Editing Wilkes County, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q430328|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Wilkes County}}
[[File:W kerr scott dam-kmf.JPG|thumb|right|300px|[[W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir]]]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|756.33|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|753.68|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.65|sqmi}} (0.35%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Wilkes County is located on the eastern slope of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]], a part of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] chain. The county's elevation ranges from {{convert|900|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in the east to over {{convert|4,000|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in the west. The Blue Ridge Mountains run from the southwest to the northeast, and dominate the county's western and northern horizons. [[Tomkins Knob]], the highest point in the county, rises to {{convert|4,079|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wilkes County|url=http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/county/wilkes_county.html|publisher=North Carolina Geological Survey|access-date=September 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tompkins Knob Topo Map in Wilkes County NC |url=https://www.topozone.com/north-carolina/wilkes-nc/summit/tomkins-knob/ |website=Topozone |publisher=Locality, LLC |access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> The [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge on the county's northern and western borders. The foothills and valleys of the Blue Ridge form most of the county's midsection, with some elevations exceeding {{convert|2,000|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}. [[Stone Mountain State Park]], located in the foothills of northern Wilkes County, is one of the most popular state parks in North Carolina, and is noted for its excellent [[rock climbing]] and [[trout]] fishing. The [[Brushy Mountains (North Carolina)|Brushy Mountains]], an isolated spur of the Blue Ridge, form the county's southern border. Wilkes County's terrain gradually becomes more level and less hilly as one moves to the east; the far eastern section of the county lies within the [[Piedmont Triad|Piedmont]] region of North Carolina. The largest river in Wilkes is the [[Yadkin River]], which flows through the central part of the county. The county's three other major streams, all of which flow into the Yadkin, are the [[Reddies River]], [[Roaring River (North Carolina)|Roaring River]], and Mulberry Creek. Following the devastating floods of 1916 and 1940, the US Army's Corps of Engineers constructed the [[W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir]] on the Yadkin River four miles west of Wilkesboro. Opened in 1962, the dam created a lake with a shoreline of 56 miles. The lake is used for boating, swimming, fishing, and [[waterskiing]]; it is especially noted for its excellent [[bass fishing]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Marsh|first=Mike|title=Fishing North Carolina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KKOkGSDuda4C&pg=PA78|year=2011|publisher=John F. Blair, Publisher|isbn=978-0-89587-397-2|page=78}}</ref>
The W. Kerr Scott lake is the largest body of water in Wilkes.

===Climate===
Due to its wide range of elevation, Wilkes County's climate varies considerably. In winter, it is not unusual for it to be sunny with the temperature in the forties in the county's eastern section, while at the same time it is snowing or sleeting with the temperature below freezing in the county's mountainous north, west, and south. Generally speaking, Wilkes receives ample amounts of precipitation, with frequent [[thunderstorms]] in the spring and summer months; and rain, snow, [[Rain and snow mixed|sleet]], and [[freezing rain]] all occur at times during the winter, with the frequency increasing with the altitude. Wilkesboro, the [[county seat]], receives an average of 50 inches of rain per year and an average of 10 inches of snow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weather averages Wilkesboro, North Carolina |url=https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/wilkesboro/north-carolina/united-states/usnc1137 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |website=www.usclimatedata.com |language=en}}</ref> Severe weather is not common in Wilkes but does occur. Tornadoes are rare, but severe thunderstorms can bring strong winds which can down trees and power lines, as well as cause [[hail]]. On October 23, 2017, a rare [[EF 1]] tornado touched down in the community of Moravian Falls, before moving into the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, and then through the Mulberry, Fairplains, and Hays communities, causing significant damage.<ref>{{cite news |title=NWS confirms that tornado hit parts of Wilkes Monday evening |url=https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/nws-confirms-that-tornado-hit-parts-of-wilkes-monday-evening/article_7a7e9a32-b938-11e7-a5a1-7301c64da0e3.html |access-date=April 24, 2020 |work=The Wilkes Journal-Patriot |date=October 24, 2017}}</ref> Wilkes County is far enough inland that [[hurricanes]] rarely cause problems, but a strong hurricane which moves inland quickly enough may cause damage, as with [[Hurricane Hugo]] in 1989 and [[Hurricane Helene]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sowers |first=Serra |date=2024-09-30 |title=Wilkes Co. Helene clean up efforts bring community together |url=https://www.wxii12.com/article/wilkes-co-north-carolina-small-businesses-clean-up-hurricane-helene-mess/62454268 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=WXII |language=en}}</ref> Due to the numerous creeks and streams which run through its valleys, Wilkes is especially prone to devastating [[flash floods]]. The two most memorable floods occurred in 1916 and 1940, killing a number of residents and causing millions of dollars in damages. After the opening of the W. Kerr Scott Dam in 1962, the Yadkin River did not flood again in Wilkes County until heavy rainfalls from Hurricane Helene led to flooding in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tropical Storm Helene reaches North Carolina, Yadkin River overflows |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/videos/news/2024/09/27/tropical-storm-helene-overflows-yadkin-river-in-north-carolina/75414960007/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=The Asheville Citizen Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Although Wilkes County has never had a severe earthquake, a [[Fault (geology)|fault]] runs through the [[Brushy Mountains (North Carolina)|Brushy Mountains]], and mild earth [[Earthquake|tremors]] are not uncommon. On August 31, 1861, an earthquake estimated at 5.0 on the [[Richter magnitude scale]] hit the southern part of the county and caused minor damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wncvitalityindex.org/geology/faults-and-earthquakes|title=Faults and Earthquakes {{!}} Western North Carolina Vitality Index|website=www.wncvitalityindex.org|language=en|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] (part)
* [[Doughton Park|Doughton Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[E.B. Jeffress Park]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=E.B. Jeffress Park, Blue Ridge Parkway |url=https://carolinaoutdoorsguide.com/jeffress-park-blue-ridge-parkway/ |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=carolinaoutdoorsguide.com}}</ref>

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Buffalo Cove Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Kerr Scott Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Rendezvous Mountain State Forest Game Land]]<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Rendezvous Mountain State Park]]
* [[Stone Mountain State Park]] (part)
* [[Thurmond Chatham Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
{{div col}}
* [[Big Sandy Creek (North Carolina)|Big Sandy Creek]]
* [[Big Warrior Creek (North Carolina)|Big Warrior Creek]]
* [[Brier Creek (North Carolina)|Brier Creek]]
* [[Coal Creek (North Carolina)|Coal Creek]]
* [[Cub Creek (North Carolina)|Cub Creek]]
* [[Dugger Creek (North Carolina)|Dugger Creek]]
* [[Roaring River (North Carolina)|East Prong Roaring River]]
* [[Elk Creek (North Carolina)|Elk Creek]]
* [[Elkin Creek]]
* [[Fall Creek (North Carolina)|Fall Creek]]
* [[Fishing Creek (North Carolina)|Fishing Creek]]
* [[Grassy Fork (Elkin Creek tributary)|Grassy Fork]]
* [[Hunting Creek (North Carolina)|Hunting Creek]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=South Yadkin River |url=https://www.deq.nc.gov/water-quality/planning/bpu/catawba/catawba-plans/2010-plan/3-03040102-south-yadkin-river-2010/download |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=www.deq.nc.gov |page=2}}</ref>
* [[Little Dugger Creek (North Carolina)|Little Dugger Creek]]
* [[Little Elkin Creek]]
* [[Little Hunting Creek (North Carolina)|Little Hunting Creek]]
* [[Lousy Creek (Reddies River tributary)|Lousy Creek]]
* [[Mulberry Creek (North Carolina)|Mulberry Creek]]
* [[Osborn Creek (North Carolina)|Osborn Creek]]
* [[Reddies River|North Fork Reddies River]]
* [[North Little Hunting Creek (North Carolina)|North Little Hunting Creek]]<ref name=":0"/>
* [[Reddies River]]
* [[Roaring River (North Carolina)|Roaring River]]
* [[Sandy Creek (North Carolina Creek)|Sandy Creek]]
* [[Reddies River|South Fork Reddies River]]
* [[W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir]]
* [[Yadkin River]]
* [[Yates Creek (North Carolina)|Yates Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Alexander County, North Carolina|Alexander County]] – south
* [[Alleghany County, North Carolina|Alleghany County]] – north
* [[Ashe County, North Carolina|Ashe County]] – northwest
* [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]] – southwest
* [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]] – southeast
* [[Surry County, North Carolina|Surry County]] – northeast
* [[Watauga County, North Carolina|Watauga County]] – west
* [[Yadkin County, North Carolina|Yadkin County]] – east
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|21}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|421}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|421|dab1=North Wilkesboro}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|16}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|18}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|115}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|268}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|268A|dab1=North Wilkesboro}} ([[North Carolina Highway 268#North Wilkesboro alternate route|alternative route]])
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC-Bus|268|dab1=Elkin}}

Wilkes County is home to several NC and US highways, as well as an airport and public transportation. Wilkes is also one of 27 North Carolina counties in which the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] runs through.

===Major infrastructure===
* [[North Wilkesboro Speedway]], famous speedway in Wilkes County
* [[Wilkes County Airport]]
* [[Wilkes Transportation Authority]], serves Wilkes County with buses and vans along a scheduled route and rural service