North Carolina Highway 126
Encyclopedia
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
.
. It serves primarily to connect the people that live on the north-side of Lake James
to Marion
and Morganton
; secondary as a scenic route and access to Lake James State Park
.
. Other roads and highways that make-up the loop are: Fish Hatchery Road (S.R. 1254 & 1240), NC 181
, NC 183
, and Old NC Highway 105 (S.R. 1238, the entire road is unpaved).
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|McDowell
|Nebo
|0
|
|NC 126 begins
|-
|rowspan=3|Burke
|rowspan=2|
|7.5
|Old NC Highway 105
|Unpaved road, begin of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|12.5
|Fish Hatchery Road
|end of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|Morganton
|23
|
|NC 126 ends
|-
, to US 17
/NC 30 Wilmar. It was quickly replaced by an extension of NC 102
.
The current NC 126 was established in 1940 as a renumbering of NC 105
from the community of Longtown to the city of Morganton. In 1954, NC 126 was extended west, replacing NC 105
southern portion from Longtown to Nebo, while the northern section was decommissioned and exists today as unpaved road known as Old NC Highway 105.
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 from US 70, in Nebo
Nebo, North Carolina
Nebo is an unincorporated community in the Nebo Township of eastern McDowell County, North Carolina. The zip code is 28761.- History :Nebo is named after a Methodist campground that existed before the Civil War...
, to NC 181
North Carolina Highway 181
North Carolina Highway 181 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs north–south from Morganton to Newland.-Route description:...
, in 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...
.
Route description
NC 126 has changed little since it was established in 1940, thus the entire route has lots of curves as it bends around Lake JamesLake James
Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The lake lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams, and was created by...
. It serves primarily to connect the people that live on the north-side of Lake James
Lake James
Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The lake lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams, and was created by...
to 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 ....
and 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...
; secondary as a scenic route and access to Lake James State Park
Lake James State Park
Lake James State Park is a North Carolina state park in Burke and McDowell Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Nebo, North Carolina, it covers 565 acres and borders the southern end of the Lake James with a shoreline....
.
Scenic byways
Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway is a 47 miles (75.6 km) loop byway, not recommended for recreational vehicles and bus with four-wheel drive required for unpaved portions. NC 126 makes up the southern section of the byway (5 miles (8 km)), it is noted for being part of the Overmountain Victory Trail Commemorative Motor Route and nearby Lake James State ParkLake James State Park
Lake James State Park is a North Carolina state park in Burke and McDowell Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Nebo, North Carolina, it covers 565 acres and borders the southern end of the Lake James with a shoreline....
. Other roads and highways that make-up the loop are: Fish Hatchery Road (S.R. 1254 & 1240), NC 181
North Carolina Highway 181
North Carolina Highway 181 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs north–south from Morganton to Newland.-Route description:...
, 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:...
, and Old NC Highway 105 (S.R. 1238, the entire road is unpaved).
Junction list
{| class="wikitable"!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|McDowell
McDowell County, North Carolina
-Cities and towns:*Marion *Old Fort-Unincorporated places:*West Marion*Little Switzerland*Nebo*Glenwood*Pleasant Gardens*North Cove-Education:The following is a list of schools located in McDowell County:*Marion Elementary School...
|Nebo
Nebo, North Carolina
Nebo is an unincorporated community in the Nebo Township of eastern McDowell County, North Carolina. The zip code is 28761.- History :Nebo is named after a Methodist campground that existed before the Civil War...
|0
|
|NC 126 begins
|-
|rowspan=3|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=2|
|7.5
|Old NC Highway 105
|Unpaved road, begin of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|12.5
|Fish Hatchery Road
|end of Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway overlap
|-
|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...
|23
|
|NC 126 ends
|-
History
In 1933, NC 126 was established between US 258/NC 12, near Snow HillSnow Hill, North Carolina
Snow Hill is a town in Greene County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,564 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Greene County and is part of the Greenville Metropolitan Area...
, to US 17
U.S. Route 17 in North Carolina
In the U.S. state of North Carolina U.S. Route 17 is a north–south highway that is known as the Coastal Highway in the southeastern half of the state and the Ocean Highway in other areas...
/NC 30 Wilmar. It was quickly replaced by an extension of NC 102
North Carolina Highway 102
North Carolina Highway 102 is a highway running from NC 903 near Ayden to US 17 between Vanceboro & Chocowinity....
.
The current NC 126 was established in 1940 as a renumbering of NC 105
North Carolina Highway 105
North Carolina Highway 105 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from US 221 in Linville to US 221/US 421/NC 194 in Boone.-Route description:...
from the community of Longtown to the city of Morganton. In 1954, NC 126 was extended west, replacing NC 105
North Carolina Highway 105
North Carolina Highway 105 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs from US 221 in Linville to US 221/US 421/NC 194 in Boone.-Route description:...
southern portion from Longtown to Nebo, while the northern section was decommissioned and exists today as unpaved road known as Old NC Highway 105.
See also
- Catawba RiverCatawba RiverThe Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
- Lake JamesLake JamesLake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The lake lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams, and was created by...
- Lake James State ParkLake James State ParkLake James State Park is a North Carolina state park in Burke and McDowell Counties, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Nebo, North Carolina, it covers 565 acres and borders the southern end of the Lake James with a shoreline....
- Linville Gorge WildernessLinville Gorge WildernessThe Linville Gorge Wilderness is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States...
- Linville RiverLinville RiverThe Linville River is a river in western North Carolina. The river begins in the slopes of Peak Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Flattop Mountain, in the Linville Gap . As it goes south through Avery County, it passes through the communities of Grandfather, Linville, Pineola, Crossnore and finally at...
- Pisgah National ForestPisgah National ForestPisgah 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...