Murphy is a town in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Cherokee County, North Carolina Cherokee County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It borders Tennessee to its west and Georgia to its south. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,774. The county seat is Murphy. History This area was occu ...

, United States. It is situated at the

confluence In geography, a confluence (also ''conflux'') occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel (geography), channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main ...

of the Hiwassee and

Valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains and typically containing a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

rivers. It is the westernmost county seat in the state of North Carolina, approximately from the

state capital Below is an index of pages containing lists of capital city, capital cities. National capitals *List of national capitals *List of national capitals by latitude *List of national capitals by population *List of national capitals by area *List of ...

Raleigh Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...

. The population of Murphy was 1,608 at the 2020 census.

Etymology and history

This area had long been part of the homelands of the

Cherokee people The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

. They knew this site along the Hiwassee River as ''Tlanusi-yi'' (the Leech Place). They had a legend about a giant

leech Leeches are segmented parasitism, parasitic or Predation, predatory worms that comprise the Class (biology), subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the Oligochaeta, oligochaetes, which include the earthwor ...

named ''Tlanusi'', that lived in the river here. The Trading Path (later called the "

Unicoi Turnpike The Unicoi Turnpike was a 150-mile (240km) trail through north Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee used by Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans before the footpath was converted into a t ...

") passed by the future site of Murphy, connecting the Cherokee lands east of the mountains with what were known to European colonists as the " Overhill Towns" of

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

. After European Americans began to settle here, they named the site "Hunnington/ Huntington" after A.R.S. Hunter. He established the first

trading post A trading post, trading station, or trading house, also known as a factory in European and colonial contexts, is an establishment or settlement where goods and services could be traded. Typically a trading post allows people from one geogr ...

prior to 1828, where he would trade with the Cherokee, early European-American settlers, and U.S. Army soldiers on expeditions, or stationed at nearby Fort Butler. He was also appointed as the settlement's first postmaster, erecting the first Post Office in June 1839. European Americans later renamed the settlement as Murphy for

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

politician Archibald Murphey. He was influential in educational advances for the people of North Carolina in the early 19th century. The original spelling of the town was to be "Murphey" but a clerk or stenographer of the

North Carolina General Assembly The North Carolina General Assembly is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Government of North Carolina, state government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the North Carolina Senate, Senate and the North Ca ...

misspelled the name and “Murphy” stuck. In 1836, during the

Cherokee removal The Cherokee removal (May 25, 18381839), part of the Indian removal, refers to the forced displacement of an estimated 15,500 Cherokees and 1,500 African-American slaves from the U.S. states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama to ...

known as the

Trail of Tears The Trail of Tears was the forced displacement of about 60,000 people of the " Five Civilized Tribes" between 1830 and 1850, and the additional thousands of Native Americans and their black slaves within that were ethnically cleansed by the U ...

, the United States army built Fort Butler in what is today Murphy. Fort Butler was used as the main collection point by the government for Cherokee east of the mountains. From Fort Butler, the Cherokee were taken over the mountains on the Unicoi Turnpike to the main internment camps at

Fort Cass Fort Cass, named for U.S. Secretary of War Lewis Cass (1782–1866), was a fort located on the site of the U.S. federal agency to the Cherokee Nation (present-day Charleston, Tennessee). Established in 1835, the fort served as the U.S. Army he ...

(today

Charleston, Tennessee Charleston is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 664 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The land now occupied by Charleston and Bradley County was home ...

), prior to their forcible removal to territory west of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

, in what became known as

Indian Territory Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United States, ...

(today's Oklahoma). Today, the Unicoi Turnpike is known as the Joe Brown Highway. There are no visible remains of Fort Butler, but the site can be visited and historical markers provide facts and interpretation about its history. In addition, the Cherokee County Historical Museum, located in Murphy, provides information about the Trail of Tears. A 400-acre tract was surveyed for the town of Murphy in 1837. Cherokee County was formed in 1839 from a portion of Macon County, but Murphy was not incorporated as the county seat until 1851. Harshaw Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Murphy, was constructed in 1869. In 1888, the railroad reached Murphy, with Georgia and North Carolina Railroad's narrow gauge line built from

Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...

. In 1891, Southern Railway connected Murphy to

Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...

via the Murphy Branch. The L&N line from Georgia was removed in the mid-1980s. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad ran excursions to Murphy on the Murphy Branch between 1988 and 1995. Today the track and right-of-way are still in place, owned by the

North Carolina Department of Transportation The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina. History The North Carolina ...

, but the line is inoperable. The L&N Depot, built southwest of downtown Murphy in 1901, has been refurbished as a community center.

20th century to present

Murphy began getting paved streets in 1917. The first paved road from Murphy to Georgia opened five years later. A highway from Murphy to Asheville opened in 1926. Architect James Baldwin designed the Cherokee County Courthouse, located in downtown Murphy, in a Beaux-Arts style. Built in 1927, it is faced with locally sourced blue

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...

. It is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, along with Harshaw Chapel and the Robert Lafayette Cooper House. The county has had multiple prior courthouses; all burned down, or were replaced by improved versions. The first court sessions in the county were held at Fort Butler. A two-story Carnegie Library was constructed on Peachtree Street downtown in 1919. The building later housed the town police department until 2024 and has been occupied by the Cherokee County Historical Museum since its start in 1977. The Nantahala Regional Library, headquartered in Murphy, is the oldest regional library in the state and one of the first regional libraries formed in the United States. It was organized May 1, 1937, and has locations in Cherokee,

Clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...

, and Graham counties. The current headquarters for the Murphy Public Library and the Nantahala Regional Library opened downtown on May 16, 1976. The building was renovated in 2001. Murphy was the home of the once well-known crafts manufacturer Margaret Studios. This company operated a nationwide chain of gift stores for its woodcraft products and housewares, such as lazy Susans and gift trays. Murphy High School was constructed in 1925. A new campus was built to replace the high school in 1957. Murphy gained a public swimming pool in 1931. The pool, which was run by the

Lions Club Lions Clubs International, is an international service organization, currently headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. , it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members (including the youth wing Leo clubs, Leo) in more than 200 ge ...

, closed in 1997 and a new pool opened around 2006 as part of the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center. The new pool was permanently enclosed in 2022. Folklorist

John Jacob Niles John Jacob Niles (April 28, 1892 – March 1, 1980) was an American composer, singer and collector of traditional ballads. Called the "Dean of American Balladeers," Niles was an important influence on the American folk music revival of the 195 ...

based his well-known Christmas song, "

I Wonder as I Wander "I Wonder as I Wander" is a Christian folk hymn, typically performed as a Christmas carol, written by American folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles. The hymn has its origins in a song fragment collected by Niles on July 16, 1933.Pen, Ron. "I W ...

", on a phrase he heard on July 16, 1933, in a song sung by a daughter of traveling evangelists in downtown Murphy. In 1945, Paul Westmoreland wrote his song “ Detour (There's a Muddy Road Ahead)" while traveling to Murphy. He debuted the song in the neighboring town of Hayesville. Murphy's first medical institution was Petrie Hospital, founded in November 1933 by Dr. R.W. Petrie, an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist. The hospital was a two-story white brick building atop a hill on Peachtree Street downtown. The Sisters of Providence of Holyoke came to Murphy in 1956 to manage Petrie Hospital and renamed it Providence Hospital. The 22-bed Murphy General Hospital was built by Dr. F. V. Taylor in 1941 and closed in July 1969 due to insufficient staff and property. In January 1974 the Murphy Town Council approved spending $4,000 on a study to see whether constructing a new hospital was feasible. Following this study, Providence Hospital closed in 1978, and Murphy Medical Center was founded in nearby Peachtree in 1979. A new Murphy post office was constructed on Hiwassee Street in 1949, replacing the former location on Tennessee Street. In approximately 1961, the two-mile, four lane Dr. William A. Hoover Bridge was built over the Hiwassee River near Murphy to serve

US Route 19 U.S. Route 19 or U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mex ...

. Levi Strauss & Co. opened a plant in Murphy in December 1963 to make jeans. The plant hired 380 employees at its peak. It closed in February 1999. Today, the building is occupied by Snap-on Tools. The town's wastewater treatment plant was built in the mid-1960s. On April 3, 1974, an F4 tornado in Murphy killed four people (including two children) and injured 40. It destroyed 45 houses, 45 mobile homes, and caused major damage to 55 other homes. Local damages totaled $13 million (1974). It was the deadliest of four tornadoes that hit the county during the first four days of April in the

1974 Super Outbreak The 1974 Super Outbreak was one of the most intense tornado outbreaks on record, occurring on April 3–4, 1974, across much of the United States. It was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. It was also the most violent t ...

. An EF2 tornado hit Murphy on March 2, 2012, as part of the

Tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012 On March 2 and 3, 2012, a large and deadly tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States into the Ohio Valley region. The storms resulted in 41 tornado-related fatalities, 22 of which occurred in Kentucky. Torn ...

. This tornado damaged two schools and affected multiple businesses. Nearly a year after the March 2012 tornado, debris washed up in the Valley River under the Bulldog Drive bridge and caused the waters to go to the sides, causing strong currents, making a large portion of the bridge collapse. A water system was also damaged and left many businesses east of the bridge without sewer or water. The nearby Murphy High School was without both, with students having to use port-a-potties and carry bagged lunches made at another school. A four-lane highway was built between Murphy and the neighboring town of

Andrews Andrews may refer to: Places Australia *Andrews, Queensland *Andrews, South Australia United States *Andrews, Florida (disambiguation), various places *Andrews, Indiana *Andrews, Nebraska *Andrews, North Carolina *Andrews, Oregon *Andrews, South ...

around 1977.

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

's first North Carolina store was constructed in Murphy in 1983 and opened on August 16. The store moved to its current location in 1991 and the old building is now a Big Lots, Mexican store, and Mexican restaurant. Murphy's Walmart remained the only one in the state until 1986. In 1999, a 10-mile, 12-inch water line was built to connect Murphy and Andrews' water systems. The interconnect agreement expired in 2022. On May 31, 2003

Olympic Park An Olympic Park is a sports campus for hosting the Olympic Games. Typically it contains the Olympic Stadium and the International Broadcast Centre. It may also contain the Olympic Village or some of the other sports venues, such as the aquatics ...

bomber

Eric Rudolph Eric Robert Rudolph (born September 19, 1966), also known as the Olympic Park Bomber, is an American domestic terrorist convicted of a series of bombings across the Southern United States between 1996 and 1998, which killed two people and injur ...

was captured behind a Murphy

Save-A-Lot Save A Lot Food Stores Ltd. is an American discount supermarket chain store headquartered in St. Ann, Missouri, in Greater St. Louis. It has about 720 independently owned and operated stores across 32 states in the United States with over ...

by rookie police officer Jeff Postell. In October 2024, one of the oldest remaining buildings in downtown Murphy, the Akin-Axley-Davidson house at 69 Valley River Avenue, was demolished. The home was built during the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

Mayoral history

# John H. Hennessee (1887-1893) # J.S. Patterson (1893) # Drury W. DeWeese (1893-1894) # R.L. Cooper (1894-1896) # Marshall Williams Bell (1896-1898) # Ben Posey (1898-1901) # J.V. Brittian (1901-1903) # J.R. McLelland (1903-1904) # Marshall Williams Bell (1904-1907) # A.B. Hill (1907-1909) # P.E. Nelson (1909-1913) # J.D. Mallonee (1913-1914) # P.E. Nelson (1914-1915) # S.W. Lovingood (1915-1917) # C.B. Hill (1917-1919) # T.J. Hill (1919-1921) # John H. Dillard (1921-1922) # Don Witherspoon (1922-1923) # Wm. Mercer Fain (1923-1926) # F.N. Hill (1926-1927) # A.A. Fain (1927-1928) # Harry P. Cooper (1928-1930) # W. McMillan (1930-1931) # S.W. Lovingood (1931–1932) # V.J. Britt (1932-1933) # E.B. Norvell (1933-1934) # J.B. Gray (1934-1941) # C.D. Mayfield (1941-1942) # E.L. Shields (1942-1943) # J.W. Franklin (1943-1944) # Wm. Mercer Fain (1944-1946) # Oliver Neil Sneed (1946-1950) # Buel Adams (1950-1952) # L.L. Mason Jr. (1952-1966) # Cloe Moore (1966-c.1987) # William Hughes (1997–2017) # Rick Ramsey (c.2019–2021) # Tim Radford (2021–present)

Demographics

Murphy's homeless population was 46 as of 2025.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,608 people, 774 households, and 394 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, the total population was 1,621 people.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 1,568 people, 725 households, and 440 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 819 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 89.60%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 5.48%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 1.28% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 1.15% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population. There were 725 households, out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.71. In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $16,926. About 16.7% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy of Murphy is fairly spread out, with a quarter of the population employed in the management and professional sector; about one fifth of the population are employed in either sales/office or construction, maintenance and extraction sectors. The smallest percentage, at only 1.9% are employed in the farm fishing or forestry sector. Murphy also has a relatively low median income per household, at $24,952. The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The

for the town was $16,926. About 16.7% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the

, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over. There are several employers for advanced skilled professions, including Moog Components Group, Aegis Power Systems, Murphy Medical Group, Sioux Tools, and Tri-County Community College. Harrah's Cherokee Valley River, a tribal casino that opened in Murphy in 2015, is also a major job supplier. Additionally, there are two Bitcoin mining operations in Murphy – one by Core Scientific and the other by Atlas Technology Group. The area's low power rates and sprawling landscape are attractive to these operations.

Education

The local public school system is run by Cherokee County Schools, which operates a total of 13 schools across the county: *Murphy Elementary *Peachtree Elementary *Marble Elementary *Martins Creek Elementary *Ranger Elementary *Murphy Middle *Andrews Middle *Hiwassee Dam Middle *The Oaks Academy * Andrews High * Hiwassee Dam High * Murphy High * Tri-County Early College One alternative education option is Murphy Adventist Christian School (K-8). There is also a thriving homeschool community. Higher education is offered at Tri-County Community College, or several nearby colleges and universities including North Georgia Technical College, Young Harris College,

Western Carolina University Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the University of North Carolina system. The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, WCU ...

, Southwestern Community College, and

University of North Georgia The University of North Georgia (UNG) is a public university with multiple campuses in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. It is part of the University System of Georgia. The university was established on January 8, 2013, through a m ...

. The John C. Campbell Folk School, the oldest and largest folk school in the United States, is located in Brasstown, an unincorporated village near Murphy. It exists partly in Cherokee County and partly in

Clay County Clay County is the name of 18 counties in the United States. Most are named for Henry Clay, U.S. Senator and statesman: * Clay County, Alabama * Clay County, Arkansas (named for John Clayton, and originally named Clayton County) * Clay County, Fl ...

. This education center focuses on creative folk arts for all ages. The folk school also offers musical concerts and community dance entertainment.

Transportation

Murphy sits just northwest of 19/ 74/ 64/ 129 which runs from just southwest of Murphy to Topton, just before US 129 breaks off. It is easily accessed by motor vehicle. In-town and in-county transportation is available, for a small fee, via Cherokee County Transit. There are also private taxis for hire. Western Carolina Regional Airport , known locally as the Murphy Airport, Andrews Airport, or Andrews-Murphy Airport, is located between the cities of

and Murphy. The closest commercial passenger airports are the

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) is 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Chattanooga, in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority., effective ...

(IATA: CHA) 83 miles and the

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its Metro Atlanta, surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is located south of the Down ...

(IATA: ATL) 126 miles.

Infrastructure

Utilities

Electricity for Western North Carolina is provided by

Duke Energy Duke Energy Corporation is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company ranked as the 141st largest company in the United States in 2024 – its highest-ever placement on the ...

, sometimes referred to as Duke Power. It has a total service territory covering Half of its power generation for the Carolinas comes from its

nuclear power plants A nuclear power plant (NPP), also known as a nuclear power station (NPS), nuclear generating station (NGS) or atomic power station (APS) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power s ...

. Some of the power is supplied via solar panel farms located in the Murphy area. There are at least four solar farms, each with more than 4,000 panels. One of the farms, called Martins Creek Solar Project, alone provides "enough electricity to power more than 150 average-sized homes and enough revenue for the district to staff approximately two full-time teachers." The town of Murphy's power is provided b
Murphy Electric Power Board
Natural gas is supplied by Piedmont Gas, which services North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Media

The weekly '' Cherokee Scout'' based in Murphy is Cherokee County's only newspaper. It was founded in 1889. WKRK 1320 AM, WCVP 600 AM, and WCNG 102.7 FM are three radio stations currently broadcast from Murphy. Local TV 4 is a Murphy-based television news station.

Roads and bridges

There are 14.8 miles of roads maintained by the Town of Murphy, while other surroundings roads are maintained by the NC Department of Transportation. The Town receives about $56,000 per year in support of street maintenance. Of notable interest is a historic tee beam bridge located in downtown Murphy, NC, showcasing an early use of haunched, continuous cantilever bridge design.

Healthcare

Murphy and all of Cherokee County are served by Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, certified by the

United States Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government created to protect the health of the US people and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...

. It is licensed for 191 beds, of which 120 are nursing home beds, 57 are general-use beds, and the remaining 14 are dedicated to

Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

patients.

Law enforcement

Murphy and the surrounding unincorporated communities are protected by the Murphy Police Department. In February 2024, the department moved to a new headquarters at 498 Hill St. outside downtown. The new location cost $565,100, plus $70,000 in renovations. The new station, which was built as a bank in 1988, is three times larger than the former headquarters. The department had for decades been located in the basement of the old Carnegie Library at 93 Peachtree Street next to the courthouse. The current chief of police is Tim Lominac. Cherokee County as a whole is served by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Dustin D. Smith is the current Sheriff, he has served in that capacity since 2022. The current Cherokee County Jail was built in 2008 and can house around 150 inmates. It replaced the older 1922 jail that has since been demolished.

Crime rate

According to the Cherokee County, NC government, the crimes in the area consist primarily of domestic abuse (accounting for greater than 60% of incidents.) Emergency calls have increased in line with population increases. Violent crimes decreased year over year in 2018 by 15.3%, compared to an overall reduction of 7.3% for the entire state of North Carolina.

Geography

Murphy is located east of the center of Cherokee County at the confluence of the

Hiwassee River The Hiwassee River is a river in the states of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. It originates from a spring on the north slope of Rocky Mountain (Georgia), Rocky Mountain in Towns County, Georgia, Towns County in n ...

and Valley River. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 9.13%, is water.

Topography

Murphy is located in southwestern

, approximately halfway between

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

and

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

. The topography consists of gentle rolling hills and mountains with tall peaks, including ranges from 1800 ft to more than 5000 ft elevation. The location in the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the United States, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States and extends 550 miles southwest from southern ...

has helped the community retain a fairly rural character, surrounded by wildlife such as

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...

deer A deer (: deer) or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae (informally the deer family). Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae (which includes, among others, muntjac, elk (wapiti), red deer, and fallow deer) ...

fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

and recently reintroduced

elk The elk (: ''elk'' or ''elks''; ''Cervus canadensis'') or wapiti, is the second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. ...

Climate

Murphy has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, (Cfa) according to the

Köppen classification Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

, with hot, humid summers and cool to mild winters, with low temperatures significantly cooler than other parts of the Southeast, due in part to the elevation. Like the rest of the southeastern U.S., Murphy receives abundant rainfall, greatest in winter and enhanced by the elevation. Receiving as much as 100 inches per year in some parts, areas of Cherokee County are considered part of the

Appalachian temperate rainforest The Appalachian temperate rainforest or Appalachian cloud forest is located in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and is among the most biodiverse temperate regions in the world. Centered primarily around Southern Ap ...

Blizzards A blizzard is a severe Winter storm, snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow th ...

are rare but possible; the

1993 Storm of the Century The 1993 Storm of the Century (also known as the 93 Superstorm, The No Name Storm, or the Great Blizzard of '93/1993) was a devastating cyclonic storm, or nor'easter, that formed over the Gulf of Mexico on March 12, 1993. The cold weather, heav ...

dropped in 24 hours with more snowfall continuing up to 38" in some areas, causing widespread power outages and natural disasters. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from in January to in July; there are 20 days of + highs, 106 days of freezing lows, and 4 days where the high stays at or below freezing annually. Extreme temperatures range from on January 21 and 22, 1985 up to on July 1 and 2, 2012.

Nearby communities

Cities and populated areas within an approximate radius of Murphy:

Notable people

* Jan Davidson folklorist who was the longest serving director of the John C. Campbell Folk School * Abraham Enloe (1762–1841) remains interred at Harshaw Chapel in downtown Murphy, NC. Alleged to be the biological father of US President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

* Preston Henn founder of the

Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop is an 80 acre indoor and outdoor flea market, featuring a 14-screen drive-in theater in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From 1989–2006 the Hanneford Family Circus performed daily (except Tuesdays) in the Swap Shop food co ...

and race car driver * Junaluska 19th-century Cherokee hero famous for actions at Battle of Horseshoe Bend, born in what is now Murphy * Jason Harley Kloepferunarmed man shot by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Police

SWAT A SWAT (''Special Weapons and Tactics'') team is a generic term for a police tactical unit within the United States, though the term has also been used by other nations. SWAT units are generally trained, equipped, and deployed to res ...

Team * Carl Pickens 1992

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...

Offensive Rookie of the Year. Two-time

Pro Bowl The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players. The format has changed ...

selection with the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...

and former

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

wide receiver for the

Tennessee Volunteers The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Colleg ...

. Led Murphy High School to state football championships in 1986 and 1987. *

Best known as the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bomber, caught and arrested in Murphy in 2003 by rookie police officer Jeffrey Scott Postell; now serving multiple life sentences in

ADX Florence United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility (abbreviated as USP Florence ADMAX; commonly known as ADX Florence, Florence Supermax, and the Alcatraz of the Rockies) is a United States federal prison in Fremont County, Colorado, op ...

. Originally from Florida. * Phil Voyles former

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

player for the

Boston Braves The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to History of the Atlanta Braves#Milwaukee, Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). ...

Hedy West Hedwig Grace "Hedy" West (April 6, 1938 – July 3, 2005) was an American folksinger, songwriter and song catcher. She belonged to the same generation of folk revivalists as Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Carolyn Hester. Her most famous song "50 ...

noted 1960s-era folksinger and songwriter, Murphy High School graduate

References

Sources

*Duncan, Barbara R. and Riggs, Brett H. ''Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook''. University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill (2003). *

External links

*
''The Cherokee Scout''
local newspaper {{authority control Towns in Cherokee County, North Carolina Towns in North Carolina County seats in North Carolina Populated places established in 1835 Populated places on the Valley River Populated places on the Hiwassee River