Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
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Mount Jefferson State Natural Area | |
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Location: | North Carolina, USA |
Nearest city: | Jefferson, North Carolina |
Coordinates: | |
Area: | 539 acres (2.18 km²) |
Established: | October, 1956 |
Visitation: | 92,621 (in 2005) |
Governing body: | North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is a state park of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located near Jefferson, North Carolina, it includes the peak of Mount Jefferson, named for Thomas Jefferson, who owned land nearby.
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[edit] History
In 1939 the Works Progress Administration created a road enabling widespread access to Mount Jefferson. Local citizens donated land and money in efforts to attain state park status for the local park, which required the park to have a minimum of 400 acres. By 1956, their efforts yielded a 300 acre donation and raised enough funds to buy an additional 164 acres for the park. As a result, Mount Jefferson became a state park in October 1956. [1]
[edit] Tourist information
The park has one main road that leads to the peak of Mount Jefferson. On the way up are two overlooks followed by hiking trails and a picnic shelter at the top. The mountain rises to more than 1,600 feet above the surrounding landscape and provides a birds-eye view of both Jefferson and West Jefferson. Park hours are limited by inclement weather, but otherwise open every day during the year with the exception of Christmas Day.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Division of Parks and Recreation - Mount Jefferson. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.