Murphy North Carolina
“Gateway to the Smoky Mountains”
Town of Murphy NC
Murphy North Carolina, located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. Murphy is also the county seat of Cherokee County. The town of Murphy’s downtown is beautiful with trees and many historic buildings restored to their original state. Murphy has restaurants, shopping, and other establishments all within walking distance. Murphy offers many recreational activities with local trout streams, mountain biking and Hiwassee Lake. If you are looking for a beautiful small town in the mountains, look no further than Murphy North Carolina.
History of Murphy NC
The town of Murphy was originally called Huntington in 1835, the town name was changed to Murphy after a politician, Archibald Murphey, who began trading along a path called the Unicoi Turnpike. This trading path connected the Cherokee lands east of the mountains with the small towns of Tennessee
In 1836, the American Army constructed Fort Butler on the present site of Murphy. This fort was utilized as a place of collection for the Cherokee for the Trail of Tears. The removal of the Indians was the result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. To learn more about their journey visit the Cherokee County Historical Museum.
In 1851, Murphy became the county seat of Cherokee County. The Western North Carolina Railroad built by convict labor opened in 1881 and opened the rurally located Mountains with other parts of the country for easier traveling and commerce.
- Harrah’s Casino of Murphy
- Hiwassee Lake
- Applachia Lake
- North Shoal Creek Falls
- Kennedy Falls
- Bald River Falls
- John C Campbell Folk School
- Cherokee County Historical Museum
- Andrews Art Museum
- Murphy Pyramid
- Fields of Wood
- Piney Knob Trail
- Murphy River walk & Canoe Trail