Welcome
to Denver "of the East"
Written By:
David Rohr for DenverNC.com
Denver,
North Carolina is a small southern town located at the east end
of Lincoln County in western North Carolina. The area is rich
with history that follows the development of the United States
from it's beginnings through to the present.
The history of the area dates back to
before the revolutionary war to a time when the Catawba Indians lived
along the eastern banks of the river that still bears their name, and the
Cherokee Indians lived to the west. The first bold pioneers
known to settle this area were Adam Sherrill and his 8 sons, who
migrated from Pennsylvania in 1747, and John Beatty who settled
here in 1749. Both the Sherrills and Beatty settled along the west bank of the Catawba
near shoals in the river that made it possible to cross. These
crossing points or "fords" were thereafter referred to
as "Sherrill's Ford" and "Beattie's Ford", names that still
live on in the area to this day. The early settlers of the area
were primarily Scotch-Irish and Germans that came from the north.
By 1750 a Scotch-Irish settlement covered
both banks of the Catawba river.
The
area holds a proud place in the history of the creation of the
United States of America. A number of significant Revolutionary
events took place here, such as the Battle of Cowan's Ford.
Located just a few miles south of what is now Denver, the actual
location of the battle is now under water. Monuments near the
site now stand as a memorial to the brave men who gave their
lives in pursuit of America's freedom.
The
Denver area was settled ca. 1770 and, because of it's location
adjacent to a swampy area, was originally known as "Dry
Pond". In 1873 "Dry Pond" was renamed "Denver" by
D. Matt Thompson, the local school principal. Legend has it that
in the early 1870's the people of "Dry Pond" were
lobbying to persuade the railroads to route rail service through the
area. Rail service held the promise of opportunity, prosperity
and wealth. They worried that the name "Dry Pond" made the area
sound unattractive and that it might hamper their chances with the railroads.
The school principle, being
respected for his education and learning, was asked to help
choose a new name that would make the area sound more appealing and help improve their chances of obtaining
rail service. It was 1873 and Colorado was then being considered
for admission to the Union, so Mr. Thompson suggested renaming
the area after the capital of Colorado, thus the name of Denver.
In 1877 the town of Denver was officially incorporated in the
state of North Carolina. Sadly, all their efforts were for naught
as the railroads decided not to bring a rail line through the
newly named town. Without the railroads the growth of the small
town was stymied, the town became too poor to maintain even it's
own streets. In 1971 the little town of Denver lost it's
incorporated status when the State of North Carolina rescinded
the charters of several inactive N.C. cities.
Today
Denver sits on the west shores of Lake Norman, a very
large lake
created in 1962 when construction of the Cowans Ford Dam across the
Catawba River was completed. Denver and
Lake Norman are just a little north of Charlotte, the largest city in
North Carolina. Charlotte is a fast growing "world
class" city that is home to NBA and NFL teams, NASCAR racing,
theaters, cultural centers and corporate headquarters for some of the
largest financial companies in the world.
The recent
growth of Charlotte has fueled tremendous development of the areas
surrounding Lake Norman. The lake has become a very
popular recreation spot, attracting thousands of visitors every year for
fishing, swimming and boating. Interstate route 77 runs along the east side of
the lake and, because of the fast and easy access to
Charlotte, the lake's east side has developed very quickly. Where
small summer cottages and pine forests stood only a few short years ago,
million dollar homes now sit and look out over the water.
The west
side of the lake, where Denver is located, has typically been quieter,
with a "laid-back" and "easy-going" atmosphere. The town has
centered around the old post office and stretches north and south along
highway 16. Denver is probably best known for the historic Rock
Springs Camp Meeting, an annual religious gathering that has
been continued for over 207 years and held in Denver since 1830.
Even today Denver maintains the appeal of a
quiet and relaxed little town, but with future plans to widen route 16
from Charlotte to Hickory, development
has begun to hasten. New homes and businesses are suddenly popping up
throughout the area and several large development projects are underway.
With a location that offers easy access to Charlotte and Hickory, yet
still let's you feel away from it all with beautiful lake views and a
small town atmosphere, it's no wonder that the area is predicted to grow
quickly in the coming years. People are beginning to discover the charm of the
"other side of the lake" and in particular, Denver.
Information Sources for
the story above include:
William Powell's
"The North Carolina Gazetteer"
Records of the North Carolina General Assembly Session
Laws for 1877
The North Carolina Division of Archives and History
Special Thanks to Mr.
Jason E. Tomberlin, Correspondence Archivist for the NC
Division of Archives and History in Raleigh, NC for his
help in researching historical information on the
origins of Denver, North Carolina. |
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Us Your Stories & Comments
We'd
love to hear from you!
Send us your comments, corrections, stories and suggestions. If
you have information regarding the history of the area, family
stories from long ago, or any corrections & additions
regarding Denver and East Lincoln County history please write
us. Help preserve the area's history, we'll post the information
right here on DenverNC.com !
Email:
info@DenverNC.com
_______________
To
learn more about the history of the area explore the following
links:
Historical
Notes on the early years of Lincoln County and it's Origin
Lincoln
County Genealogy, (USGenWeb Project, North Carolina)
Lincoln
County Digital Library, (USGenWeb Project, North Carolina
Archives)
North
Carolina NCGenWeb Project, (USGenWeb Project, North
Carolina)
Carolina
Cuzins, History and Genealogy
Cindi's
List, Web Sites for North Carolina
Information
By Mail/Search and Handling Fee for non-North Carolina
residents
Online
Request Form (North Carolina Residents ONLY)
County
Records Guide
MARS
Finding Aid
NC
Historical Publications/Books for Sale
State
Archives General Information
General
Information on North Carolina
State
Library of North Carolina
North
Carolina Vital Records/ALL Birth Certificates and Post-1955
Death Certificates
North
Carolina History and Information for help with homework and
school projects
Biographical
Sketches of North Carolina Governors
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