Highlands, North Carolina

Highlands, North Carolina
Town
The town of Highlands as seen from Sunset Rock.
Seal
Nickname(s): "Elevation 4118"
Location of Highlands, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°3′15″N 83°12′8″W / 35.05417°N 83.20222°W / 35.05417; -83.20222Coordinates: 35°3′15″N 83°12′8″W / 35.05417°N 83.20222°W / 35.05417; -83.20222
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Macon, Jackson
Townships	Highlands, Cashiers
Area
• Total	6.2 sq mi (16.0 km2)
• Land	6.1 sq mi (15.7 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	4,118 ft (1,255 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	924
• Density	150/sq mi (58/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	28741
Area code(s)	828
FIPS code	37-31360
GNIS feature ID	1012061
Website	[3]

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County, in the Highlands and Cashiers Townships, respectively. The permanent population was 924 at the 2010 census. The population can swell up to 20,000 during spring to fall.

Highlands was founded in 1875 after its two founders, Samuel Truman Kelsey and Clinton Carter Hutchinson, drew lines from Chicago to Savannah and from New Orleans to New York City. They felt that the place where these lines met would eventually become a great trading center and commercial crossroads. Highlands was named for its lofty elevation.

In the 1930s the town became a golfing mecca when Bobby Jones of Atlanta and some of his well-heeled golfing buddies founded the Highlands Country Club. Today that club is one of seven successful residential country club communities in the area. The Highlands Country Club is south of Highlands on Dillard Road (North Carolina Highway 106).

Highlands is located at 35°3′15″N 83°12′8″W / 35.05417°N 83.20222°W / 35.05417; -83.20222 (35.054129, -83.202351).