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Alleghany County, North Carolina History

Alleghany County is a small, rural farming community nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It sits in the northwest corner of the state bordering Virginia.

Prior to European arrival in the mid 1700's, the Alleghany region was home to the Cherokee and Shawnee Indian nations. The etymology of the word Alleghany is in fact American Indian meaning "fine stream". Home to the second oldest river in the world, the "New River", Alleghany County's highland terrain has housed ancient artifacts and early tools that may be traced back to the Paleo-Indian cultures. These findings suggest that the native people had lived in the region for centuries before the arrival of the earliest Europeans.1 By 1770, European settlers (consisting primarily of English, Irish, German and Scottish pioneers) had effectively driven the Shawnee and Cherokee nations from their land. The region slowly developed into a small but flourishing settlement community where support was provided for the local merchants and services for the local subsistence farmers and craftsman.2

During Reconstruction, in 1870, the town of Sparta became the official county seat of Alleghany County when David Evans donated 50 acres of land and insisted the town be named after the historical Greek city.3 However, in the aftermath of the Civil War, a serious depression struck the local economy as the Alleghany region had suffered a great number of casualties, resulting in a critical depletion in the local labor force. It has been reported that almost every family in Alleghany lost a son during the civil war. Indeed, 40,275 military men from North Carolina died during this time, more than from any other Southern state.4

Post- Civil War migration to Alleghany County became virtually non-existent and by the early 20th century the region was labeled the 'lost province' of North Carolina. Locals became isolated from the rest of the state and travel to and from the remote mountainous region became extremely difficult. It is said that during this time of disconnection and cultural exile, the loyal, family-oriented, hard-working, and fiercely independent character of the Alleghany people was molded. The tight-knit communities of this region continue to express these values today. It was not until the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the early 1930's that Alleghany County experienced a surge in tourism and influx of outside commerce.

Today, Alleghany County, population 11,000 (2000 inhabitants within the town of Sparta), is a severely disadvantaged region economically, qualifying as a Tier 1 category of need in the State of North Carolina. The unemployment rate is 14% and an estimated 18.5% of the population lives below the poverty line.5 Several small industries have left the county, leaving many of its former employees without health insurance and devoid of any employment opportunity. Economic development prospects remain bleak. In the past 10 years, many big businesses that were integral to the Alleghany economy have disappeared. Companies such as Sara Lee, Vanity Fair Knitwear, Bassett Walker, SpringFord Knitting, Lowes Hardware, and Bristol Compressors have all left town for various financial reasons. Most recently, on January 31st, 2010, Martin Marietta closed its doors, leaving many who were already struggling, unemployed.

The beauty of this remote and fecund landscape is remarkable, and it remains home to some of the kindest, most hard-working people in the nation. This is a community with a pure heart, ancient spirit and a history of struggle, in desperate need. By supporting DANA services, Growing Voices is proud to contribute to the redevelopment of the Alleghany region and the Sparta community.

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