Qualla Boundary

Qualla Boundary
"Welcome Cherokee Indian Reservation" sign
"Welcome Cherokee Indian Reservation" sign
Map of the Qualla Boundary
Country United States
State North Carolina
CountiesCherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Swain
Established1876[1]
Added to Trust1924[2]
Named forOld woman
GovernmentEastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code828
GNIS feature ID1018039[3]

The Qualla Boundary or The Qualla is territory held as a land trust by the United States government for the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), who reside in Western North Carolina. The area is part of the large historic Cherokee territory in the Southeast, which extended into eastern Tennessee, western South Carolina, northern Georgia, and Alabama. Currently, the largest contiguous portion of the Qualla lies in Haywood, Swain, and Jackson counties and is centered on the community of Cherokee, which serves as the tribal capital of the EBCI. Smaller, non-contiguous parcels also lie in Graham and Cherokee counties, near the communities of Snowbird and Murphy, respectively.

The tribe purchased this land in the 1870s, and it was subsequently placed under federal protective trust; it is not a reservation created by the government.[4][1] Individuals can buy, own, and sell the land, provided they are enrolled members of EBCI tribe.

  1. ^ a b Hill, Michael (2006). "Qualla Boundary". State Library of North Carolina. Retrieved August 1, 2021. Map of the Qualla Indian Reserve (Boundary) N.C.
  2. ^ Anderson, William L.; Wetmore, Ruth Y. (2006). "Cherokee Indians - Part 6: Federal recognition and the fight for Cherokee Rights". State Library of North Carolina. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eastern Cherokee Reserve
  4. ^ "History & Culture". Eastern Band of Cherokee. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.