Editing Watauga County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Watauga County
 | state                = North Carolina
 | ex image             = US Post Office Boone.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[United States Postal Service|United States Post Office]] in Boone
 | seal                 = Watauga County Seal.png
 | founded              = 1849
 | named for            = [[Watauga River]]
 | seat wl              = Boone
 | largest city wl      = Boone
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 313.32
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 312.44
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.88
 | area percentage      = 0.28
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 54086
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 54748 {{gain}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 173.11
 | coordinates          = {{coord|36.24|-81.71|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = www.wataugacounty.org
 | district             = 5th
 | time zone            = Eastern
}}

'''Watauga County''' ({{IPAc-en|w|ə|ˈ|t|ɔː|g|ə}} {{respell|wuh|TAW|guh}})<ref name="North Carolina Collection">[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html Talk Like A Tarheel], from the North Carolina Collection's website at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]. Retrieved January 31, 2013.</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. The population was 54,086 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts" /> Its [[county seat]] and largest community is [[Boone, North Carolina|Boone]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/watauga|title=Watauga County &#124; NCpedia|website=www.ncpedia.org}}</ref> The county is in an exceptionally mountainous region, known as the [[Western North Carolina|High Country]]. It is the home of [[Appalachian State University]], which has approximately 21,570 students as of Fall 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=App State Facts |url=https://www.appstate.edu/about/facts/ |access-date=October 3, 2024 |website=Appalachian State University |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003112320/https://www.appstate.edu/about/facts/ |url-status=live |archive-date=October 3, 2024}}</ref> Watauga County comprises the Boone, NC [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The county was formed in 1849 from parts of [[Ashe County, North Carolina|Ashe]], [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell]], [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes]], and [[Yancey County, North Carolina|Yancey]] counties. It was named for the [[Watauga River]], whose name is said to be a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] word. Meanings include "beautiful water," "whispering waters," "village of many springs," and "river of islands."<ref>Scherlen, Allan. [http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/f/Scherlen_Allan_2000Apr_what_in_the_world.pdf "What In The World Is Watauga?"], ''The Mountain Times,'' 38 (April 27, 2000): 2 (3 p.).</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wataugacounty.org/history.aspx|title=Watauga County, NC|website=www.wataugacounty.org}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502880|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Watauga County}}
[[File:Snake Sunset.jpg|thumb|300px|Snake Mountain ({{convert|5,564|ft|disp=sqbr}}) in northern Watauga County]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|313.32|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|312.44|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.88|sqmi}} (0.28%) 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>

Watauga County is extremely mountainous, and all of the county's terrain is located within the [[Appalachian Mountains]] range. The highest point in the county is Calloway Peak, the highest peak of [[Grandfather Mountain]] (shared with the adjacent counties of Avery and Caldwell), which rises to {{convert|5,964|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above sea level. At an elevation of {{convert|5,506|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above sea level, [[Beech Mountain, North Carolina|Beech Mountain]] is the highest incorporated community east of the Mississippi River. [[Boone, North Carolina|Boone]], the county's largest city and county seat, has the highest elevation (3,333 feet) of any city over 10,000 population in the Eastern United States.

Isolated by mountainous terrain from the remainder of North Carolina to the east, Watauga County was described in the 19th and early 20th centuries as one of the [[Lost Provinces]] of North Carolina.<ref name="tabler1">{{cite web|last1=Tabler|first1=Dave|title=The Lost Provinces|url=http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2016/08/lost-provinces.html|website=Appalachian History|access-date=February 4, 2018|date=August 30, 2016}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] (part)
* [[Julian Price Memorial Park]]
* [[Moses H. Cone Memorial Park]]
* [[Pisgah National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas===
* [[List of North Carolina state parks#State Natural Areas|Beech Creek Bog State Natural Area]]
* [[Elk Knob Game Land]]<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>
* [[Elk Knob State Park]] (part)
* [[Foscoe Grandfather Community Center]]
* [[Grandfather Mountain State Park]] (part)
* [[Green Valley Community Park]]
* [[Pisgah National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>
* [[Turtle Island Preserve]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Buckeye Creek (North Carolina)|Buckeye Creek]]
* [[Craborchard Creek (North Carolina)|Craborchard Creek]]
* [[Howard Creek (North Carolina)|Howard Creek]]
* [[Laurel Creek (North Carolina)|Laurel Creek]]
* [[Meadow Creek (North Carolina)|Meadow Creek]]
* [[North Fork New River]]
* [[Sharp Creek (North Carolina)|Sharp Creek]]
* [[South Fork New River]]
* [[Watauga River]]
* [[Yadkin River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ashe County, North Carolina|Ashe County]] – northeast
* [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]] – east
* [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]] – south
* [[Avery County, North Carolina|Avery County]] – southwest
* [[Johnson County, Tennessee]] – northwest

==Climate==
As with most of North Carolina's [[Western North Carolina#High Country|High Country]], the climate of Watauga County is that of a [[humid continental climate]], characterized by considerably cooler and more extreme weather than in other parts of the state. Dramatic and unexpected changes in the weather are not uncommon in the county, particularly for precipitation. This is partly due to the elevation of the county, and partly due to [[orographic lifting]], which causes precipitation to fall more readily in Watauga County than in lowland areas to the south and east. Summers can be very warm, with temperatures commonly near 80 °F and occasionally (although infrequently) approaching 90 °F. Snow usually starts in November, tapering off by March, and occasional snowfall occurs in April. Windy conditions tend to be amplified across the county due to the rugged terrain and high elevation.

=== Ski resorts ===
Because of the cold winter climate in Watauga County, the area is home to several ski resorts.

* [[Appalachian Ski Mountain]]

* Beech Mountain Resort

* Sugar Mountain Resort

==Transportation==
Watauga County, like much of the [[Western North Carolina#High Country|High Country]], has no [[Interstate|interstate highway]]. The county is served by [[List of state highways in North Carolina|state highways]] maintained by the [[North Carolina Department of Transportation]]. The [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] in eastern portions of Watauga is sometimes used as a commuter route due to its proximity to populated areas—for example, it is the fastest route between the unincorporated community of [[Bamboo, North Carolina|Bamboo]] and the town of Blowing Rock.

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|221}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|321}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|421}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|88}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|105}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|184}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|194}}
* {{jct|state=NC|BRP}}

===Airport===
A small general aviation airstrip (FAA Identifier: NC14) is located in Boone. However, it has no scheduled commercial service. As such, commercial airline passengers must typically utilize the airports at [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[Piedmont Triad International Airport|Greensboro]] in North Carolina, or the [[Tri-Cities Regional Airport|Tri-Cities]] in Tennessee.

===Public Transportation===
There is a public transport system in Boone provided by [[AppalCart|AppalCART]] that services the downtown and some outlying areas at no cost, in addition to paratransit, and rural route services for a small fee.<ref>{{cite web |title=appalcart |url=http://appalcart.com |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref> Sunway Charters, a charter bus company, operates in cooperation with [[Greyhound Lines]] to provide coach bus service from Boone to Charlotte and Greensboro, called the ''Mountaineer North–South'' and the ''Mountaineer East–West'', respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Russ |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Bus Tickets - Sunway Charters |url=https://sunwaycharters.com/bus-tickets/ |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=sunwaycharters.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 3400
|1860= 4957
|1870= 5287
|1880= 8160
|1890= 10611
|1900= 13417
|1910= 13556
|1920= 13477
|1930= 15165
|1940= 18114
|1950= 18342
|1960= 17529
|1970= 23404
|1980= 31666
|1990= 36952
|2000= 42695
|2010= 51079
|2020= 54086
|2024= 54483
2029 estimate= 53158
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37189.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2013}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wataugacountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Watauga County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
}}
===2024 census===
https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/north-carolina/watauga-county

White:	                    50,349	92.32%
Two or more races:	        1,737	3.18%
Black or African American:	981	    1.8%
Asian:	                    767	    1.41%
Other race:	                348	    0.64%
Native American:	        339	    0.62%
Native Hawaiian: 	        19	    0.03%

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Watauga County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37189&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 20, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 44,986
| 83.17%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 2,101
| 3.88%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 82
| 0.15%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 938
| 1.73%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 11
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 2,447
| 4.52%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 3,521
| 6.51%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 54,086 people, 21,077 households, and 11,452 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|137|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of {{convert|74|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.45% [[White American|White]], 1.59% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.25% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.59% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 0.45% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 0.62% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race.

According to the [[Census 2000|2000 Census]] the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Watauga County were: [[English-American|English]] (25.1%), [[German-American|German]] (22.5%) and [[Irish-American|Irish]] (13.3%).
Most of those claiming Irish ancestry in Watauga county are actually of Scots-Irish/Ulster-Scots Protestant background and not Irish Catholics.

There were 16,540 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.10% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.

The age distribution is 16.30% under the age of 18, 27.80% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. The overall age distribution and median age are greatly affected by the presence of [[Appalachian State University]] in Boone. For every 100 females there are 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,611, and the median income for a family was $45,508. Males had a median income of $29,135 versus $22,006 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,258. About 7.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Government, public safety, and politics==
[[File:Watauga courthouse view from west.png|thumb|A view of the Watauga County Courthouse on King Street, downtown Boone]]

===Government===
Watauga County is governed by an elected Board of Commissioners who provide administration policy for the appointed County Manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/BOC/home.aspx|title=Watauga County, NC|website=www.wataugacounty.org}}</ref>

Watauga County is a member of the regional [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|High Country Council of Governments]].

===Public safety===
====County sheriff and municipal police====
The Sheriff's Office provides court protection, jail management, and protection of all county owned facilities for all of Watauga County and patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. The towns of Boone, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, and Seven Devils have municipal police departments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/Sheriff/home.aspx|title=Watauga County, NC|website=www.wataugacounty.org}}</ref>

====Fire protection and emergency services====
Fire protection is provided by 13 fire departments in Watauga County including Beaver Dam, Boone, Beech Mountain, Cove Creek, Deep Gap, Foscoe, Meat Camp, Shawneehaw, Stewart, Simmons, Todd, and Zionville. The Emergency Management Office coordinates resources for emergency services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/FMEM/FireMarshal/fmHome.aspx|title=Watauga County, NC|website=www.wataugacounty.org}}</ref>

===Politics===
Historically, Watauga's strong [[Southern Unionist|Unionist]] sympathies – though not as strong as North Carolina highland-mountain counties like [[Avery County, North Carolina|Avery]] and [[Mitchell County, North Carolina|Mitchell]], or counties with Quaker, antislavery histories like [[Yadkin County, North Carolina|Yadkin]]<ref>Auman, William T.; ''Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt: The Confederate Campaign Against Peace Agitators, Deserters and Draft Dodgers'', pp. 11, 66-68 {{ISBN|078647663X}}</ref> – meant the county voted mainly Republican during the [[Solid South]] Democrat era, except in Presidential landslides. The only Democrats to gain an absolute majority of the county's vote in the 20th century were [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in 1932 and 1936, and by a very narrow margin, [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1964, while [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1912 and [[Bill Clinton]] in 1992 obtained pluralities in three-cornered contests. The growth of [[Appalachian State University]], with its predominantly left-leaning electorate, has strengthened the Democratic Party's standing and it carried the county in 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2024. The county has also proved favorable for Libertarians, with Watauga being [[Gary Johnson]]'s best county in all of North Carolina in both his 2012 and 2016 campaigns.

{{PresHead|place=Watauga County, North Carolina|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|15,254|17,225|616|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|14,451|17,122|647|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|13,697|14,138|2,150|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|13,861|13,002|811|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|13,344|14,558|470|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,659|11,232|159|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|10,438|7,959|326|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|8,146|7,349|1,727|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|7,899|8,262|3,064|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|8,662|6,048|75|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,370|5,163|46|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,149|5,022|787|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,400|5,358|59|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,017|3,451|105|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,081|2,952|1,060|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,932|4,031|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,020|3,440|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,636|3,223|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,527|3,600|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,851|3,379|170|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,954|3,214|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,739|3,615|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,409|3,880|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,166|3,419|21|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,159|2,591|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,665|2,365|8|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,631|1,721|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,352|1,141|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|420|933|821|North Carolina}}

==Economy==
Some notable examples of the county's economy are:
* The county produces significant amounts of [[Fraser fir]] [[Christmas tree]]s.
* The growth of produce was once a mainstay in the agricultural economy of the county. [[Cabbage]] was once widely grown, so much so, that a [[sauerkraut]] plant was once located in Boone. The plant has long been closed. Boone Creek, the main creek that runs through Boone and the Appalachian State University campus is still nicknamed Kraut Creek since it is said that the creek used to smell of sauerkraut juice coming out of the plant.
* The Watauga County Farmers' Market has been operating in Boone since 1974.
* The Beech Mountain Resort is one of the few ski resorts operating in the Southeastern United States.
* Appalachian State University is a major economic driver for the county and the region as a whole, generating US$2.2 billion in statewide impact and US$573 million in local impact as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.goldenshovelagency.com |first=-Golden Shovel Agency |title=App State's annual economic impacts: $2.2 billion staewide, $573 million locally |url=https://www.caldwelledc.org/caldwell/news/p/item/54386/app-states-annual-economic-impacts-22-billion-staewide-573-million-locally |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=www.caldwelledc.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
===K–8 schools===
* Bethel
* Blowing Rock
* Cove Creek
* Grace Academy
* Green Valley
* Hardin Park
* Mabel
* Mountain Pathways Montessori School
* Parkway
* Two Rivers Community School
* Valle Crucis

===High school===
* Watauga High School

===Colleges and universities===
* [[Appalachian State University]], part of the [[University of North Carolina System]] and enrolls more than 21,000 students<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.appstate.edu/about/facts/|title=Appalachian State University|first=Appalachian State|last=University|website=www.appstate.edu}}</ref>
* [[Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute]], satellite campus

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Watauga County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Watauga County with municipal and township labels]]

===Towns===
* [[Beech Mountain, North Carolina|Beech Mountain]]
* [[Blowing Rock, North Carolina|Blowing Rock]]
* [[Boone, North Carolina|Boone]] (county seat and largest community)
* [[Seven Devils, North Carolina|Seven Devils]]

=== Census-designated places ===

* [[Cove Creek, North Carolina|Cove Creek]]
* [[Foscoe, North Carolina|Foscoe]]
* [[Valle Crucis, North Carolina|Valle Crucis]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Aho, North Carolina|Aho]]
* Bamboo
* [[Deep Gap, North Carolina|Deep Gap]]
* Matney
* [[Meat Camp, North Carolina|Meat Camp]]
* Sherwood
* [[Silverstone, North Carolina|Silverstone]]
* [[Sugar Grove, North Carolina|Sugar Grove]]
* [[Todd, North Carolina|Todd]]
* [[Vilas, North Carolina|Vilas]]
* [[Zionville, North Carolina|Zionville]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
* Shulls Mill<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shull's Mill: More than a road |url=https://www.wataugademocrat.com/mountaintimes/news/shulls-mill-more-than-a-road/article_51b9f66d-8bcf-5512-aae9-49b118dc0f66.html |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=Watauga Democrat |language=en}}</ref>

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Bald Mountain
* Beaverdam
* Blowing Rock
* Blue Ridge
* Boone
* Brushy Fork
* Cove Creek
* Elk
* Laurel Creek
* Meat Camp
* New River
* North Fork
* Shawneehaw
* Stony Fork
* Watauga
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of North Carolina counties]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Watauga County, North Carolina]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* John Preston Arthur, [https://archive.org/details/historyofwatauga00arth ''A History of Watauga County, North Carolina: With Sketches of Prominent Families.''] Richmond, VA: Everett Waddey Co., 1915.
* Michael C. Hardy, ''A Short History of Watauga County.'' Winston-Salem, NC: John F. Blair, Publisher, 2008.
* Daniel J. Whitener, ''History of Watauga County: Souvenir of Watauga Centennial.'' Boone, NC: n.p., 1949.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Watauga County}}
* {{osmrelation|2528754}}
* {{Official website|https://www.wataugacounty.org/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Watauga County, North Carolina
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Ashe County, North Carolina|Ashe County]]
|East      = [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]]
|Southwest = [[Avery County, North Carolina|Avery County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Johnson County, Tennessee]]
}}
{{Watauga County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Watauga County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1849]]
[[Category:North Carolina placenames of Native American origin]]