Wilkes County (Images of America: North Carolina)

Wilkes County (Images of America: North Carolina)

Told through the lens of vintage images, discover the rich and storied past of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Hardy pioneers settled this area of the North Carolina backcountry in the 18th century. Perhaps best known for illegal whiskey and stock car racing, Wilkes County heritage also lies in agriculture and industry. Farmers toiled the land while industrialists and merchants built houses, businesses, railroads, and services in the county's three municipalities: Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Ronda. Major corporations Lowe's and Holly Farms were born here. Americana music is a staple of local culture, with popular festivals like MerleFest drawing international acclaim to the area. The enduring folkways and down-home values of this rural community have long made Wilkes County a place where the roots of family and history run deep. Drawn from the James Larkin Pearson collection of the Pardue Library of Wilkes Community College, the Wilkes Heritage Museum archives, and private collections, the images in this volume portray the rich history of Wilkes County. The "Great State of Wilkes" truly is a land of far more than moonshine and motor sports. Coauthors Misty Bass, Christy Earp, and Jennifer L. Pe±a are all actively engaged in the history field. Misty is a librarian and adjunct history instructor at Wilkes Community College; Christy is also a librarian at Wilkes Community College; and Jennifer is the curator of the Wilkes Heritage Museum.