U.S. Route 129 in North Carolina
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 129 is an north–south United States highway that runs for 63.6 miles (102.4 km) from the Georgia
state line, near Bellview, to the Tennessee
state line, near Tapoco.
; 4 miles (6.4 km) into North Carolina, it joins with US 64/US 74
in Ranger. From Ranger to Andrews
, the highway is a 4-lane expressway
that bypasses all the towns and communities along its route. At Topton, it diverges north to Robbinsville
, after which it continues into Tennessee
through Deals Gap
.
Nantahala Byway is an 43 miles (69.2 km) byway from Marble
to Whittier
; it is known for its scenic views of the Nantahala Gorge, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and the whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River
. US 129 overlaps 15 miles (24.1 km) of the byway from Marble
to Topton. The byway also overlaps with US 19
and US 74
Indian Lake Scenic Byway is an 60 miles (96.6 km) byway from Topton to Almond; it is known for scenic views along the banks of the Nantahala River
, Little Tennessee River
, and Cheoah River
. It also features the Fontana Dam
, Cheoah Dam
, Santeetlah Dam
, the grave of Junaluska
, and the Tail of the Dragon
. US 129 shares half the route with NC 28 (From Topton to Tapoco). This route is not recommended for recreational vehicles or buses.
, following US 19
to Topton, where it replaced NC 108
through Robbinsville
to Tennessee
. The road has had minor alignment changes since its inception.
From the late 1970s to 1983, US 129 Business once existed, in concurrency with US 19 Business, through Murphy
.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=7|Cherokee
|Ranger
|style="background:#ddffdd"|4
|style="background:#ddffdd"| – Cleveland
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of US 64/74 overlap
|-
|rowspan=2|Murphy
|9
|
|
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|9.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of US 64 overlap
|-
|
|12
|
|
|-
|Marble
|18
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Andrews
|23.5
|
Airport Road – Western Carolina Regional Airport
|
|-
|26.5
|
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Graham
|Topton
|style="background:#ddffdd"|33.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|North end of US 19 overlap, east end of US 74 overlap
|-
|rowspan=3|Robbinsville
|style="background:#ddffdd"|44.9
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of NC 143 Business overlap
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|45
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of NC 143 and NC 143 Business overlap
|-
|45.5
|
|-
|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|46.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"| – Tellico Plains
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of NC 143 overlap, to Cherohala Skyway
|-
|Swain
|Tapoco
|63
|
|
|-
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
state line, near Bellview, to the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
state line, near Tapoco.
Route description
US 129 begins at the Georgia state line overlapped with US 19U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina traverses approximately across Western North Carolina; from the Georgia state line, at the community of Bellview, to the Tennessee state line, at the town of Elk Park. The designation from US 19 to U.S. Route 19E happens in Cane River, where US 19W splits from the...
; 4 miles (6.4 km) into North Carolina, it joins with US 64/US 74
U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...
in Ranger. From Ranger to Andrews
Andrews, North Carolina
Andrews is a town in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,602 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Andrews is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
, the highway is a 4-lane expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
that bypasses all the towns and communities along its route. At Topton, it diverges north to Robbinsville
Robbinsville, North Carolina
Robbinsville is a town in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 747 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Graham County. Robbinsville High School is the only high school in Graham County...
, after which it continues into Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
through Deals Gap
Deals Gap, North Carolina
Deals Gap is a portion of U.S. Route 129 in Blount County, Tennessee, which also lends its name to a small unincorporated community and motorcycle resort situated in a gap in Swain County, North Carolina, United States. It is located along U.S. 129 at the Tennessee state line. The community has an...
.
Scenic byways
US 129 is part of two scenic byways in the state (indicated by a Scenic Byways sign).Nantahala Byway is an 43 miles (69.2 km) byway from Marble
Marble, North Carolina
Marble is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States.Marble's elevation is 1,680 feet . It has an area of...
to Whittier
Whittier, North Carolina
Whittier is an unincorporated community in Jackson and Swain counties in the western part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Founded in 1881 by Clark Whittier when he purchased 60,000 acres of land in the area, it was incorporated as a town from 1887 to 1933...
; it is known for its scenic views of the Nantahala Gorge, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, and the whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two-lane U.S...
. US 129 overlaps 15 miles (24.1 km) of the byway from Marble
Marble, North Carolina
Marble is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States.Marble's elevation is 1,680 feet . It has an area of...
to Topton. The byway also overlaps with US 19
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina traverses approximately across Western North Carolina; from the Georgia state line, at the community of Bellview, to the Tennessee state line, at the town of Elk Park. The designation from US 19 to U.S. Route 19E happens in Cane River, where US 19W splits from the...
and US 74
U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...
Indian Lake Scenic Byway is an 60 miles (96.6 km) byway from Topton to Almond; it is known for scenic views along the banks of the Nantahala River
Nantahala River
The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two-lane U.S...
, Little Tennessee River
Little Tennessee River
The Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, approximately 135 miles long, in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.-Geography:...
, and Cheoah River
Cheoah River
The Cheoah River is a tributary of the Little Tennessee River in North Carolina in the United States.It is located in Graham County in far western North Carolina, near Robbinsville, and is approximately 20 miles in length...
. It also features the Fontana Dam
Fontana Dam
Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, USA. The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s to accommodate the skyrocketing electricity demands in the Tennessee Valley at the...
, Cheoah Dam
Cheoah Dam
The Cheoah Dam is a hydroelectric complex located in Graham and Swain counties, North Carolina on the Little Tennessee River between river miles 51 and 52. The Cheoah Development consists of a dam and powerhouse, the first of several constructed by the Tallassee Power Company, now Tapoco...
, Santeetlah Dam
Santeetlah Dam
Santeetlah Dam is a hydroelectric development on the Cheoah River in Graham County, North Carolina. The dam together with a pipeline/tunnel facility, and a powerhouse form the Santeetlah Development...
, the grave of Junaluska
Junaluska
Junaluska, or Tsunu’lahun’ski in Cherokee , was a leader of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who reside in and around western North Carolina....
, and the Tail of the Dragon
Deals Gap, North Carolina
Deals Gap is a portion of U.S. Route 129 in Blount County, Tennessee, which also lends its name to a small unincorporated community and motorcycle resort situated in a gap in Swain County, North Carolina, United States. It is located along U.S. 129 at the Tennessee state line. The community has an...
. US 129 shares half the route with NC 28 (From Topton to Tapoco). This route is not recommended for recreational vehicles or buses.
History
US 129 was established in 1934 as an extension from GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, following US 19
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina traverses approximately across Western North Carolina; from the Georgia state line, at the community of Bellview, to the Tennessee state line, at the town of Elk Park. The designation from US 19 to U.S. Route 19E happens in Cane River, where US 19W splits from the...
to Topton, where it replaced 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...
through Robbinsville
Robbinsville, North Carolina
Robbinsville is a town in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 747 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Graham County. Robbinsville High School is the only high school in Graham County...
to Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. The road has had minor alignment changes since its inception.
From the late 1970s to 1983, US 129 Business once existed, in concurrency with US 19 Business, through Murphy
Murphy, North Carolina
-Household Income:The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,926...
.
Junction list
{| class="wikitable"!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=7|Cherokee
Cherokee County, North Carolina
- Transportation :Cherokee County is well known in North Carolina as the westernmost of the state's 100 counties. Several US and state highways serve the county, linking it with other regions of North Carolina, along with the neighboring states of Georgia and Tennessee.US 64 - the longest highway...
|Ranger
|style="background:#ddffdd"|4
|style="background:#ddffdd"| – Cleveland
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of US 64/74 overlap
|-
|rowspan=2|Murphy
Murphy, North Carolina
-Household Income:The median income for a household in the town was $24,952, and the median income for a family was $35,234. Males had a median income of $30,395 versus $16,908 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,926...
|9
|
|
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|9.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of US 64 overlap
|-
|
|12
|
|
|-
|Marble
Marble, North Carolina
Marble is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States.Marble's elevation is 1,680 feet . It has an area of...
|18
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Andrews
Andrews, North Carolina
Andrews is a town in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,602 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Andrews is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
|23.5
|
Airport Road – Western Carolina Regional Airport|
|-
|26.5
|
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Graham
Graham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,993 people, 3,354 households, and 2,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
|Topton
|style="background:#ddffdd"|33.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|North end of US 19 overlap, east end of US 74 overlap
|-
|rowspan=3|Robbinsville
Robbinsville, North Carolina
Robbinsville is a town in Graham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 747 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Graham County. Robbinsville High School is the only high school in Graham County...
|style="background:#ddffdd"|44.9
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of NC 143 Business overlap
|-
|style="background:#ddffdd"|45
|style="background:#ddffdd"|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|East end of NC 143 and NC 143 Business overlap
|-
|45.5
|
|-
|
|style="background:#ddffdd"|46.5
|style="background:#ddffdd"| – Tellico Plains
Tellico Plains, Tennessee
Tellico Plains is a town in Monroe County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 859 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tellico Plains is located at ....
|style="background:#ddffdd"|West end of NC 143 overlap, to Cherohala Skyway
Cherohala Skyway
The Cherohala Skyway is a National Scenic Byway that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina in the southeastern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of Cherokee and Nantahala, the two national forests through which it passes...
|-
|Swain
Swain County, North Carolina
Swain County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 12,968. Its county seat is Bryson City.Swain County is home of the Nantahala River . The Nantahala is one of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the nation...
|Tapoco
|63
|
|
|-
See also
- Cheoah DamCheoah DamThe Cheoah Dam is a hydroelectric complex located in Graham and Swain counties, North Carolina on the Little Tennessee River between river miles 51 and 52. The Cheoah Development consists of a dam and powerhouse, the first of several constructed by the Tallassee Power Company, now Tapoco...
- Cheoah RiverCheoah RiverThe Cheoah River is a tributary of the Little Tennessee River in North Carolina in the United States.It is located in Graham County in far western North Carolina, near Robbinsville, and is approximately 20 miles in length...
- Fontana DamFontana DamFontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, USA. The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s to accommodate the skyrocketing electricity demands in the Tennessee Valley at the...
- Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
- Interstate 3Interstate 3Interstate 3 , the Third Infantry Division Highway, is a proposed Interstate Highway in the United States to run from Savannah, Georgia, north to Augusta, Georgia, and Knoxville, Tennessee...
- Little Tennessee RiverLittle Tennessee RiverThe Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, approximately 135 miles long, in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.-Geography:...
- Nantahala Gorge
- Nantahala National ForestNantahala National ForestThe Nantahala National Forest, established in 1920, is a national forest located in the American state of North Carolina. The word "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "Land of the Noonday Sun." The name is appropriate as, in some spots, the sun only reaches the floors of the deep gorges of the...
- Nantahala RiverNantahala RiverThe Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two-lane U.S...
- Santeetlah DamSanteetlah DamSanteetlah Dam is a hydroelectric development on the Cheoah River in Graham County, North Carolina. The dam together with a pipeline/tunnel facility, and a powerhouse form the Santeetlah Development...
- Tail of the DragonDeals Gap, North CarolinaDeals Gap is a portion of U.S. Route 129 in Blount County, Tennessee, which also lends its name to a small unincorporated community and motorcycle resort situated in a gap in Swain County, North Carolina, United States. It is located along U.S. 129 at the Tennessee state line. The community has an...