North Carolina Highway 197
Encyclopedia
North Carolina Highway 197 is a north/south state highway
in Western North Carolina
. The route is approximately 65 miles (105 kilometers) in length and with its continuation into Tennessee
as SR 395 connects Erwin, Tennessee
to Flat Creek, North Carolina. Portions of this highway lie within the Pisgah National Forest
and is one of the few highways in the state with an unpaved portion.
, NC 197 enters the Pisgah National Forest
and winds south down the Unaka
escarpment to Poplar. South of Poplar, NC 197 begins the first of three segments where it follows the North Toe River and the former Clinchfield Railroad
. It intersects and overlaps NC 226 for a short distance near Red Hill.
.
After leaving the river area, NC 197 continues through mountains and grassy knolls until it arrives at US 19E just east of Burnsville
.
Following a short overlap with US 19E NC 197 leaves US 19E in Burnsville
as “Pensacola Rd.” and goes through the Cane River valley to Pensacola. From Pensacola, NC 197 turns right and proceeds over Cane River Gap into Buncombe County
after passing through Murchison.
, NC 197 (now North Fork Rd.) turns to gravel as it crosses the Cane River Gap for a short distance and reenters the Pisgah National Forest
for a short distance. As it winds its way down to the Barnardsville valley it crosses over the headwaters of Ivy Creek four times before it continues onto the pavement near Barnardsville
.
From Barnardsville, NC 197 (as the Barnardsville Hwy) becomes a relatively straight road that partially follows Ivy Creek until its junction with I-26
/US 19/US 23 at I-26 exit 15 near Flat Creek. Proceeding forward from the end of NC 197 is Jupiter Rd. (SR 1756).
A right turn before the overpass allows access to West I-26/North US 19/US 23 to Johnson City, Tennessee
. A left turn after the I-26 underpass allows access to East I-26/South US 19/US 23 to Asheville
.
) to Bakersville
. Portions of that alignment are now NC 226. Between 1924 and 1948 the highway's route had been changed to run from the former NC 26 at Red Hill southward to Flat Creek along a route similar to that in use today. In the 1980s, NC 197 is extended from Red Hill to the Tennessee State Line where it enters Tennessee as TN 395.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...
. The route is approximately 65 miles (105 kilometers) in length and with its continuation into Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
as SR 395 connects Erwin, Tennessee
Erwin, Tennessee
Erwin is a town in and the county seat of Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 5,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area...
to Flat Creek, North Carolina. Portions of this highway lie within the Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
and is one of the few highways in the state with an unpaved portion.
Mitchell County
Beginning at the state line with TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, NC 197 enters the Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
and winds south down the Unaka
Unaka Range
The Unaka Range is a mountain range on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. It is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains physiographic province. The Unakas stretch approximately from the Nolichucky River to the...
escarpment to Poplar. South of Poplar, NC 197 begins the first of three segments where it follows the North Toe River and the former Clinchfield Railroad
Clinchfield Railroad
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway . The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina...
. It intersects and overlaps NC 226 for a short distance near Red Hill.
Yancey County
The final segment of NC 197 that follows the Toe River does so in the reverse direction as the previous two times this occurred. This segment comes after a railroad crossing and an old concrete arch bridge that carries the highway across the Toe River into Yancey CountyYancey County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,774 people, 7,472 households, and 5,372 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 9,729 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
.
After leaving the river area, NC 197 continues through mountains and grassy knolls until it arrives at US 19E just east of Burnsville
Burnsville, North Carolina
Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.-Geography:Burnsville is located at ....
.
Following a short overlap with US 19E NC 197 leaves US 19E in Burnsville
Burnsville, North Carolina
Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.-Geography:Burnsville is located at ....
as “Pensacola Rd.” and goes through the Cane River valley to Pensacola. From Pensacola, NC 197 turns right and proceeds over Cane River Gap into Buncombe County
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
after passing through Murchison.
Buncombe County
As it enters Buncombe CountyBuncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
, NC 197 (now North Fork Rd.) turns to gravel as it crosses the Cane River Gap for a short distance and reenters the Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
for a short distance. As it winds its way down to the Barnardsville valley it crosses over the headwaters of Ivy Creek four times before it continues onto the pavement near Barnardsville
Barnardsville, North Carolina
Barnardsville is an unincorporated community that was a small town in Buncombe County , North Carolina, USA, near Asheville until its disincorporation in 1970. It is located at Latitude 35.762741 Longitude -82.433296 and has a population of 1,647. The community is part of the Asheville Metropolitan...
.
From Barnardsville, NC 197 (as the Barnardsville Hwy) becomes a relatively straight road that partially follows Ivy Creek until its junction with I-26
Interstate 26
Interstate 26 is a nominally east–west main route of the Interstate Highway System in the Southeastern United States. I-26 runs from the junction of U.S. Route 11W and U.S. Route 23 in Kingsport, Tennessee, generally southeastward to U.S. Route 17 in Charleston, South Carolina...
/US 19/US 23 at I-26 exit 15 near Flat Creek. Proceeding forward from the end of NC 197 is Jupiter Rd. (SR 1756).
A right turn before the overpass allows access to West I-26/North US 19/US 23 to Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
. A left turn after the I-26 underpass allows access to East I-26/South US 19/US 23 to Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
.
History
From the 1920s-1940s, NC 197 is formed, running from Cane Creek Post Office (near BurnsvilleBurnsville, North Carolina
Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.-Geography:Burnsville is located at ....
) to Bakersville
Bakersville, North Carolina
Bakersville is a town in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 357 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mitchell County.-Geography:Bakersville is located at ....
. Portions of that alignment are now NC 226. Between 1924 and 1948 the highway's route had been changed to run from the former NC 26 at Red Hill southward to Flat Creek along a route similar to that in use today. In the 1980s, NC 197 is extended from Red Hill to the Tennessee State Line where it enters Tennessee as TN 395.