Waxhaws
Encyclopedia
The Waxhaws is a geographical area on the border of North
and South Carolina
.
region of North and South Carolina, southwest of the Uwharrie Mountains
. The region encompasses an area just south of Charlotte, North Carolina
, to Lancaster, South Carolina
; and from Monroe, North Carolina
in the east to the Catawba River
in the west. The region is generally forested and hilly, but not mountainous. One town in the region has taken on the name, but it is only one site in the region.
. The Waxhaw were almost annihilated by Eurasian infectious disease
s, to which they had no immunity. Secondly, they were destroyed and dispersed by the Yamasee War
of 1715, which nearly emptied the region of Native inhabitants.
About 1740 European immigrants, mostly Scots-Irish and German
, began to settle the area. What is now called the Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church was built in 1752.
During the American Revolution
, settlers in the Waxhaws fiercely resisted the British, notably under the command of Col. William Davie. British commander General Cornwallis briefly occupied the city of Charlotte
- which was then and still is the largest city/settlement in the Waxhaws region - but was driven out soon afterward by hostile residents and local settlers from the surrounding areas. Cornwallis later wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," and Charlotte still bears the nickname 'The Hornet's Nest.'
The region's most important battle of the Revolution did not involve locals. In what became called the Waxhaw massacre
, a Loyalist
force led by Banastre Tarleton
severely defeated a force of about 350 Virginian Continentals
under Abraham Buford
. The battle took place at what is now Buford, South Carolina
.
Andrew Jackson
, 7th President of the United States, was born and raised in the Waxhaws. The exact site of his birth is uncertain; Jackson claimed that it was in a cabin on the South Carolina side of the border. A strong local tradition says that he was born north of the border. James K. Polk
, the 11th President of the United States, was also born in the Waxhaws district, in the vicinity of what is now Pineville, North Carolina
.
During the American Civil War
, Sherman's army came through parts of the region.
The Belk
department store chain was founded in 1888 in Monroe, 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...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Geography
The Waxhaws region is in the PiedmontPiedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region of North and South Carolina, southwest of the Uwharrie Mountains
Uwharrie Mountains
The Uwharrie Mountains are a mountain range in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, Union counties and terminate in the hills of Person. Formed approximately 500 million years ago by...
. The region encompasses an area just south 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...
, to Lancaster, South Carolina
Lancaster, South Carolina
Lancaster is a city in Lancaster County, South Carolina which is in the United States and is located 35 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina and 20 miles east of Rock Hill, South Carolina. As of the United States Census of 2010, the city population was 10,160. It is the county seat of...
; and from Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
in the east to the Catawba River
Catawba River
The 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...
in the west. The region is generally forested and hilly, but not mountainous. One town in the region has taken on the name, but it is only one site in the region.
History
Originally known as "the Waxhaw Settlement", the area was named for its first inhabitants, the Waxhaw TribeWaxhaw Tribe
The Waxhaw Tribe was a tribe native to what are now the counties of Lancaster, in South Carolina; and Union and Mecklenburg in North Carolina, around the area of Charlotte...
. The Waxhaw were almost annihilated by Eurasian infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s, to which they had no immunity. Secondly, they were destroyed and dispersed by the Yamasee War
Yamasee War
The Yamasee War was a conflict between British settlers of colonial South Carolina and various Native American Indian tribes, including the Yamasee, Muscogee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Catawba, Apalachee, Apalachicola, Yuchi, Savannah River Shawnee, Congaree, Waxhaw, Pee Dee, Cape Fear, Cheraw, and...
of 1715, which nearly emptied the region of Native inhabitants.
About 1740 European immigrants, mostly Scots-Irish and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, began to settle the area. What is now called the Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Church was built in 1752.
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...
, settlers in the Waxhaws fiercely resisted the British, notably under the command of Col. William Davie. British commander General Cornwallis briefly occupied the city of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
- which was then and still is the largest city/settlement in the Waxhaws region - but was driven out soon afterward by hostile residents and local settlers from the surrounding areas. Cornwallis later wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," and Charlotte still bears the nickname 'The Hornet's Nest.'
The region's most important battle of the Revolution did not involve locals. In what became called the Waxhaw massacre
Waxhaw massacre
The Battle of Waxhaws took place during the American Revolution on May 29, 1780, near Lancaster, South Carolina, between a Continental Army force led by Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by Banastre Tarleton...
, a Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
force led by Banastre Tarleton
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
severely defeated a force of about 350 Virginian Continentals
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
under Abraham Buford
Abraham Buford
Abraham Buford was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, best known as the commanding officer of the American forces at the Battle of Waxhaws.-Biography:...
. The battle took place at what is now Buford, South Carolina
Buford, South Carolina
Buford is an unincorporated community in Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States...
.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, 7th President of the United States, was born and raised in the Waxhaws. The exact site of his birth is uncertain; Jackson claimed that it was in a cabin on the South Carolina side of the border. A strong local tradition says that he was born north of the border. James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
, the 11th President of the United States, was also born in the Waxhaws district, in the vicinity of what is now Pineville, North Carolina
Pineville, North Carolina
Pineville is a suburban town in the southernmost portion of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina situated in the Waxhaws district between Charlotte, North Carolina and Rock Hill, South Carolina....
.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Sherman's army came through parts of the region.
The Belk
Belk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
department store chain was founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 36,397 as of the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of Union County and is also part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC Metropolitan area.-Geography:...
.