The Maggie Valley Area is easily accessible from anywhere in the United States by major interstate highways. Interstate 40 runs right through our County, Haywood County. Interstate 26 comes up from the South Carolina Coast just to the east of Haywood County. For a more leisurely trek you might try the Blue Ridge Parkway or if you are in a hurry, fly into the nearby Asheville/Hendersonville Regional Airport. For detailed driving directions from your home to destinations in Haywood county, see Our Area Maps.

GEOGRAPHY

Haywood County covers 544 square miles, with approximately 40% of the county contained in portions of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Waynesville, the county seat, is 2,635 feet above sea level.

CLIMATE

Temperature: Avg. January temperature: 37.5 degrees; Avg. June temperature: 70.7 degrees.
Rainfall: Avg. rainfall is 47.5 inches per year.
Snowfall: Avg. snowfall is 12.2 inches per year. You can also see what's happening with our weather right now.

*1995 total for Haywood County after Hazelwood incorporated into the town of Waynesville, 9,424 total.

GOVERNMENT

HAYWOOD COUNTY:

Government is under the direction of four county commissioners and a chairman. The commissioners set policies and conduct much of the county's budget through a county manager. County manager is Jack Horton. (452-6625).   See also the government section of the Haywood County Community Network.

CANTON:

The Town of Canton's government is directed by a board of four aldermen and the mayor. A town manager oversees day-to-day operations of the town. Town Manager is Bill Stamey (648-2363)

MAGGIE VALLEY:

A board of four aldermen and mayor establish policy and adopt an annual budget. Town manager is Al Matthews (926-0866)

WAYNESVILLE:

A board of four aldermen and mayor set policies and adopt the annual budget. Town manager is Lee Galloway (452-2491). Hazelwood was incorporated into the Town of Waynesville on July 1, 1995.

ECONOMY

Manufacturing and tourism are Haywood County's major industries, followed by agriculture and the service industry.

Blue Ridge Paper Products, with a large paper manufacturing mill in Canton and a smaller finishing operation in Waynesville, provide employment for approximately 1,500 people. The Canton mill recently completed a $330,000,000 modernization program that moved it to the forefront of the paper-making technology.

Lea Industries/Ladd Furniture Plant, with 425 employees, produces bedroom furniture for shipment throughout the country. Wellco Enterprises produces boots for the military. Its 150 employees made combat boots for personnel involved in Operation Desert Storm.

Further diversification is evident in the variety of products manufactured by other industries: Epsom salt, textile labels, wood products, surgical drapes, and catalytic converters.

The natural beauty of the area, mild year round climate, easy accessibility by major highways, and the nearby Asheville Regional Airport have attracted many visitors to the area, making tourism the county's second largest industry.

While the number of people working farms has declined, agriculture still is a strong part of the county's overall economy. Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, and the growing of  tomatoes and apples are major agricultural thrusts.

The service industry also has become an ever-growing segment of the local economy.

VOTING

To register to vote, a person must be ate least 18 years old on the date of the election, register at least 30 days prior to an election, and be a resident of the county for at least 30 days prior to an election.

Registration requires proof of residence and identification. Residents may register to vote at the Haywood County Election board, 1233 N. Main Street, Annex 2, in Waynesville (828-452-6633); at the Haywood County Library 678 S. Haywood Street in Waynesville (828-452-5169, fax 828-452-6746); or 11 Pennsylvania Avenue in Canton (828-648-2924). New residents also may register when they get their new drivers license.

TAXES

Haywood County and its four incorporated communities operate on a fiscal year beginning July 1. Property taxes are 61 cents per $100 assessed valuations in the county. Town tax rates are 61 cents per $100 valuation in Canton, 45 cents in Clyde, 40 cents in Waynesville, and 36 cents per $100 valuation in Maggie Valley.

The sales tax in Haywood County is 6 percent. There are several exemptions in the areas of industrial, agricultural, and consumer purchases, such as medicines sold on prescription. Sales of new motor vehicles are taxable at 3 percent.

For county tax information, contact:

Haywood County Tax Collector's Office
Haywood County Courthouse
Waynesville NC 28786 (452-6643)

Residents of North Carolina must pay state income tax. The tax rate is 6 percent or 7 percent plus an amount calculated on a graduated scale. Filing date is April 15th. For state income tax information contact: NC Dept. of Revenue, 118 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC, 28805 - 828-251-6165.

Information Provided by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
73 Walnut Street
PO Drawer 600
Waynesville, North Carolina 28786
828-456-3021
828-456-7265 FAX
877-456-3073 TOLL FREE

Email us at: hcc@dnet.net