Bearwallow, North Carolina

Unincorporated community in North Carolina, United States
35°27′47″N 82°18′58″W / 35.46306°N 82.31611°W / 35.46306; -82.31611CountryUnited StatesStateNorth CarolinaCountyHendersonNamed forA bear wallowElevation
2,031 ft (619 m)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)ZIP codes
28735 and 28792[1]
Area code828GNIS feature ID1006125[2]

Bearwallow is an unincorporated community in Henderson County, North Carolina United States and is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located along Gerton Highway (US 74A), within Hickory Nut Gorge, flanked by Burntshirt, Grant, and Little Bearwallow mountains.[3][4][5]

History

The area was first connected by a Drovers' road, a natural access into the interior of the Blue Ridge Mountains for drovers who were moving livestock, mostly flocks of turkeys and some geese, herds of hogs and some cattle in and out of the mountains to the markets. Established in 1798, it connected the area with Asheville, following on what is today US 74A.[6] It was also during the 1790s when William Mills, a pioneer settler, named the area after a much-frequented bear wallow located there.[7][8][9]

The "Bear Wallow" post office was established in 1858; it was the first post office in the area, following Bat Cave (1879) and Pump (1883). In 1894, the space between the names was removed, becoming Bearwallow. In 1951, the post office was closed and combined with the Gerton Post Office.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ "Henderson County - North Carolina Zip Code Boundary Map (NC)". USNaviguide, LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bearwallow, North Carolina". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Burntshirt Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  4. ^ "Grant Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "Little Bearwallow Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Drover's Road By-Way Scenic Drive in Rutherford County, North Carolina". The Blue Ridge Highlander. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "North Carolina Gazetteer". Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Edneyville". Henderson Heritage. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Kramp, Penny (February 22, 1987). "Tuxedo: It's not formal wear". The Times-News. Hendersonville, NC. p. 27. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  10. ^ "Henderson County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Gerton". Henderson Heritage. Retrieved December 26, 2020.

External links

  • Henderson County Visitors Information Center Archived November 29, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
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Municipalities and communities of Henderson County, North Carolina, United States
County seat: Hendersonville
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