Haywood County, North Carolina is located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee Border. Established in 1808, the 546 square miles of Haywood County has a population of 56,664 and includes four towns; Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, and the county seat of Waynesville. Our regional climate is moderate with four distinct seasons, and our proximity to the I-40 interstate highway system allows for easy access to the surrounding cities of Asheville, Knoxville, Charlotte, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Atlanta.
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along our southern border with four entrances located in Haywood County. Local Parkway vistas include Waterrock Knob, Devil's Courthouse, and Graveyard Fields.
Haywood is also the Gateway to the Smokies. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park's 520,000 acres straddles the North Carolina - Tennessee Border, with 17 peaks topping 6000 feet among the Blue Rdige and Balsam mountain ranges. The Park is one of the most biodiverse regions in the United States, is home to over 10,000 documented species, and scientists believe there may be as many as 90,000 species yet to be discovered. Among the many inhabitants of the park are over 1500 black bears, and in recent years the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has worked with the Park Service to reintroduce elk into the Cataloochee Valley region of the park.
The natural beauty of the mountains and small town southern charm make Haywood County an ideal place to call home.
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