Mitchell County
… was formed in 1861 from Yancey, Watauga, Caldwell, Burke, and McDowell Counties. Located in the W section of the state, it is bounded by the state of Tennessee and by Avery, McDowell, and Yancey Counties. It was named for Elisha Mitchell (1793-1857), professor at the University of North Carolina who was killed while exploring the peak that now bears his name—the highest point E of the Mississippi. Area: 220 sq. mi. County seat: Bakersville, with an elevation of 2,550 ft. Townships are Bakersville, Bradshaw, Cane Creek, Fork Mountain, Grassy Creek, Harrell, Little Rock Creek, Poplar, Red Hill, and Snow Creek. Produces tobacco, Christmas trees, apples, corn, hay, dairy products, livestock, textiles, apparel, hosiery, lumber, mica, gypsum, feldspar, kaolin, and quartz.
