One of the many amazing qualities of North Carolina is the wide assortment of different dwellings - from metropolitan hubs like Charlotte to charming, historic small towns like Bath, and then the comfortable middle of small cities like Winston-Salem or Wilmington. We get a bit of everything here in the Tar Heel state, but even if you were born and raised here, these towns are so small you might've never known of their existence.
1. Candor
You might've never heard of Candor, that is, unless you've attended the N.C. Peach Festival. As the peach capital of North Carolina, this tiny town of just 839 stays fairly quiet the rest of the year.
2. Marble
This tiny yet scenic town is tucked away in the Smoky Mountains and home to only 321 residents. At 1,280 feet above sea level, you can't beat the views and surrounding outdoor activities.
3. Hayesville
Hayesville is home to two stoplights and some 400 residents. The true draw of Hayesville is the breathtaking scenery with the Hiwassee River flowing on the outskirts.
4. Manns Harbor
Tucked away amidst the coastal landscape, Manns Harbor is labeled as an unincorporated community, as of the last 2010 census the population was reported at 821.
5. Valle Crucis
I feel like Valle Crucis is one of those places you always hear about but you're never sure if it actually exists or if you've actually arrived when you're there. One easy way to know is the famous Mast General Store. Tucked right into the Appalachian Mountains, the population of 350 or so residents enjoy stunning mountain views and plenty of available outdoor activity.
6. Ronda
Located in prime wine country of the Yadkin Valley, you might've visited the exquisite Raffaldini Vineyards without ever realizing you were in the small, unincorporated community of Ronda. At the 2013 census the population was at just 413 for the 1.1 square mile town.
7. Lowgap
Right on the Virginia border is the unincorporated community of Lowgap. The namesake of the town derives from its location in the 'low gap' between the Blue Ridge mountains. The town has a population of just 324 residents.
8. Caswell Beach
Positioned right next to more well-known beaches like Ocean Isle and Holden, Caswell is a hidden gem when it comes to small beach towns. Deemed a 'small, sleepy seaside town,' the year round population is just 412. Caswell is located on the east end of Oak Island.
9. Columbia
Located in the coastal plains of eastern, NC, Columbia is a bit larger than others on this list with a population of 843. One interesting part about Columbia is that it's the one destination where you might encounter more bears per square mile than people.
10. Peachland
Just when you thought Candor was dominating the peach game, then you discover there's a tiny town named Peachland. The historic town has a population of 421 and sits outside of Fayetteville in the southern, mid region of the state.
How neat is it to discover little hidden gems dotted throughout the Tar Heel state? Some of these were completely new to me! What about you? Any you want to add?
While we're on the subject of towns, this one might be deemed a 'drive by town' but you'll want to stop in!
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