Jackson County is a county in North Carolina, United States, in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the South Carolina border. It had a population of 43,109 at the 2020 census and covers 495 square miles (1,282 km2), of which 3.77 square miles (9.8 km2) is water, centred near 35°17′N 83°07′W, in the western part of the state.
Sylva is the county seat, a role it has held since 1913 after replacing Webster; its postal code is 28779. The county holds four incorporated towns (Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster and Forest Hills), two census-designated places (Cullowhee and Cashiers), and roughly three dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Jackson County observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has four incorporated towns, two census-designated places built around Western Carolina University and the Cashiers resort area, and a long list of unincorporated communities scattered through its mountain coves and valleys. The table below lists Type as Town, City · seat, CDP or Unincorp.; population figures are given only where a 2020 census count is confirmed.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylva | Town · seat | — | 28779 |
| Dillsboro | Town | — | 28725 |
| Webster | Town | — | 28788 |
| Forest Hills | Town | 303 | 28723 |
| Cullowhee | CDP | — | 28723 |
| Cashiers | CDP | — | 28717 |
| Addie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Argura | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Balsam | Unincorp. | — | 28707 |
| Bessie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cowarts | Unincorp. | — | — |
| East Laport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Erastus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fallcliff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fisher Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foster | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glenville | Unincorp. | — | 28736 |
| Greens Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grimshawes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| High Hampton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Island Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Love Field | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olivet | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paint Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pumpkintown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Qualla | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rich Mountain | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ruby City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Savannah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Speedwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tuckasegee | Unincorp. | — | 28783 |
| Whittier | Unincorp. | — | 28789 |
| Willits-Ochre Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilmot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wolf Mountain | Unincorp. | — | — |
Qualla sits inside the Qualla Boundary, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ land trust that straddles Jackson and neighboring Swain County — it is a Cherokee community, not a separate municipality. Whittier likewise sits on the Jackson–Swain line, with addresses served from both counties.
ZIP Codes
- 28779 — Sylva
- 28725 — Dillsboro
- 28788 — Webster
- 28723 — Cullowhee (also serves Forest Hills)
- 28717 — Cashiers
- 28736 — Glenville
- 28783 — Tuckasegee
- 28789 — Whittier
- 28707 — Balsam
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities share a ZIP code with the nearest post office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Jackson County lies in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern North Carolina, drained by the Tuckasegee River, which flows through Cullowhee and Dillsboro before reaching Fontana Lake in Swain County. Lake Glenville, a reservoir on the West Fork Tuckasegee River near the town of the same name, is the county’s largest lake. Elevations run from valley floors near Dillsboro to well over 5,000 feet along the Eastern Continental Divide toward the Balsam Mountains.
Jackson County shares borders with Haywood County to the northeast, Transylvania County to the east, Macon County to the west, Swain County to the northwest, and Oconee County, South Carolina, to the south.
Demographics
Jackson County had 43,109 residents at the 2020 census. Its two largest population centers are Sylva, the county seat, and the Cullowhee CDP, home to Western Carolina University. Median household income in Jackson County runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting the county’s mix of university-town, tourism and mountain-community incomes. Population density is roughly 88 people per square mile, concentrated along the Sylva-Cullowhee-Dillsboro corridor and the Cashiers resort area, with the mountainous interior far more sparsely settled.
Economy & Local Life
Western Carolina University in Cullowhee is the county’s largest employer and anchors its economy alongside Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. Tourism is central to Jackson County’s economy year-round: Cashiers and the High Hampton area draw second-home owners and summer visitors to the mountains, while whitewater rafting on the Tuckasegee River, Blue Ridge Parkway access, and proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Qualla Boundary draw travelers through Sylva and Dillsboro. Downtown Sylva’s Main Street, with its courthouse steps and independent shops, is a regional draw in its own right.
History
Jackson County was formed in 1851 from parts of Haywood and Macon counties and named for President Andrew Jackson. Webster served as the original county seat; Sylva took over in 1913 after the Western North Carolina Railroad reached the town, shifting commerce and population there. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians holds land within the county’s Qualla Boundary, a legacy of the Cherokee people who were never forced from these mountains during the 1830s Indian Removal.
Getting There
US Routes 23, 74 and 441, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway, cross Jackson County; NC Highways 107, 116, 215 and 281 connect its towns and communities.
- Asheville, NC — 50 miles northeast
- Cherokee, NC — 15 miles north
- Franklin, NC — 20 miles southwest
- Brevard, NC — 30 miles east
Asheville Regional Airport, roughly an hour’s drive northeast, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, North Carolina?
It is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern North Carolina, bordering South Carolina, centred near 35°17′N 83°07′W.
What is the population of Jackson County?
43,109 at the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
495 square miles (1,282 km2), including 3.77 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?
Sylva, county seat since 1913.
How many towns are in Jackson County?
Four incorporated towns — Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster and Forest Hills — plus the Cullowhee and Cashiers census-designated places and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
Nine ZIP codes serve the county, including 28779 (Sylva), 28723 (Cullowhee), 28717 (Cashiers) and 28725 (Dillsboro).
What university is in Jackson County?
Western Carolina University, located in the Cullowhee CDP, with more than 12,000 students.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.