North Carolina

Cherokee

28,774
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Cherokee

Cherokee, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 3,427. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 28,774.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202028,774
201027,444
200024,298
199020,170
198018,933
197016,330
196016,335
195018,294
194018,813
193016,151
192015,242
191014,136
190011,860
18909,976
18808,182
18708,080
18609,166
18506,838
18403,427
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Cherokee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Harshaw Chapel and Cemetery
Murphy
Cooper, Robert Lafayette, House
Murphey
Cherokee County Courthouse
Murphy
First Baptist Church
Andrews
Cover, Franklin Pierce, House
Andrews
Campbell, John C., Folk School Historic District
Brasstown
Cobb, John Franklin, House
Bell View
Walker's Inn
Andrews
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

HaywoodHendersonHertfordHokeHydeIredellJacksonJohnstonJonesLeeLenoirLincolnMaconMadisonMartinMcDowellMecklenburgMitchellMontgomeryMoore
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Everything a full report reveals about Cherokee County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Cherokee County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Cherokee

When does Cherokee first appear in the US census?
Cherokee, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 3,427.
What is the population of Cherokee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cherokee had a recorded population of 28,774.
How many historic places are in Cherokee?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cherokee, North Carolina.
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