About Cherokee County

1540

Hernando DeSoto passed through this area in search of gold.

1820-21

A Baptist mission school and church was established.

1828-30

A.R.S. Hunter established a trading post on the Hiwassee River near the Valley River. The settlement became known as Huntington.

1836-38

General Winfield Scott and soldiers set up headquarters for the removal of the Cherokee along the infamous "Trail of Tears." The largest fort was Ft. Butler (a monument marks the site).

1839

Cherokee County was formed from a portion of Macon County.

1844

First county courthouse was erected, of locally produced brick.

1851

Murphy was incorporated as the county seat.

1852

First industry established--Stewart Tannery in Andrews.

1861

Cherokee County raised 1,100 men for the Confederate Army.

1865

Kirk's Raiders burned courthouse.

1869

Harshaw Chapel was built.

1873

First newspaper was published--"The Cherokee Herald".

1888

First railroad reached Murphy.

1890

Town of Andrews was incorporated.

1922

First paved highway opened from Murphy to the Georgia line.

1925

Monument erected at site of Ft. Butler.
John C. Campbell Folk School founded.

1926

Asheville to Murphy highway opened.

1930

A pyramid was erected as a monument to A.R.S. Hunter by his granddaughter, which still stands as the only pyramid known to exist in Western North Carolina.

1933

Archaeological excavation of Peachtree mound and village was conducted by the Smithsonian Institute.

1938

Hiwassee Dam was completed, providing electricity to portions of the county.

1940

Fields of the Wood was established.

1958

Tellico to Murphy wagon train began.

1964

Tri-County Technical Institute (later Tri-County Community College) opened.

1974

First Fall Festival was held at John C. Campbell Folk School.

1996

Olympic Whitewater events held on Ocoee River TN, 30 miles west of Murphy.