Western NC Genealogy Resource Center
for Haywood County
Haywood, in the Great Smoky Mountains, was formed in 1808 from Buncombe. It was named in honor of John Haywood, Treasurer of North Carolina, 1787-1827. It is in the western section of the State and is bounded by the state of Tennessee and Madison, Buncombe, Transylvania, Jackson and Swain counties. At the time of it's creation, Haywood also bordered on the states of Tennessee and Georgia. The present land area is 552.55 square miles and the 1990 population was 46,942, and shares it's borders with Swain, Jackson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Madison counties in North Carolina, and Cocke County in Tennessee. The first court was ordered to be held at Mount Prospect, at which time the justices could decide on some other place for holding court until a courthouse could be erected. In 1809 the justices of the peace were authorized to appoint commissioners to erect the courthouse: "In the erection of the public buildings at Mount Prospect there was laid the foundation of the little city of Waynesville. In the record of the court of pleas and quarter sessions the name of Waynesville occurs first in 1811." Waynesville was confirmed as a town by legislative act in 1810. Waynesville is the county seat.
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