In the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains,

“the Great State of Wilkes” earned its nickname from the massive size of Wilkes County, one of the largest in North Carolina. Formed in 1778, it took the name of John Wilkes, a radical mayor of London who was ousted because of his support for the American colonists.

That revolutionary spirit spawned a history highlighted by legendary moonshiners and the birth of NASCAR, but the area has seen much more. From the hills and hollows to the towns and cities, the stories of today are as endless as the legends of yesteryear- stories of triumph, tragedy, and the strength of the human spirit.