Unaka, North Carolina

Unaka, North Carolina
Unincorporated community
Unaka is located in North Carolina
Unaka
Unaka
Location within North Carolina
Unaka is located in the United States
Unaka
Unaka
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 35°11′43″N 84°08′30″W / 35.19528°N 84.14167°W / 35.19528; -84.14167
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyCherokee
Elevation
1,644 ft (501 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code828
GNIS feature ID1023032[1]

Unaka is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. Unaka is located in the Nantahala National Forest, 9.6 miles (15.4 km) northwest of Murphy. Unaka is a name derived from a Cherokee word meaning "white", which referred to the appearance of low-lying clouds and fog over the Unicoi Mountains.[2]

History

Unaka had a post office until it closed on February 15, 1986.[3][4] Unaka's volunteer fire department was established in 1983 and opened a new four-bay station in 2024.[5] By 1940, the Unaka schoolhouse was a two-story, 6,600-square-feet, wood-frame building. In 1952, a new brick, five-classroom school was completed. Within five years, enrollment of its eight grades reached 153.[6]

The Unaka Community Center was built in 1976.[7] The community struggles with a lack of network connectivity as cellular service providers have said the area doesn't have a high enough population to make building a tower worthwhile. The community was promised fiber-optic internet in 2023 but lines have not been installed as of 2025. Unaka also struggles with limited trash disposal options as the county landfill takes around an hour to drive to.[8]

In 2026, Cheyenne the miniature horse became Unaka's official mascot.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Unaka". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ↑ "Community Backstory". Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  3. ↑ United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ Williams, Aiden McCoy (October 22, 2024). "Unaka celebrates new fire station". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ "New brick school at Unaka completed in 1952". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC. April 25, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  7. ↑ Brown, David (March 4, 2026). "This Week in Local History". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 9A.
  8. ↑ Williams, Aiden McCoy (August 25, 2025). "Commissioners hear from community". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 9A.
  9. ↑ Williams, Aiden McCoy (January 21, 2026). "Meet Unaka's new mascot". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 11A.


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