Located in the center of North Carolina's westernmost county, Murphy, NC offers a “Balance of Rest and Adventure.” The town is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the Great Smoky Mountains’ natural wonders and the best of big city amenities. Murphy is within two hours of four major metropolitan areas: Asheville, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Knoxville, TN; and Atlanta, GA. Whether you’re searching for the ultimate mountain escape or a launching point for your next adventure, Murphy, NC delivers in spades.

Real Estate
Cherokee County’s remoteness within the Appalachian Mountains makes it a prime location for affordable mountain housing with incredible views. The area’s topography consists of gentle rolling hills and mountains with tall peaks, including ranges from 1,800 to more than 5,000 feet in elevation. Even with its rural character, Murphy is located approximately halfway between Atlanta, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee, offering residents many opportunities for high-quality amenities.

Homes in and around Murphy, NC typically range from the low $100Ks to the $600Ks. Luxury and sub-luxury homesteads are also available. Many are priced to include significant acreage, sometimes in the hundreds of acres.

Lifestyle and Attractions
With a population of 1,700, Murphy is the picture of a small mountain town with a heart for adventure. The town’s picturesque, flower-lined streets and historic architecture belie the many locally owned businesses, thriving artisans, and abundance of outdoor activities available. 

Arts and crafts take on new artistry and meaning here. The Blue Ridge Craft Trails, a series of curated driving trails throughout the region, features 200 craft sites, including six museums, art centers, and studio/galleries in Murphy. Among them, the town is home to the Cherokee County Historical Museum, which presents interactive stories and displays that highlight the 11,000-year (and counting!) known history of the Cherokee people. 

Despite its reputation as a small, rural town, Murphy has a surprising variety of culinary and beverage options. Renowned chef and owner of Murphy’s Chophouse, James Reaux, serves up gourmet cuisine, wines, and cocktails to locals and visitors. The town has also joined Western North Carolina’s active craft beverage scene, supporting HoppyTrout Brewing Company, River Valley Brewery, and FernCrest Winery. 

Serving as a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Cherokee County is rich in natural beauty with many lakes, rivers, streams, and mountains. In fact, Hiwassee Lake is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the state. Murphy offers something for every outdoor sports enthusiast, from trout fishing to mountain biking. Spread across more than 700 acres, the Piney Knob Trail System invites hikers of all skill levels to explore the beauty of the Murphy Watershed. The town is also the terminus of the famous Waterfall Byway, a 98-mile route through Western North Carolina passing alongside 200-plus towering cascades. And the Tsali Recreation Area is hailed internationally as a mecca for mountain biking, with its 40 miles of off-road biking

Closer to town, the Murphy River Walk skirts the downtown center of Murphy and meanders alongside the Hiwassee and Valley Rivers. Along the two-mile route, strollers can discover meadows and wetlands, thick forests, and even a rock cliff amid the peaceful surroundings. 

Nearby Schools and Higher Education
The Cherokee County public school system operates a total of 13 schools across the county, including Murphy elementary, middle, and high schools. Murphy Adventist Christian School serves as an alternative education option for K–11 students. The town also supports a thriving homeschool community.

Tri-County Community College operates a campus just outside the town’s borders. TCCC offers hundreds of classes leading to two-year post-secondary degrees in more than 30 different programs of study. Tri-County Early College High School is located adjacent to the college. Additional nearby colleges and universities include North Georgia Technical College, Southwestern Community College, Young Harris College, Western Carolina University, and University of North Georgia.

The John C. Campbell Folk School is the oldest and largest folk school in the United States. It is located in Brasstown, an unincorporated village a few miles southeast of Murphy. The school focuses on creative folk art education for all ages and provides musical concerts and community dance entertainment.

History
Located near the western tip of North Carolina at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers, Murphy sits on what was historically the homeland of the Cherokee people. The first European trading post was established around 1828, with the first post office opening in 1839. The town of Murphy was named for North Carolina politician Archibald Murphey, though a clerical error resulted in a difference of spelling. 

During Cherokee removal events of the 1830s, nearby Fort Butler served as the main collection point by the government for Cherokee people east of the mountains. From Fort Butler, the Cherokee were taken over the mountains on the Unicoi Turnpike to Tennessee before being forcibly removed to territory in today's Oklahoma. Today, Fort Butler no longer stands, but the Unicoi Turnpike, now known as Joe Brown Highway, remains a major thoroughfare. 
In 1888, railroad lines connected Murphy to Marietta, Georgia and Asheville, NC. A two-story Carnegie Library was constructed downtown in 1919, which is currently occupied by the Cherokee County Historical Museum.

Murphy was once home to well-known crafts manufacturer Margaret Studios and a Levi Strauss & Co. manufacturing plant. Today, several employers offer advanced skilled professions, boosting the local economy. Aegis Power Systems, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino, Moog Components Group, Murphy Medical Group, Sioux Tools, and Tri-County Community College are among top employers. Thanks to the area’s low power rates and sprawling landscape, Murphy is also home to two Bitcoin mining operations.