Haywood County’s scenic beauty is a haven for 55,000 full-time residents and many more visitors
Haywood County’s scenic beauty is a haven for 55,000 full-time residents and many more visitors
Haywood County is one of the most scenic counties in the nation. Home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the county is ringed by sky-piecing peaks, some of which are among the highest in the East.
Those peaks are blanketed with snow come winter and doused by rains come summer; the resultant rivers start as waterfalls high in the mountains and drop into major rivers, carving deep gorges toward the county’s border.
Nestled among the mountains are the small towns of Waynesvile, Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley and host of unincorporated communities ranging from Mt. Sterling in the north to Cruso in the south.
The county was formed in 1808 when it was carved from the western part of Buncombe County, home to Asheville. It was named for John Haywood, a state treasurer. The county was split in 1828 and 1851 to allow for the creation of Macon and Jackson counties.
Today the county is accessed by Interstate 40, U.S. 19, U.S. 23-74 and U.S. 276, plus a number of smaller state routes that climb over the mountains to get here. It’s home to some 55,000 people who work in government related jobs and in the paper, tourism and building trades.
It is perhaps best known for its vacation and recreation opportunities, and hosts hotels, inn, retreats and B&Bs both simple and lavish. It gained notoriety in 2003 with the release of the movie “Cold Mountain,” based on the Charles Frazier novel of the same name.
Haywood County facts
Founded: 1808
Seat: Waynesville
Area: 555 square miles
Population: 54,033
Median Age: 42
Median household income: $33,922
Per capita income: $18,554
At or below poverty line: 11.5 percent
Race: 98 percent white, percent Latino, 1 percent black
Gender: 27,452 male; 57,005 female
Age: 19.8 percent are 0-17; 32 percent are 18 to 44; 28.6 percent are 45 to 64; and 19.6 percent are 65 or older
Feel high?
Haywood County is home to some of the highest peaks east of the Rockies. Some high points include:
Richland Balsam (6,640 feet)
Waterrock Knob (6,292 feet)
Mt. Lyn Lowry (6,280 feet)
Browning Knob (6,250 feet)
Black Balsam (6,214 feet)
Big Cataloochee (6,155 feet)
Mt. Hardy (6,110 feet)
Plott Balsam (6,088 feet)
Tennent Mountain (6,060 feet)
Sam Knob (6,055 feet)
Cold Mountain (6,030 feet)
Interesting facts
•Haywood County is the home to two major religious retreat centers. The Southeastern Administrative Jurisdictional Council of the United Methodist Church has its headquarters, world museum and expansive retreat center at Lake Junaluska. The Lake Logan Episcopal Center is home to Camp Henry and a 300-acre retreat in southern Haywood County.
•All water in Haywood County originates within its borders. The Haywood Waterways Association is working to ensure county residents are good stewards of the water.
•Folkmoot USA, a nearly two week cultural dance and music program beginning the third week in July, is North Carolina’s official folk festival.
Transportation and Utilities
Highways I-40; U.S. 23-74; U.S. 19; U.S. 276
Rail: Norfolk and Southern Railway Corp.
Truck: About 20 common carriers and contract truck lines serve the county
Air: Asheville Regional Airport, 30-minute drive; service is also available in nearby Knoxville, Tenn. and Greenville, S.C., both about 90 minutes away.
Electricity: Progress Energy, Haywood Electric Membership Corporation and the Town of Waynesville
Gas: Public Service Company of North Carolina serves the county. Propane is available from local distributors.
Water: Municipal systems in Haywood County each have their own water source and waste treatment facility.
Haywood County is one of the most scenic counties in the nation. Home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the county is ringed by sky-piecing peaks, some of which are among the highest in the East.
Those peaks are blanketed with snow come winter and doused by rains come summer; the resultant rivers start as waterfalls high in the mountains and drop into major rivers, carving deep gorges toward the county’s border.
Nestled among the mountains are the small towns of Waynesvile, Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley and host of unincorporated communities ranging from Mt. Sterling in the north to Cruso in the south.
The county was formed in 1808 when it was carved from the western part of Buncombe County, home to Asheville. It was named for John Haywood, a state treasurer. The county was split in 1828 and 1851 to allow for the creation of Macon and Jackson counties.
Today the county is accessed by Interstate 40, U.S. 19, U.S. 23-74 and U.S. 276, plus a number of smaller state routes that climb over the mountains to get here. It’s home to some 55,000 people who work in government related jobs and in the paper, tourism and building trades.
It is perhaps best known for its vacation and recreation opportunities, and hosts hotels, inn, retreats and B&Bs both simple and lavish. It gained notoriety in 2003 with the release of the movie “Cold Mountain,” based on the Charles Frazier novel of the same name.
Haywood County facts
Founded: 1808
Seat: Waynesville
Area: 555 square miles
Population: 54,033
Median Age: 42
Median household income: $33,922
Per capita income: $18,554
At or below poverty line: 11.5 percent
Race: 98 percent white, percent Latino, 1 percent black
Gender: 27,452 male; 57,005 female
Age: 19.8 percent are 0-17; 32 percent are 18 to 44; 28.6 percent are 45 to 64; and 19.6 percent are 65 or older
Feel high?
Haywood County is home to some of the highest peaks east of the Rockies. Some high points include:
Richland Balsam (6,640 feet)
Waterrock Knob (6,292 feet)
Mt. Lyn Lowry (6,280 feet)
Browning Knob (6,250 feet)
Black Balsam (6,214 feet)
Big Cataloochee (6,155 feet)
Mt. Hardy (6,110 feet)
Plott Balsam (6,088 feet)
Tennent Mountain (6,060 feet)
Sam Knob (6,055 feet)
Cold Mountain (6,030 feet)
Interesting facts
•Haywood County is the home to two major religious retreat centers. The Southeastern Administrative Jurisdictional Council of the United Methodist Church has its headquarters, world museum and expansive retreat center at Lake Junaluska. The Lake Logan Episcopal Center is home to Camp Henry and a 300-acre retreat in southern Haywood County.
•All water in Haywood County originates within its borders. The Haywood Waterways Association is working to ensure county residents are good stewards of the water.
•Folkmoot USA, a nearly two week cultural dance and music program beginning the third week in July, is North Carolina’s official folk festival.
Transportation and Utilities
Highways I-40; U.S. 23-74; U.S. 19; U.S. 276
Rail: Norfolk and Southern Railway Corp.
Truck: About 20 common carriers and contract truck lines serve the county
Air: Asheville Regional Airport, 30-minute drive; service is also available in nearby Knoxville, Tenn. and Greenville, S.C., both about 90 minutes away.
Electricity: Progress Energy, Haywood Electric Membership Corporation and the Town of Waynesville
Gas: Public Service Company of North Carolina serves the county. Propane is available from local distributors.
Water: Municipal systems in Haywood County each have their own water source and waste treatment facility.