Unaka, North Carolina
Unaka, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
Unaka Unaka | |
| Coordinates: 35°11′43″N 84°08′30″W / 35.19528°N 84.14167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Cherokee |
| Elevation | 1,644 ft (501 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1023032[1] |
Unaka is an unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. Unaka is located in the Nantahala National Forest, 9.6 miles (15.4 km) northwest of Murphy. Unaka had a post office until it closed on February 15, 1986.[2][3] Unaka is a name derived from a Cherokee word meaning "white", which referred to the appearance of low-lying clouds and fog over the Unicoi Mountains.[4] Unaka's volunteer fire department was established in 1983 and opened a new four-bay station in 2024.[5]
Unaka does have its own community center building. The community struggles with a lack of network connectivity as cellular service providers have said the area doesn't have a high enough population to make building a tower worthwhile. The community was promised fiber-optic internet in 2023 but lines have not been installed as of 2025. Unaka also struggles with limited trash disposal options as the county landfill takes around an hour to drive to.[6]
References
- ^ "Unaka". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ United States Postal Service (2012). "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
- ^ "Community Backstory". Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ Williams, Aiden McCoy (October 22, 2024). "Unaka celebrates new fire station". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Williams, Aiden McCoy (August 25, 2025). "Commissioners hear from community". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, NC: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 9A.