2023 HIGHLANDS NC EXPERIENCE GUIDE
INSIDER’S GUIDE
HIGHLANDS HISTORY
BY RANDOLPH P. SHAFFNER
T
he village of Highlands was founded in 1875 by two developers who, ac- cording to legend, too-
from the eastern states were calling Highlands home. Little changed in the town until the late 1920s, when the Cullasaja River was dammed to form Lake Sequoyah, providing hydroelectric power. By the time the Chamber of Commerce was estab- lished in 1931, the town’s population had increased to 500, with 2,500 to 3,000 summer guests. Once again, little changed from the 1930s through the 1960s. Highlands missed the Great Depression because most of its resi- dents were accustomed to surviv- ing hard times, growing their own meat and vegetables, so no one went hungry. The mid1970s saw the sudden influx of multi-family homes and shopping centers that spawned land-use plans and zoning
laws intended to protect Highlands’ natural assets. Since its creation in 1875, the de- mographics of Highlands have been unique. Founded by pioneers, indus- trious tradesman from the north, Scotch-Irish laborers and crafts- men from the surrounding area and wealthy aristocratic planters and professionals from the south, the town has served as a cultural center for well-known artists, musicians, ac- tors, authors, photographers, schol- ars and scientists who have thrived in its natural setting. For more information about Highlands’ history, please visit highlandshistory.com or stop by Highlands Historic Village, 524 N. 4th St.
ka map and drew a line from New York to New Orleans. They drew another line between Chicago and Savannah, creating an “X.” These lines, they predicted, would be the great traderoutes of the future, and where they crossed would someday be a great population center. What evolved was a health and summer resort on the highest crest of the Western North Carolina pla- teau in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This paradisiacal set- tlement provided common ground for both northern and southern pioneers. By 1883, nearly 300 immigrants
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