Highlands, North Carolina

Coordinates: 35°03′13″N 83°11′51″W / 35.05361°N 83.19750°W / 35.05361; -83.19750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Highlands, North Carolina
Town
The town of Highlands as seen from Sunset Rock
The town of Highlands as seen from Sunset Rock
FIPS code
37-31360[3]
GNIS feature ID2405833[2]
Websitewww.highlandsnc.org

Highlands is an

2020 census.[4]

History

Highlands was founded in 1875 after its two founders, Samuel Truman Kelsey and Clinton Carter Hutchinson, drew lines from Chicago to Savannah and from New Orleans to New York City. They felt that the place where these lines met would eventually become a great trading center and commercial crossroads.[5] Highlands was named for its lofty elevation.[6]

In the 1930s the town became a

golfing mecca when Bobby Jones of Atlanta and some of his well-heeled golfing buddies founded the Highlands Country Club.[7]
Today that club is one of seven successful residential country club communities in the area. The Highlands Country Club is south of Highlands on Dillard Road (North Carolina Highway 106).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km2), of which 6.1 square miles (16 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 1.94%, is water.

The official average

orographic lifting effect of storms coming from the lower elevations. This rainfall, coupled with abundant sunshine, creates a lush and verdant microclimate that appeals to botanists
.

Climate

Highlands has a

American South
.

Climate data for Highlands, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24) 		78
(26) 		84
(29) 		90
(32) 		91
(33) 		97
(36) 		98
(37) 		98
(37) 		97
(36) 		87
(31) 		82
(28) 		75
(24) 		98
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 42.3
(5.7) 		46.4
(8.0) 		53.7
(12.1) 		62.1
(16.7) 		69.3
(20.7) 		74.8
(23.8) 		77.7
(25.4) 		76.1
(24.5) 		71.4
(21.9) 		62.5
(16.9) 		53.1
(11.7) 		45.1
(7.3) 		61.2
(16.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.1
(0.6) 		36.3
(2.4) 		42.7
(5.9) 		50.3
(10.2) 		58.0
(14.4) 		64.5
(18.1) 		67.7
(19.8) 		66.4
(19.1) 		61.3
(16.3) 		51.7
(10.9) 		42.4
(5.8) 		36.1
(2.3) 		50.9
(10.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 23.9
(−4.5) 		26.3
(−3.2) 		31.7
(−0.2) 		38.6
(3.7) 		46.8
(8.2) 		54.2
(12.3) 		57.7
(14.3) 		56.7
(13.7) 		51.1
(10.6) 		40.8
(4.9) 		31.6
(−0.2) 		27.1
(−2.7) 		40.5
(4.7)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28) 		−19
(−28) 		7
(−14) 		13
(−11) 		24
(−4) 		32
(0) 		36
(2) 		42
(6) 		27
(−3) 		12
(−11) 		−3
(−19) 		−12
(−24) 		−19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 7.99
(203) 		6.90
(175) 		7.60
(193) 		6.98
(177) 		6.60
(168) 		7.16
(182) 		7.09
(180) 		7.10
(180) 		7.98
(203) 		6.47
(164) 		7.76
(197) 		8.65
(220) 		88.28
(2,242)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.6
(6.6) 		2.0
(5.1) 		1.8
(4.6) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		3.5
(8.9) 		10.2
(26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.9 13.7 13.9 12.2 13.9 15.4 16.9 15.8 11.8 10.4 11.1 14.1 163.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.1 1.1 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.6 5.0
Source:
NOAA[9][10]

Economy

Tourism

Highlands is increasingly becoming a two-season community; a summer-season community and an ever-growing winter-season community.[citation needed] The summer season (generally March through November) draws large numbers of Southerners from the summertime heat and humidity found throughout much of the region to enjoy the cooler mountains and hometown "Main Street experience".[citation needed]

The town is dotted with

Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center,[14] which hosts touring groups. For the visual arts there is The Bascom - A Center for the Visual Arts, a new facility named for the artist and playwright, Louise Rand Bascom Barratt.[citation needed
]

The historic (NRHP-listed) Lee's Inn, with an enormous tree growing through the middle of its dining room, was lost to an electrical fire in the 1980s and was not rebuilt.[15] The historic Old Edwards Inn (also NRHP-listed) continues to operate as an inn and spa catering to affluent demographics.

Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center

Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center
The PAC
Map
Location507 Chestnut Street,
Highlands, NC 28741
Coordinates35°03′25″N 83°11′43″W / 35.05689°N 83.19533°W / 35.05689; -83.19533 (Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center)
Capacity3,500
Construction
Opened2001
Renovated2007
Tenants
Highlands Community Players

The Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center is a prominent venue in Highlands,[citation needed] featuring independent theater and local musical acts. When the building, which was formerly the Community Bible Church, went up for sale in 1999, the founding director of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival started a fundraising campaign to buy the property so that the festival could have a permanent home.[16] Since then, the Performing Arts Center has brought over 255 performances to the southeastern Macon County area.

Public utilities and services

There is one

public school in the town, Highlands School, as well as a public library, known as the Hudson Library. The Hudson Library is part of the Fontana Regional Library
, which serves Swain, Jackson, and Macon counties. The Hudson Library also housed The Bascom until May 2009; The Bascom is a nonprofit visual arts center that is housed on a six-building, six-acre campus, and offers exhibitions and educational programs.

Highlands has one hospital, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.[17]

Highlands has a

high-speed Internet
.

Television and Internet

WAGA
TV 5 (Fox). Highlands Cable Group now carries all the local networks and the 3 "PBS" networks as well as "Peachtree TV" and "Fox Networks".

Highlands is the

analog
W27BD.

Transportation

There are four major roads in and out of town. Franklin Road and most of Main Street carry

bypass route
around the town.

There is no

automated weather station
(HGLN7) operates from north-northwest of Highlands, along Flat Mountain Road (N.C. 1544).

Recreation

Harris Lake in Highlands during fall
View of Terrapin Mountain and Whiteside Cove from Whiteside Mountain summit (Terrapin Mountain seen left of center, with Whiteside Cove extending beneath.

Hiking

The nature and hiking trails around Highlands are popular with

backpackers, and there is at least one outfitter store in town. There are several mountainous hiking trails, including several leading to waterfalls.[18]

Fishing

Fishing is available in Highlands, at Harris Lake, Cliffside Lake Recreation Area and other in-town and surrounding-area lakes. Cliffside Lake, in particular, is stocked with Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout.[19] Some fishing areas near Highlands are public and others are private fishing grounds. Fly Fishing is also a common activity in highlands/[citation needed] There are also several rivers, including the Cullasaja River that begins in town, and the Chattooga River to the southeast.

Waterfalls

Bridal Veil Falls

Main article: Bridal Veil Falls (Macon County)

Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (14 m)

U.S. Highway 64 2.3 miles (3.7 km) northwest of town. Highway 64 originally used the curve of roadway behind the falls exclusively so that all traffic went behind them; however, this caused problems with icing of the roadway during freezing weather, and it was re-routed around the front of the falls since. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park and view the falls as well. In 2003, a massive boulder slid off the left side of the falls, blocking that side of the drive-under completely. However, in July 2007, that boulder was removed by a local developer.[20]

Cullasaja Falls

Main article: Cullasaja Falls

Cullasaja Falls is located on the Cullasaja River in the Nantahala National Forest and is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. Cullasaja comes from a Cherokee word meaning "honey locust place". The falls is the last major waterfall on the Cullasaja River.[21] The falls is a long cascade over the course of 0.2 miles (0.32 km). The height of the falls is given as 200 feet (61 m) in Kevin Adams' book, North Carolina Waterfalls[21] and 250 feet (76 m) by NCWaterfalls.com.[22] However, Google Earth gives a height (based on the elevation of the water at the top of the falls and the elevation of the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls) of 137 feet (42 m). The falls are located beside a series of blind curves on Highway 64 with sheer rock cliffs above and below the road. There is only one small pull-off near the falls, but walking on the road puts visitors in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle.

Dry Falls

Main article:
Dry Falls (Macon County)

Dry Falls, also known as Upper Cullasaja Falls, is a 65-foot (20 m)

U.S. Highway 64
, 3.1 miles (5.0 km) north of Highlands. There is a parking area on the side of the road, where visitors can park before walking the short path with stairs to the falls. During 2008-2009 the Forest Service made improvements to the parking area, which included renovation and expansion and the addition of bathroom facilities. A new walkway and overlook were also constructed adjacent to the parking area.

Quarry Falls

Main article: Quarry Falls (Macon County)

Quarry Falls (aka Bust Your Butt Falls) is a small waterfall located beside US Highway 64 west of Highlands. It is best known for the large, deep pool at the bottom and is a popular place for swimming during warm weather. Also located here is a rock to climb and jump from into the deep pool. The waterfall is located about 10 miles from Franklin and 6.5 miles from Highlands.[24]

Other waterfalls

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188082—
1900233—
19102496.9%
19202677.2%
193044365.9%
194056928.4%
1950515−9.5%
196059715.9%
1970583−2.3%
198065312.0%
199094845.2%
2000909−4.1%
20109241.7%
20201,07216.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]

2020 census

Highlands racial composition[26]
Race Number Percentage
White
(non-Hispanic) 		931 86.85%
Black or African American
(non-Hispanic) 		7 0.65%
Native American
 1 0.09%
Asian
 14 1.31%
Other/Mixed
 42 3.92%
Latino
 77 7.18%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,072 people, 639 households, and 333 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the

Latino
of any race were 2.97% of the population.

There were 445 households, out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.66.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $20,662 for females. The

poverty line
, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Highlands has been served by The Highlander newspaper since 1958. It was preceded by a newspaper of the same name that began in 1885 and ceased publication in 1887 due to financial difficulties.[27]

Notable people

  • Bil Dwyer, cartoonist and humorist (1907-1987)

Nearby towns

In North Carolina

In Georgia

References

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Highlands, North Carolina
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "2020 Census Research, Operational Plans, and Oversight". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ An exhibit at the Highlands Historical Village
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 156.
  7. ^ Highlands Country Club. "About Us". Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "Highlands Chamber of Commerce Website".
  9. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Station: Highlands, NC". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "hp18". hp18.
  12. ^ "王者荣耀外围-王者荣耀外围赌注-王者荣耀外围赌注网址". www.instanttheatre.org.
  13. ^ Welcome to Highlands Community Players!
  14. ^ "Welcome to Highlands! - Highlands Chamber of Commerce". www.highlandschamber.org.
  15. ^ "Highlands, NC". www.highlandsinfo.com.
  16. ^ "PAC History". Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center.
  17. ^ "Highlands-Cashiers Hospital - A Community Asset". Archived from the original on February 5, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  18. ^ "Trails and Getaways". 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Cliffside Lake Recreation Area | Outdoor Activities | Nantahala National Forest".
  20. ^ "Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands North Carolina - drive behind". www.ncwaterfalls.com.
  21. ^ a b Kevin Adams, North Carolina Waterfalls, p. 470
  22. ^ "Cullasaja River Gorge & Falls". www.ncwaterfalls.com.
  23. ^ Kevin Adams, North Carolina Waterfalls, p. 467
  24. ^ "Bust Your Butt Falls, NC". www.romanticasheville.com/. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  26. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  27. ^ "About Us". The Highlander. Community Newspapers, Inc. Accessed January 19, 2024.

Further reading

  • Good Reading Material, Mostly Bound and New: The Hudson Library, 1884-1994 by Randolph P. Shaffner
Publisher: Hudson Library of Highlands, North Carolina (1994)
ISBN 0-9640078-3-5
A written history of the town library.
  • Heart of the Blue Ridge Highlands, North Carolina by Randolph P. Shaffner
Publisher: Faraway Publishing (2004)
ISBN 0-9710130-3-9
A written history of the town of Highlands, NC from its foundation to the publication of this book.
  • Highlands by Randolph P. Shaffner
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing, Images of America series (2008)
ISBN 0-7385-5403-0
A pictorial history of the town of Highlands, NC before and after its founding, from 1820-1930.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Highlands,_North_Carolina&oldid=1197240576"