Haywood County History
Haywood County, formed in 1808, originally encompassed 3,087 square miles.
Among the earliest visitors to the area were members of the militia, who came through the territory in May 1776, near the close of the American Revolution. Impressed with the rugged beauty, many of these soldiers returned with their families after the war and settled in the area. Descendents of these and other early settlers carried names that are found throughout Haywood County today.
One of the soldiers who settled after the war was Col. Robert Love, who founded and named the town of Waynesville. First called Mount Prospect, Waynesville was named in honor of Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne, one of the heroes of the American Revolution. The name was adopted in 1810 and the town was incorporated in 1871.
Shortly after Waynesville was settled, Haywood County was formed out of a portion of neighboring Buncombe County in 1808 and was named for John Haywood, who served as state treasurer from 1787 to 1827.
Canton, the second largest town in the county, initially was a small settlement at the ford of the Pigeon River. In the early 1900s, it became the home of Champion International Paper, one of the nation’s largest producers of paper.
In the early years, Maggie Valley was a poor farming community, but as more and more people discovered its lush green valleys, high mountains, and cool summer climate, the valley became a summer mecca for people seeking relief from the heat of cities and flatlands. Named for one of the daughters of the community’s first postmaster, Maggie Valley has since developed as a national and international destination for tourists.
Clyde once was an important holding area and loading point for shipping livestock to more populous areas of the country. The small, friendly town later evolved into a “bedroom” community for people who work outside the area.
Other small townships and communities include Balsam, Beaverdam, Bethel, Cataloochee, Cecil, Crabtree, Cruso, East Fork, Fines Creek, Iron Duff, Ivy Hill, Jonathan Creek, Pigeon and White Oak.
Green Hill Academy, the first school in Haywood County, was chartered in 1809. The first public high school came along in 1899. Canton established its first school in 1907.
The railroad, which came to Waynesville in 1882 and to Canton somewhat earlier, was important in opening western North Carolina to commercial growth.
A significant event in America’s Civil War took place in Waynesville. In May of 1865, after the surrender but before news reached the troops in remote western North Carolina, there was a skirmish between Southern troops of the Thomas Legion (which included Cherokee soldiers) and Union cavalry, and a Federal soldier was killed. This was the last battle of the Civil War east of the Mississippi River.