The history of Yadkin Valley can give tourists and locals insight into just how natural beauty came to be. By understanding the first settlers, the history of the European arrival, and other important historical occurrences, visitors in the modern world can get a better respect for just how much it took for this beautiful vacation spot to turn into the marvel that it is today. Read on to learn more about Yadkin Valley history.
History of the First Settlers
The first settlers in the breathtaking area of the Yadkin Valley were the Siouan tribes, featuring the Saura and Tutelo tribes in the Yadkin basin surrounding the flowing river. The Tutelo tribe were Native American individuals who lived mainly in West Virginia and Virginia and spoke the Siouan dialect that was similar to that of the Seneca Iroquois and the Monacan tribes. Once the Europeans arrived in the Yadkin Valley in the late 17th century, the new invaders pressured the current Siouan tribes to join with others in the area, soon becoming the Tutelo-Saponi tribe.
By the mid-18th century, the majority of the Tutelo and Saura tribes had left the Yadkin Valley in Virginia and started to move north into Pennsylvania to escape the invaders. Later in the 18th century, the Tutelo tribe merged with the Cayuga tribe in New York.
After most of the Native American tribes emigrated from the area, the Scottish, Irish, German, and English settlers took over the Yadkin Valley and began to colonize the area. The settlers started using the Great Wagon Road to transport colonists from North Carolina to Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. The Great Wagon Road played a huge role in boosting transportation in the Great Appalachian Valley within colonial America during this time.
During the expansion and colonization of the East Coast of the United States and the Yadkin Valley, Moravian colonists expanded into Old Salem and grew their community base.
19th Century Updates
The Yadkin Valley became a focal point for colonial battles and disputes during the Civil Water. As time went on, the 19th century saw the Yadkin Valley experience land dispute and ownership debates as far as what was considered public and private land. The NC Supreme Court ruled in the mid-19th century that the Yadkin River can be bought by private individuals.
Furthermore, in 1985, the NC General Assembly created the Yadkin River State Trail. This 130-mile trail is part of the state’s trails system controlled by the NC Parks and Recreation Division, facilitating numerous locations for camping, fishing, and hiking.
