Cherokee

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Cherokee

Total population

2,059

Median home value

$189,900

24.5%

Bachelor's+

Median income

$55,972

Cherokee$56k

National$74k

Elevation1991 m

Land area31.24 km²

Weather62°F · Patchy Fog

Coordinates35.49°, -83.30°

Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.

City facts

Facts from Wikidata (CC0).

Overview

Cherokee is a census-designated place (CDP) in Swain and Jackson counties in Western North Carolina, United States, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. Cherokee is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley around the intersection of U.S. Routes 19 and 441. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 2,195. It is the capital of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, one of three recognized Cherokee tribes and the only one in North Carolina.

History & geography

Excerpted from the corresponding Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA).

Demographics & economy

Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

Geography

Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.

Current forecast

Forecast for Cherokee, NC from NOAA NWS API.

Notable people from here

Amanda Crowe

Eastern Band Cherokee woodcarver and educator from Qualla Boundary, North Carolina

B

Billy Fives

American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

Charles George

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1932-1952)

Harry Huskey

American computer design pioneer (1916–2017)

Stan Powell

(1889-1957) American football player

W

Walker Calhoun

American musician

F

Frank Blackhorse

member of the American Indian Movement

E

Eva Wolfe

basket weaver from North Carolina, USA (1922–2004)

R

Rowena Bradley

Eastern Band of Cherokee basket weaver (1922–2003)

L

Lottie Queen Stamper

American Cherokee basket weaver and educator

M

Maggie Axe Wachacha

Cherokee cultural leader (1892–1993)

P

Patrick Lambert

Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Jeremiah Wolfe

Native-American awarded the title of "Beloved Man"

J

John Julius Wilnoty

Native American sculptor, born 1940

L

Leon Miller

American football and lacrosse coach (1895–1961)

M

Myrtle Driver Johnson

Cherokee "Beloved Woman"

People born within ~10 km, from Wikidata (CC0). Click any name for their Wikipedia article.

Nearby places in North Carolina

• Dillsboro
  8.4 mi away · pop. 195
• Bryson City
  9.2 mi away · pop. 1,902
• Maggie Valley
  13.7 mi away
• Cullowhee
  13.9 mi away
• Waynesville
  17 mi away · pop. 10,502
• Lake Junaluska
  18.7 mi away
• Canton
  25.7 mi away · pop. 4,419
• Cashiers
  28.5 mi away
• Fontana Dam
  29.7 mi away
• Robbinsville
  30.8 mi away · pop. 577
• Lake Santeetlah
  32.9 mi away
• Rosman
  35.9 mi away · pop. 699

Browse all places in North Carolina →

Geography & sun

Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.

Public attention

Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.

Books about Cherokee

Eastern Cherokee Census

Jeff Bowen · 2004

Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915-1922

Jeff Bowen · 2005

Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, North Carolina, 1923-1929, Volume I

2020

Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915-1922, Taken by Agent James E. Henderson

James E. Henderson · 2006

Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, North Carolina, 1930-1939

Jeff Bowen · 2019

Eastern Cherokee Census, Cherokee, North Carolina, 1915-1922, Taken By Agent James E. Henderson. 1917-1918

Jeff Bowen · 2005

Floods on Oconaluftee and Tuckasegee Rivers and Soco Creek in vicinity of Cherokee, North Carolina

United States. Tennessee Valley Authority. Division of Water Control Planning · 1956

Travels through North & South Carolina, Georgia, east & west Florida, the Cherokee country, the extensive territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws

William Bartram · 1791

Search results from Open Library.

Recently spotted species

Seal Salamander

Desmognathus monticola

Seen 2026-09-21

Red-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon jordani

Seen 2026-09-21

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Seen 2026-09-21

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Seen 2026-09-20

Banded Darter

Etheostoma zonale

Seen 2026-09-19

Green Stink Bug

Chinavia hilaris

Seen 2026-09-19

New York fern

Amauropelta noveboracensis

Seen 2026-09-19

Oak Treehopper

Platycotis vittata

Seen 2026-09-19

great blue lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Seen 2026-09-19

Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).