolina's Trout Capital®.
Historic Place Names and Landmarks
- Scott Creek, which flows through Sylva and Dillsboro, is named for John Scott, a well-known figure who spent many years as a trader among the Cherokee.
- The Cowee Tunnel is an 858-foot railroad tunnel through Cowee Mountain near Dillsboro, dug to avoid a winding stretch of the Tuckasegee River. You can still ride through it on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
- Webster, Jackson County's first county seat, sits on a hill above the Tuckasegee River and remains a small, historic town today.
What Early Travelers Said About Jackson County
Nineteenth- and early-20th-century travel writers were struck by the county's scenery and natural resources:
- In 1859, Henry E. Colton called Jackson County “rich in minerals and fertile soil, but, as yet, almost entirely unnoticed.”
- A 1912 Southern Railway guide described Dillsboro as “an elysium for the health seeker, a paradise for the sportsman.”
- The same guide said of Sylva that “the nearby mountains are clothed with dense forest almost to their very summits.”
Mountains, Rivers and Public Lands
Elevations in Jackson County range from less than 2,000 feet in the Tuckasegee River valley at Whittier to 6,410 feet at the summit of Richland Balsam, the county's highest peak, in the Great Balsam Mountains. The Plott Balsam range also rises above 6,000 feet along the county's northern edge.
About 45 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway run through Jackson County, including the Parkway's highest point at Richland Balsam Overlook (6,053 feet). Much of the county is protected public land, including the 39,000-acre Roy Taylor Forest in the Nantahala National Forest, home to the Tuckasegee Gorge and Panthertown Valley.
Cherokee and Appalachian Heritage
Jackson County's culture blends Cherokee traditions with the Scots-Irish heritage of the Appalachian settlers who followed. Ways to experience it today:
- Cherokee heritage: Visit the Museum of the Cherokee People, the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the outdoor drama Unto These Hills in Cherokee.
- Appalachian history: Explore the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, and the annual Mountain Heritage Day festival each fall.
- Handmade crafts: Shop for authentic Cherokee and Appalachian crafts at Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual in Cherokee and the volunteer-run Dogwood Crafters cooperative in Dillsboro.
- Historic homes: Tour the Zachary-Tolbert House, a 19th-century home preserved by the Cashiers Historical Society.
Historic Walking Tours
Jackson County at a Glance
- 811 feet: the total drop of Whitewater Falls
- 6,410 feet: the summit of Richland Balsam, the county's highest peak
- 185 named summits and about 250 named creeks and rivers
- About 45 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including its highest point
See all of our fun facts about Jackson County, from the Shadow of the Bear to movies filmed in Sylva and famous locals, or download or order your free Jackson County Visitor Guide.
Jackson County History FAQ
When was Jackson County, NC formed?
Jackson County was created in 1851 by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly, from parts of Haywood and Macon counties.
Who is Jackson County, NC named after?
Jackson County is named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States.
What is the county seat of Jackson County, NC?
Sylva is the county seat. Webster served as the county seat until 1913, when voters chose to move it to Sylva, which had grown quickly after the railroad arrived in 1884. The new Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva was completed in 1914.
When was Sylva, NC incorporated?
Sylva was incorporated in 1899. By 1913, it had grown to 1,275 residents, and the following year it became the county seat.
How big is Jackson County, NC?
Jackson County covers about 494 square miles, with elevations from under 2,000 feet near Whittier to 6,410 feet at Richland Balsam.
What is Jackson County, NC known for?
Jackson County is known for its waterfalls, including 811-foot Whitewater Falls; trout fishing, as North Carolina's Trout Capital®; the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway; Western Carolina University; and its Cherokee and Appalachian heritage.
What was Jackson County known for historically?
Jackson County's early economy was built on timber, mining, tanning and farming. It was especially known for kaolin, a fine white clay used to make china and porcelain, as well as apple orchards, livestock and trout streams that drew anglers as early as the 1880s.
How did Scott Creek get its name?
Scott Creek, which flows through Sylva and Dillsboro, is named for John Scott, who spent many years as a trader among the Cherokee.
What is the Cowee Tunnel?
The Cowee Tunnel is an 858-foot railroad tunnel through Cowee Mountain near Dillsboro, built to avoid a winding stretch of the Tuckasegee River. Passengers still ride through it on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
