Okeewemee, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Okeewemee is an unincorporated community
that is located in Montgomery County
, North Carolina
, United States
.
and the Town of Troy
, at the junction of State Road 1340 (Okeewemee - Star Road) and State Road 1323 (Okeewemee Road) in Montgomery County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The community is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Star, 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Troy, and 9 miles (14.5 km) southwest of the Town of Seagrove
. The Community of Black Ankle
is four (4) miles north of Okeewemee.
Okeewemee is approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Moore County
, 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Randolph County
, 12 miles (19.3 km) east of Stanly County
, and 16 miles (24.7 km) north of Richmond County
.
Okeewemeee lies at an elevation of 620 feet (189 m).
Okeewemee is three (3) miles (4.8 km) west of US 220 (Alt),
U.S. Highway 220 (Bypass), and Interstate 73
/ Interstate 74
. The community is also just four (4) miles (6.4 km) east of N.C. Highway 134.
Earliest records date back to 1884 when the school committee responsibility appointing a teacher, securing funds to pay the teacher and laying plans for needed facilities. The same year Sam Fountain, Elijah Richardson and J.A. Reynolds made up the committee with Malcolm McMillan replacing Richardson in 1886. Others serving on the school committee C.C. Wallace, John R. Richardson, Ben F. Reynolds, John Allen, and Noah Shepherd. Many of these served for 25–30 years.
By 1891, the school had assumed the name of Okeewemee in honor of the community and its first Post Office which had it start in the home of Elizabeth Coggins and John L. Allen.
Around the turn of the 20th century the new Okeewemee School was built by Shepherd, McMillan and Reynolds. The building was a long one room structure with a porch across the front and a shingled steeple. A total of 53 boys and girls attended the school at the time. Children were taught through the seventh (7) grade.
In 1908, a total of 36 boys and 22 girls were enrolled in the Okeewemee School - ranging in age six (6) years old to twenty (20) years old!
After the consolidation of the county schools, the Okeewemee School was discontinued.
Gold
The Carter Mine is one of the oldest mines in North Carolina.It is described as being on a vein that contained much lime
carbonate
and a rare telluride
of gold
. The mine is said to have produced $100,000 or more from workings less than 100 ft. deep. Gold bearing quartz
was found in a vein that averaged 3 ft. in width and contained some very rich sreaks. Rock found on the dumps in 1934 included "sugar" vein quartz.
Kerry Collins
, NFL Pro Bowl
quarterback and Heisman Trophy
Finalist, makes Okeewemee his home. He owns the Blue Q Ranch, a 2000+ acre livestock farm. He has hundreds of head of cattle on the ranch, along with multiple houses/buildings on the property.
Okeewemee is the home of the Montgomery County Humane Society
, which supports and houses tens of hundreds of homeless pets that are ready for adoption.
The Forks Of Little River Baptist Church is located in Okeewemee. It was established in 1760. It was used as the first schoolhouse in the community and is still one of the county's most popular churches, with a devoted congregation and a prominent worship service.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
that is located in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 26,822 people, 9,848 households, and 7,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile . There were 14,145 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Location
Okeewemee lies between the Town of StarStar, North Carolina
Star is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Star is known as the geographic center of North Carolina as measured via satellite, according to the Army Corps of Engineers...
and the Town of Troy
Troy, North Carolina
Troy is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,430 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County. The short story by Charles W...
, at the junction of State Road 1340 (Okeewemee - Star Road) and State Road 1323 (Okeewemee Road) in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 26,822 people, 9,848 households, and 7,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile . There were 14,145 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The community is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Star, 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Troy, and 9 miles (14.5 km) southwest of the Town of Seagrove
Seagrove, North Carolina
Seagrove is a town in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official...
. The Community of Black Ankle
Black Ankle, North Carolina
Black Ankle is an unincorporated community in the northeastern part of Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States.-Location:The community of Black Ankle is located at the junction of NC State Road 1349 and NC State Road 1354...
is four (4) miles north of Okeewemee.
Okeewemee is approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) west of Moore County
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
, 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Randolph County
Randolph County, North Carolina
-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...
, 12 miles (19.3 km) east of Stanly County
Stanly County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, and 16 miles (24.7 km) north of Richmond County
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
.
Okeewemeee lies at an elevation of 620 feet (189 m).
Okeewemee is three (3) miles (4.8 km) west of US 220 (Alt),
U.S. Highway 220 (Bypass), and Interstate 73
Interstate 73
Interstate 73 is a main route of the Interstate Highway System, currently located entirely within the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of a longer planned corridor, defined by various Federal laws to run from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Grayling, Michigan, but only the part south of...
/ Interstate 74
Interstate 74
Interstate 74 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an intersection with Interstate 80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an intersection with Interstate 75 in Cincinnati, Ohio...
. The community is also just four (4) miles (6.4 km) east of N.C. Highway 134.
History
In the early 19th century, small schools had sprung up in Montgomery County. One of those was the Forks of Little River School, later called Crossroads.Earliest records date back to 1884 when the school committee responsibility appointing a teacher, securing funds to pay the teacher and laying plans for needed facilities. The same year Sam Fountain, Elijah Richardson and J.A. Reynolds made up the committee with Malcolm McMillan replacing Richardson in 1886. Others serving on the school committee C.C. Wallace, John R. Richardson, Ben F. Reynolds, John Allen, and Noah Shepherd. Many of these served for 25–30 years.
By 1891, the school had assumed the name of Okeewemee in honor of the community and its first Post Office which had it start in the home of Elizabeth Coggins and John L. Allen.
Around the turn of the 20th century the new Okeewemee School was built by Shepherd, McMillan and Reynolds. The building was a long one room structure with a porch across the front and a shingled steeple. A total of 53 boys and girls attended the school at the time. Children were taught through the seventh (7) grade.
In 1908, a total of 36 boys and 22 girls were enrolled in the Okeewemee School - ranging in age six (6) years old to twenty (20) years old!
After the consolidation of the county schools, the Okeewemee School was discontinued.
Gold
The Carter Mine is one of the oldest mines in North Carolina.It is described as being on a vein that contained much lime
Agricultural lime
Agricultural lime, also called aglime, agricultural limestone, garden lime or liming, is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk. The primary active component is calcium carbonate...
carbonate
Carbonate
In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, . The name may also mean an ester of carbonic acid, an organic compound containing the carbonate group C2....
and a rare telluride
Telluride (chemistry)
The telluride ion is Te2−. It is the final stable member of the series of dianions O2−, S2−, and Se2− ....
of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. The mine is said to have produced $100,000 or more from workings less than 100 ft. deep. Gold bearing quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
was found in a vein that averaged 3 ft. in width and contained some very rich sreaks. Rock found on the dumps in 1934 included "sugar" vein quartz.
Okeewemee today
Okeewemee is a small community that has strong foundations in education, religion, and family values.Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, NFL Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
quarterback and Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
Finalist, makes Okeewemee his home. He owns the Blue Q Ranch, a 2000+ acre livestock farm. He has hundreds of head of cattle on the ranch, along with multiple houses/buildings on the property.
Okeewemee is the home of the Montgomery County Humane Society
Humane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
, which supports and houses tens of hundreds of homeless pets that are ready for adoption.
The Forks Of Little River Baptist Church is located in Okeewemee. It was established in 1760. It was used as the first schoolhouse in the community and is still one of the county's most popular churches, with a devoted congregation and a prominent worship service.