Jackson County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,109. Since 1913, its county seat has been Sylva, which replaced Webster. Cullowhee is the site of Western 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, mostly Cherokee. The federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based at Qualla Boundary, land that consists of territory in both Jackson and neighboring Swain County. This is one among three federally recognized Cherokee tribes nationally. The other two are based in what is now the state of Oklahoma, a former Indian Territory.
Contents
History
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 the Tuckasegee 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 earthwork platform 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 the South 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 by removal to Indian Territory in the late 1830s, hundreds of Cherokee stayed in Western North Carolina. Their descendants form most of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), the only tribe in the state to have this status. They are based on Qualla 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.
Mid-19th century to present
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 of Haywood and Macon counties. It was named for Andrew 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. 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 and Henderson counties were combined to form Transylvania County. In 1871 parts of Jackson and Macon counties were combined to form Swain County. In 1913 Sylva was designated by the legislature as the county seat of Jackson County.
In the 1880s, mining companies began to mine for kaolin, used to produce porcelain. Charles Joseph Harris (11 Sep 1853–14 Feb 1944) moved here from Denver, 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 to Trenton, 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.
Geography
According to the U.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. The Tuckasegee River flows through the county.
National protected areas
Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
Ellicott Rock Wilderness (part)
Judaculla Rock (part)
Nantahala National Forest (part)
Qualla Boundary (part)
Waterrock Knob (part)
State and local protected areas/sites
Judaculla Rock
Nantahala National Forest Game Land (part)
The Pines Recreation Area
Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)
Ralph J Andrews Recreation Park
Salt Rock Gap
Southern Highlands Reserve (part)
Major water bodies
Bear Creek Lake
Brushy Creek
Cedar Cliff Lake
Chattooga River
Connelly Creek
Dark Ridge Creek
Greens Creek
Horsepasture River
Lake Glenville
Oconaluftee River
Slickens Creek
Toxaway River
Tuckasegee River
Wayhutta Creek
West Fork Tuckasegee River
Whitewater River
Adjacent counties
Haywood County – northeast
Transylvania County – east
Oconee County, South Carolina - south
Macon County – west
Swain County – northwest
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 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.
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.
The racial makeup of the county was 77.5% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 9.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.9% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.6% of the population.
33.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 66.7% lived in rural areas.
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.
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%.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 40,271 people.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 13,191 households and 8,587 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 10.20% Native American (mostly Cherokee), 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.5% identify as being of American, 13.7% as English, 11.3% as Irish, 10.5% as German and 9.2% as of Scots-Irish ancestry according to Census 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,582. About 9.50% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.
Law, government, and politics
Government
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 elected at-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.
Jackson County is a member of the regional Southwestern Commission council of governments.
Jackson County contains a portion of the Qualla Boundary, a land trust of historic territory of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The tribe is sovereign in its territory and is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. The reservation operates Harrah's Cherokee Casino, which is open to the public, as are associated resort facilities there.
Sheriff and Sylva PD
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.
Politics
Together with Buncombe and Watauga counties, Jackson is considered one of three "swing" counties in Western North Carolina. Except for 1980, it would vote for the winner in every Presidential election from 1960 to 2008. The exception was 1980, when Jimmy Carter won the county but lost nationally.
In 2012, Jackson County voters favored Republican candidate Mitt Romney, who was defeated by President Barack Obama. In 2016 county voters split their vote, favoring Donald Trump for the presidency, but Democrat Roy Cooper for governor. The county was one of four in the state to do so. In 2020, Jackson County voters favored Republicans Donald Trump and gubernatorial challenger Dan Forest, but Democrat Joe Biden won the election nationally and Cooper was reelected as governor. While Trump won the county by a similar margin in 2024, Democrat Josh Stein flipped the county on route to his election as governor.
In 2020 the county and the state voted for incumbent Donald Trump, but Democrat Joe Biden carried the election overall, winning both the popular vote and electoral college.
In the 2016 Republican Primary in Jackson County, Donald Trump received 1,624 votes (or 39.5% of the total votes) followed by Ted 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).
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 Candidate Gary Johnson received 742 votes (4.0% of total votes in the county).
Transportation
Major highways
US 19
US 19 Truck
US 23
US 23 Bus.
US 64
US 64 Truck
US 74
US 441
US 441 Bus.
NC 107
NC 116
NC 215
NC 281
Blue Ridge Parkway
Jackson County is served by three main roads: the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway runs east–west across the northern half of the county and connects the county seat of Sylva to Waynesville and Asheville in the east and Cherokee, Andrews and Murphy in the west. North Carolina State Highway 107 connects Sylva and Western Carolina University to Cashiers in the south. U.S. Highway 64 traverses east–west across the southern part of the county connecting Cashiers to Brevard in the east and Highlands in the west.
Airport
Jackson County Airport is located here, one mile (1.6 km) east of Cullowhee. It is governed by the Jackson County Airport Authority.
Railroads
Norfolk Southern Railway operates a portion known as the Murphy Branch through Jackson County, providing a rail connection with the rest of the country. In Sylva, Norfolk Southern connects with the Great 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 from Dillsboro to Andrews.
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.
Education
Jackson County Public Schools serves all areas of the county except for the Qualla Boundary (Eastern Cherokee Reservation), which is instead zoned to Cherokee Central Schools. The county also is home to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
Communities
Towns
Dillsboro
Highlands
Sylva (county seat)
Webster
Village
Forest Hills
Census-designated places
Cashiers
Cherokee (also in Swain County)
Cullowhee (largest community)
Glenville
Whittier
Townships
The county is divided into fifteen townships:
Barker's Creek: Named for the creek which starts here and flows through the township before entering the Tuckasegee River. It includes the Dicks Creek, Barkers Creek, and Wilmont communities. US 74/23 runs as a four-lane divided highway through the township. The township is served by Smokey Mountain Elementary School and Smoky 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 tall ridges, narrow valleys, and sharp peaks 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 of Cashiers includes the communities of Panthertown Valley, Whiteside Cove, Fairfield, and Sapphire. It is served by NC 107 and US 64. The Eastern Continental Divide follows a ridge north of the township, and defines the boundaries between the Cashiers, Canada, and Glenville townships. The Chattooga, Horsepasture, and Toxaway rivers all originate or flow through the township. It is served by Blue Ridge School, which consolidated Glenville School and Cashiers Elementary in 1975.
Cullowhee: This is derived from the Cherokee 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 of Forest Hills, and the communities of Speedwell, Old Cullowhee Road, Buzzards Roost, and Dicks Gap are all within the township.
In popular culture
Several movies have been filmed in the county. These include the action-adventure The Fugitive (1993), starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones; the drama Deliverance (1972), which also set a scene against downtown Sylva; and the comedy My Fellow Americans (1996) starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner.
The train wreck scene in The Fugitive was filmed in Dillsboro along the Great 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 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad was also used in the filming of My 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.
Sylva's Main Street was used in the filming of Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2016).
Ron Rash's 2008 novel, Serena, features Jackson County.
David Joy's novels, Where All Light Tends to Go and The Weight of This World, are set in Jackson County.