North Carolina Highway 181 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

North Carolina Highway 181 is a primary state highway

State highway

State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

of North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. It runs north–south from Morganton

Morganton, North Carolina

Morganton is a city in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. Reader's Digest included Morganton in its list of top ten places to raise a family. The town was recently profiled in The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The population was 17,310 at the 2000 census...

to Newland

Newland, North Carolina

Newland is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 704 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Avery County. Before its founding, the area was known as Old Fields or Old Fields of Toe. In 1911 it was renamed Newland, after North Carolina Lieutenant Governor...

Route description

The route serves as the main road from Morganton to Northern Burke County then on towards Newland in Avery County. The first 12 miles of the road appears as a regular back road highway, going by homes and shrubbery farms. At Brown Mountain Beach Road, the sharp bend of the highway starts the climb up through the Pisgah National Forest to Jonas Ridge. This section of the highway (13 miles) features multiple curves (some tight with speed warnings), multiple passing lanes (five up, two down, one turnoff down), and mostly undeveloped wooded lands. Before Jonas Ridge is the Brown Mountain Overlook, where stories of phantom lights on the mountain can be seen from the location. After Jonas Ridge, the highway goes parallel with the Blue Ridge Park for a mile before passing over it. In Pineola, the highway overlaps with US 221 for almost three miles before splitting in Linville. The last section of the highway goes by several hills and mountains covered by Frasier furs before entering the Newland city limits and ending at Pineola Street.

One unique feature of the highway is the use of mile markers, which only appear between before Brown Mountain Beach Road and Jonas Ridge (mile markers 12-25). An oddity for a two-lane surface road in the state; however, the reason why they exist is simply to assist police and rescue crews to better locate accidents or lost hikers along the winding section of the highway.

Majority of the route shares with either NC Bike Route 2 (Mountains to Sea) or NC Bike Route 6 (Piedmont Spur). Because it mostly overlaps with a state bike route, the road has wider paved shoulders compared to other roads in the area. Because of these extra features, it is not uncommon to find several bikes and motorcycles riding along the highway on any given nice day.

Scenic byway

Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway is a 47 miles (75.6 km) loop byway, not recommended for recreational vehicles and bus, as well as four-wheel drive required for unpaved portions. NC 181 makes up the eastern section of the byway (17.5 miles (28.2 km)), it is noted for its history as the same route the Kirk's Raiders

3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry

The 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry was an all-volunteer mounted infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War...

used to make a successful attack on Confederate Army Camp Vance, outside Morganton, during the Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

. It is also noted for scenic views of the surrounding mountains and access to various trails along the route. Other roads and highways that make-up the loop are: NC 183

North Carolina Highway 183

North Carolina Highway 183 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from US 221, in the community of Linville Falls, to NC 181, near the community of Jonas Ridge.-Route description:...

, Old NC Highway 105 (S.R. 1238, the entire road is unpaved), NC 126

North Carolina Highway 126

North Carolina Highway 126 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from US 70, in Nebo, to NC 181, in Morganton.-Route description:...

, and Fish Hatchery Road (S.R. 1254 & 1240).

Junction list

{| class="wikitable"
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=7|Burke

Burke County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 37,427 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...

|rowspan=4|Morganton

Morganton, North Carolina

Lenoir, North Carolina

Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...

|
|-
|1.7
| – Lake James
|
|-
|rowspan=3|
|9
|Fish Hatchery Road
|begin of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|12.4
|Brown Mountain Beach Road
|East end of NC Bike 2, west end of NC Bike 6, enter Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...

Intersection marks the start of a 13 mile ascent
|-
|26.5
| – Linville Falls

Linville Falls, North Carolina

Linville Falls is an unincorporated community at the junction of Avery, Burke, and McDowell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The community is named after Linville Falls, a nearby waterfall in the Linville Gorge Wilderness.- Attractions :...

, Linville Gorge

Linville Gorge Wilderness

The Linville Gorge Wilderness is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States...

|West end of NC Bike 2, end of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|rowspan=4|Avery

Avery County, North Carolina

- Climate :As a result of its relatively high elevation, Avery County has a Humid continental climate enjoying considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the Eastern US. Likewise, winters are longer, colder and snowier than most other locations in the region. This can be evidenced by the...

|rowspan=2|Pineola

Pineola, North Carolina

Pineola is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina; generally spanning out in a three mile radius from the intersection of US highway US 221 and NC 181. The area was originally known as "Saginaw" until the early 20th century....

|28.2
|Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...

Crossnore, North Carolina

Crossnore is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crossnore is located at ....

, Marion

Marion, North Carolina

Marion is a city in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,943 at the 2008 estimated census. It is the county seat of McDowell County.-Geography:Marion is located at ....

|style="background:#ddffdd"|South end of US 221 overlap
|-
|Linville

Linville, North Carolina

Linville is a community centered just south of the US 221 and NC 105 intersection in Avery County, North Carolina. The community -- at times known as Clay or Porcelain -- was founded in 1883 and designed by Samuel T. Kelsey of Kansas, it was named for William and John Linville, who were killed by...

|style="background:#ddffdd"|32.8
|style="background:#ddffdd"| – Banner Elk

Banner Elk, North Carolina

-Attractions:During summer time there is hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and other activities. The largest lake in the area, Watauga Lake, is a favorite spot just 30 minutes away for boating, fishing and wake boarding. In the winter the main event is skiing and snowboarding. There are two...

, Boone

Boone, North Carolina

Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...

, Linville

Linville, North Carolina

|style="background:#ddffdd"|North end of US 221 overlap
Also goes to Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Blowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...

, Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is a mountain, a non-profit attraction, and a North Carolina state parknear Linville, North Carolina. At 5,946 feet , it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway...

, and area ski resorts
|-
|Newland

Newland, North Carolina

|36.2
|
|NC 181 ends
|-

History

Established in 1928, NC 181 begins as a new primary routing between Morganton

Morganton, North Carolina

and Pineola

Pineola, North Carolina

, then west to NC 194

North Carolina Highway 194

North Carolina Highway 194 is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. Primarily in the High Country, it runs from US 19E, in Ingalls, to the Virginia state line, near Helton.-Route description:...

near Crossnore

Crossnore, North Carolina

Crossnore is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crossnore is located at ....

. A year later, it was extended southwest to end at NC 19 (now Old US 221 Road). In 1930, NC 181 was rerouted north of Pineola to its current northern terminus in Newland

Newland, North Carolina

; this decommissioned NC 175

North Carolina Highway 175

NC 175 is a short north/south state highway in western North Carolina and lies entirely in Clay County, just east of Lake Chatuge.-Route description:...

and NC 176 and re-branded the old route briefly as NC 691 and later US 221

U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina

U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina runs north–south from the South Carolina state line to the Virginia state line in Western North Carolina.-Route description:...

. In 1934, NC 181 was extended further southwest to US 176 in Tryon

Tryon, North Carolina

Tryon is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2000 Census the population of Tryon was 1,760. The area is a center for equestrian activity and fine arts....

. In 1940, NC 181 southern terminus moved back to Morganton, it's southwesterly route replaced by US 64 Alternate (later US 64 and US 64 Business) and NC 108

North Carolina Highway 108

North Carolina Highway 108 is a long, two lane highway in North Carolina, USA. It connects U.S. 176 in Tryon to Rutherfordton and passes through both Polk County and Rutherford County. It is a rural country road through eastern Polk County and western Rutherford County, and moderately developed...

. Sometime between 1969 and 1982, NC 181 was split onto one-way streets in downtown Morganton (Green and Sterling streets); its current southern terminus ends at the begin of NC 181 on Meeting street.

In 1989 and 1990, NC 181 was rerouted to bypass the communities of Montezuma

Montezuma, North Carolina

Montezuma is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. Before its founding in 1883, it had two variant names, Aaron and Bull Scrape...

(to the north), and a year later at Linville

Linville, North Carolina

(to the west).

Alternate names

The highway is known as both NC 181 and Beatrice Cobb Highway; but it also has lesser known names that it uses along the route.

Meeting Street - road name, location of begin and end of NC 181 in Morganton.
Green Street - road name, used only in Morganton city limits.
Sterling Street - road name, used as south-bound route through downtown Morganton.
Linville Falls Highway - road name, used when overlap with U.S. Route 221.
Dr. Mary Martin Sloop Highway - official name of highway, between Pineola and Linville.
Linville Bypass - name of road that goes around Linville.
Newland Highway - road name, between Linville and Newland.
S B Lacey Jr Highway - official North Carolina name of NC 181, between Linville and Newland.
Linville Avenue - road name, used only in Newland city limits.

Beatrice Cobb Highway

Beatrice Cobb (1888-1951) started her career early as a teacher and writer. In 1916, she became editor and publisher of the Morganton Herald; in 1922 she was chosen secretary of the North Carolina Press Association by her peers. Eventually her journalism clout in the state became also political clout; she was a Democratic National Committeewoman and an adviser on allocations to federal agencies in the state during the New Deal era. She has received numerous awards during her career and an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina. The highway, between Morganton and Pineola, is officially named in her honor.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Route description

Scenic byway

Junction list

History

Alternate names

Beatrice Cobb Highway

See also

External links