Cherokee
The county was formed in 1839 from the western part of Macon County. It was named for the Cherokee people, some of whom still live in the area. (The trail of Tears had begun in 1838 after the 1837 Treaty of New Echota). The Cherokee county seat of Murphy was named for Archibald Murphey a former legislator. The name was misspelled. The Cherokee County courthouse was burned during the Civil War by Union Raiders.
Today Cherokee County is home to the Qualla Boundary also known as the Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation although this is not contiguous land with the Qualla Boundary located in Swain and Jackson Counties where the large portion of the Cherokee Indian Reservation is located. The county is divided up into the following townships: Beaverdam, Hothouse, Murphy, Notla, Shoal Creek, and Valleytown.
Cherokee County is the westernmost county in North Carolina.
In 1861 the southeastern part of Cherokee County became Clay County; in 1872 its northeastern part became Graham County. Source Wikipedia
Cherokee County Historical Society
205 Peachtree Street
Murphy, NC 28906
Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 2122
Asheville, NC 28802
(covers Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain, and Transylvania Counties)
Cherokee Historical Museum
Cherokee County Courthouse
75 Peachtree Street
County Courthouse
Murphy, NC 28906
Census
1840 Federal Census Index - by last name only
1840 Federal Census Index
1840 Federal Census Transcription directory opens to list of text files with previous index and files named by page number referred to in the previous index
1840 Federal Census Transcription
1850 Federal Census Index - by last name
1850 Federal census transcription
1850 Federal Census Mortality Schedule transcription
1860 Federal Census Transcription
1870 Federal Census transcription - Cheoah and Stecoah Districts In 1872 these counties became part of Graham County.
Other Records
1851 Chapman Rolls - Buffalo town
1851 Chapman Rolls - Murphy area
1851 Chapman Rolls - River area
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Cherokee County
Query Forums
Cherokee County, NC Query Forum
Cherokee County, NC at Genforum
Cities and towns of Cherokee county:
Andrews
Aquone
Culberson
Marble
Murphy (County Seat)
Topton
Unaka
News related to Cherokee County, NC
“cherokee county” nc - Google News
SC serial killer blamed for 4 deaths in 6 days - The Associated Press
 ABC News |
SC serial killer blamed for 4 deaths in 6 days
The Associated Press The shootings have prompted fear in Cherokee County, 50 miles south of Charlotte, NC, and home to about 54000 people. The county had just six homicides in … Teenage Girl Becomes 5th Victim of South Carolina Serial Killer US community fears serial killer UPI NewsTrack TopNews |
AP News in Brief - The Associated Press
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AP News in Brief
The Associated Press … of each other in Cherokee County, a rural community of 54000 people set amid peach orchards and farms some 50 miles west of Charlotte, NC ___ Obama sets … |
Farmers discuss prevention of vanishing county farmland - Cherokee Scout
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Farmers discuss prevention of vanishing county farmland
Cherokee Scout âA lot of farmland in North Carolina is lost due to no planning.â Keith Wood with the NC Cooperative Extension Service in Cherokee County said the county … |
WNC News Roundup - Mountain Xpress
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WNC News Roundup
Mountain Xpress Evidence links the killings, and Cherokee County, SC, Sheriff Bill Blanton says, âYes, we have a serial killer.â ⢠PETA on the prowl: People for the Ethical … |
High-speed Internet coming - Cherokee Scout
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High-speed Internet coming
Cherokee Scout According to e-NC, Cherokee County has 11191 households and 51.29 percent have access to high-speed Internet. Across the state, 83.3 percent of households … Every home needs access |
Jury in NC trooper death trial won't be local - MiamiHerald.com
 News Channel 7 |
Jury in NC trooper death trial won't be local
MiamiHerald.com Prosecutors want a jury to be brought in from Cherokee County and the defense wants the whole case moved to Gaston County. Poovey said he didn't want to ask … Judge: Wong jury won't come from Haywood |
