Highlands North Carolina
“Escape to the Mountains…Discover the Highlands!”
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Town of Highlands NC
Highlands North Carolina has been a mountain retreat for over 100 years allowing visitors to relax in the summer cool climates. Highlands is one of the highest towns east of the Mississippi River, with an elevation at 4,118 feet. It’s also located in one of the few temperate rain forests in North America. Highlands is surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest located on a plateau in Macon County in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Highlands NC has much to offer such as restaurants, shopping, art galleries performing arts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, museums, scenic drives, waterfalls, hiking, golf, boating and more. The surrounding mountains elevation is over 5,000 feet and in July the average temperature is a cool 75 degrees. Highlands rich history, cool climate and lifestyle, has been attracting visitors to escape the summer heat in the lowlands.
History of Highlands NC
Highlands was founded in 1875 after its two founders and developers from Kansas, Samuel Truman Kelsey and Clinton Carter Hutchinson. These visionaries drew lines from Chicago to Savannah and from New Orleans to New York City. Where these lines all crossed was Highlands North Carolina where the founders felt that the place where these lines met would eventually become a great trading center and commercial crossroads. Highlands was named for its elevation. The area would never become a trading center of commerce but its landscape and beautiful views made the town a destination.
