Located along the Tennessee border, Graham County was formed out of Cherokee County in 1872. The county gets its name after William Graham, who served in the US Senate and then as the state’s 30th governor. Graham is the third least populous county with only has three communities: Lake Santeetlah, Fontana Village and the county seat of Robbinsville, which until 1915 only had 200 residents.
Agriculture and logging proved vital to the county’s early economy, as well as the dams that were established in the county in the early 20th century in response to the power demands of WWI and WWII. Two-thirds of the county is covered by forest and the county’s difficult terrain has stymied both its population and economic growth since its inception. However, the county’s remoteness and astounding natural beauty has made it a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts and today, outdoor tourism serves as the county’s primary industry.
The county is home to a number of rivers and forests and lakes which make Graham a destination for fishing, white-water rafting, hiking and hunting. The Cheoah River is known for its Class IV rapids and has a reputation for some of the best whitewater rafting on the east coast. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, a 3800 acre old growth hardwood forest, accessible only by foot and a favorite among hikers. Named after the author and poet Joyce Kilmer who was killed in action in France during WWI, the forest has more than 100 tree species, some of which are more than 400 years old. The Fontana Dam is the highest dam in the east at 480 feet and the lake, with 240 miles of shoreline, is ideal for boating, fishing and camping.
The beauty of Graham can also be experienced by car along the Cherohala Skyway, a designated national scenic byway. Opened in 1996, The Cherohala cost over $100m to construct and gets its name from the Cherokee and the Nantahala. The Skyway connects Robbinsville and Tellico Plains, TN and peaks at the Santeetlah Overlook at 5,390 feet. Along the 43 mile drive there are multiple overlooks and opportunities for hiking and exploration. Just make sure to get gas before getting on the Skyway as there is nowhere to fill up along the way.
50 miles southwest of the main reservation, Graham is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in what is considered a non-contiguous section of the Qualla Boundary. The Cherokee of Graham are known as Snowbird Cherokee and are so-called for the refusal of many to leave on the Trail of Tears, instead escaping into the mountains of Snowbird, Buffalo and Santeetlah. The county is also the burial place of Junaluska, a significant Cherokee leader who is widely believed to have saved Andrew Jackson’s life at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.
Graham is known as one of the most conservative counties in the state. Until 2021, Graham was the state’s last dry county and even then the vote narrowly passed. The county is reliably Republican with GOP candidates carrying Graham by margins of more than 60 points in recent elections.
