2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Clay County, North Carolina’s smallest county. Visitors to Hayesville, the county seat, will find sesquicentennial celebrations all summer and fall. Located in southwestern NC, Hayesville is a two-hour drive through the lovely Southern Appalachian Mountains from Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Chattanooga, TN. Lake Chatuge, one of the most beautiful TVA lakes, is a short distance south of town; it offers water sports and recreation to visitors all summer long.
Clay County was founded in 1861, the same year that the Civil War started. Most of the land that is now Clay County was previously the eastern part of Cherokee County. Farmers living in that area found that Murphy, the Cherokee County seat, was too far for them to travel to and return home on the same day if they needed to transact legal business at the courthouse. George Washington Hayes, who was running for election as representative from Cherokee County, promised voters that -- if he won -- he would introduce legislation to split the county. Thanks to voters in the eastern part of the state, he did win. He soon fulfilled his promise. The North Carolina General Assembly passed the legislation authorizing the split in February 1861. The new county was named after Henry Clay, the great US senator from Kentucky who had died in 1852. The county seat, Hayesville, was named after George Washington Hayes, the man who made the new county a reality.
Activities celebrating the county’s founding will take place all summer and fall. The focus of many of the activities will be the quaint Hayesville town square with its 1888 courthouse. The square’s historic appearance appeals to both visitors and filmmakers, who have used it as the setting for movies.
Sesquicentennial activities will peak between July 2 and July 10. The July 4th weekend will feature a traditional patriotic Independence Day parade with floats honoring the 1861 founding. Highlights of the following weekend will be the 25th annual rodeo at the Cutworm Corral and the Festival on the Square. All events include food and beverages and activities for kids.
While you’re here for these celebrations, tour the Old Jail Museum just off the square to learn about Clay County’s history. Nearby, you can check out the Cherokee Heritage Village that will introduce you to the area’s Native American heritage. To see Lake Chatuge’s beauty, visit the dam and the newly opened Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail. Jackrabbit Mountain is a major center for mountain biking in the Southeast.
In addition to the July 2-10 events, others also celebrate the sesquicentennial. Come to the Car-B-Que on June 11, a festival on the square celebrating antique cars and barbeque. Or come in August and enjoy the Family Fun Fest on August 11 and the 21st Annual Mountain Golf Tournament on August 27 at the Ridges Resort. This golf tournament offers 18 holes with team and individual prizes. The proceeds fund college scholarships for Hayesville High School students. August 27 and 28 also feature open houses at Clay County heritage homes.
Come in early fall and see the Tractor Parade and 4H festival on September 24. Come a little later October 23 and 24, and visit the Third Annual Punkin Chunkin Festival, where individuals and teams compete to see which of them can hurl pumpkins the greatest distance. Competitors use their own homemade medieval siege machines.
Plays run at the Peacock Playhouse throughout the summer and fall. Clay County has long had as residents a talented group of amateur actors and directors in the Licklog Players. Free concerts by local musical groups take place on the square on Friday evenings every few weeks all summer.
Visitors to Clay County can stay at B&Bs, mountain cabin rentals, and campgrounds. Restaurants offer a range of choices including fast food, pizza, barbeque, sports bar, Mexican, traditional home cooking, American grill, and European-style fine dining.
Visitors in the market for second homes or retirement homes will find a large selection of houses with mountain and lake views at a wide range of prices.
Clay County residents are an engaging mix of local people and recent arrivals. Local people share a Scots-Irish heritage with strong family ties, a rich musical tradition, and a culture of craftsmanship. Many local farmers raise cattle and grow their own vegetables. Recent arrivals come from everywhere. In addition to retirees from Atlanta and Florida, they include people who were simply driving through the area; they saw it, fell in love with it, and decided to stay.
Clay County Sesquicentennial calendar: www.claycounty150.org
Car-B-Que and Festival on the Square: www.clayhistoryarts.org
Clay County Chamber of Commerce: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Rodeo and Golf Tournament: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Concerts in the Park: www.cccra.net
Farmers Market http://mountainvalleyfarmersmarket.com/
Plays by Licklog Players at the Peacock Playhouse: http://licklogplayers.org/
Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail: http://www.sabacycling.com/
Lake Chatuge and its dam: http://www.tva.gov/sites/chatuge.htm
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