Cashiers, North Carolina

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Cashiers is a census-designated place and unincorporated village located in southern Jackson County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the community had a total population of 196. The name is pronounced "cash-ers", rather than "cash-ears" (like cashiers at a grocery store checkstand) as non-locals often mispronounce it.

It is said that the name derives from those who weighed the gemstones found in the hills of western North Carolina and paid out the cash to the miners who brought them to the crossroads there. It is also said to be a man's surname instead.

The town is served by U.S. 64 to Highlands (west) and Rosman (east), and N.C. 107 to Sylva (north) and Walhalla (south, via S.C. 107). The village is centered around the crossroads of the two.

It 2003, the North Carolina General Assembly passed local legislation allowing Cashiers to incorporate as a village, however this was turned down by a vote of 161 to 302 in a local referendum on August 12th. [1] In North Carolina, the village status would allow it to have its own government and levy taxes, but not require it to provide any services as cities must, and not allow it any extraterritorial jurisdiction as towns have.

It was apparently the issue of potential taxes that caused the referendum to be turned down. Instead, the county created zoning for Cashiers, which does not exist for most of the county, even in other similar places like Dillsboro. The zoning council for Cashiers is run by the county, therefore there are no extra local taxes supporting it.

Cashiers has a charter as a town from 1927, but this is now inactive as it has had no actual government for some time, if ever. Since this has never been repealed, it is unclear why it could not be reactivated instead. The new village would have had a council-manager government.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Outdoors Activities
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Cashiers is located at 35°6′43″N, 83°5′58″W (35.111978, -83.099488)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²), all land.

The land value in this area is high in value, making it difficult for middle-income people to live in the area. Cashiers and the nearby towns of Highlands, Glenville, and Saphire make up a popular mountain vacation area at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a finger of the Appalachian Mountains. Cashiers is surrounded by scenic views, waterfalls and Nantahala National Forest lands. Visitors and vacation home owners from all over the southeast enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf and fly fishing during the warm months of the year.

The National Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy have both worked to protect several natural areas near Cashiers, including biologically diverse Panthertown Valley, Whitewater Falls, and the Tuckaseegee River Gorge. The Chattooga River also rises near Cashiers.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 196 people, 96 households, and 48 families residing in the community. The population density was 70.1/km² (182.0/mi²). There were 182 housing units at an average density of 65.1/km² (169.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the community was 98.98% White, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 96 households out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the community, the population was spread out with 14.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females, age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $51,458. Males had a median income of $26,339 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,845. None of the families and 4.2% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 15.2% of those over 64.

[edit] Outdoors Activities

What makes Cashiers such an appealing destination — and has caused nearly immeasurable growth — is its quaint seclusion in the mountains, relatively cool summer climate and opportunities to get outside and play. Hiking, fly fishing and waterfall watching are popular summer activities. As the trees change in fall and the rusty colors brighten, tourists from Atlanta and as far away as Charleston make the trip to see the autumn landscape. A small ski hill attracts visitors even in winter. Nearby in Sapphire the non-profit Camp Merrie-Woode has been educating girls in the summer since 1918. Located at the foothills of Old Bald on Fairfield Lake, Camp Merrie-Woode is home to girls from all across the country and world in the summer.

[edit] Trivia

One of the busiest Subway Restaurant locations in the United States is located in Cashiers. Its popularity is fueled mostly by the exploding construction industry in the area combined with a lack of other fast food eateries.