King's Pinnacle
Encyclopedia
King's Pinnacle is one of the two main peaks located within Crowder's Mountain State Park. The other peak is Crowder's Mountain
. The park is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina
between the cities of Kings Mountain
and Gastonia
.
King's Pinnacle is named after the rock cliffs at the top of the mountain, which resemble a king's crown. The mountain is the remnant of a much higher peak which formed approximately 400-500 million years ago, and has been gradually worn down to its present height of 1,705 feet (520 meters) above sea level. The mountain abruptly rises some 800 feet above the surrounding countryside. The mountain is part of a string of monadnocks
along the piedmont of the Carolinas, many of which can be seen from the summit.
King's Pinnacle and nearby Crowders Mountain separated the hunting lands of the Cherokee
and Catawba
Indians. The Battle of Kings Mountain
, an important American victory over the British Army during the American Revolution
, was fought southwest of the mountain in 1780 in what is now Kings Mountain National Military Park
.
Several hiking trails lead to the mountain's summit, from which it is possible to view the much higher Appalachian Mountains
far to the west and north, and the skyscrapers of Charlotte, North Carolina
some 30 miles to the east.
Crowder's Mountain
Crowders Mountain is one of two main peaks within Crowders Mountain State Park, the other peak being King's Pinnacle. The park is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina between the cities of King's Mountain and Gastonia or about west of Charlotte...
. The park is located in the western Piedmont 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...
between the cities of Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Kings Mountain is a small suburban city of Gastonia and Charlotte in Cleveland and Gaston counties, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,693 at the 2000 census....
and Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
.
King's Pinnacle is named after the rock cliffs at the top of the mountain, which resemble a king's crown. The mountain is the remnant of a much higher peak which formed approximately 400-500 million years ago, and has been gradually worn down to its present height of 1,705 feet (520 meters) above sea level. The mountain abruptly rises some 800 feet above the surrounding countryside. The mountain is part of a string of monadnocks
Monadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
along the piedmont of the Carolinas, many of which can be seen from the summit.
King's Pinnacle and nearby Crowders Mountain separated the hunting lands of the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and Catawba
Catawba (tribe)
The Catawba are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans, known as the Catawba Indian Nation. They live in the Southeast United States, along the border between North and South Carolina near the city of Rock Hill...
Indians. The Battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
, an important American victory over the British Army during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, was fought southwest of the mountain in 1780 in what is now Kings Mountain National Military Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park is a National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina, along the North Carolina/South Carolina border...
.
Several hiking trails lead to the mountain's summit, from which it is possible to view the much higher Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
far to the west and north, and the skyscrapers of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
some 30 miles to the east.