Old Wilkes County Courthouse, now Wilkes Heritage Museum.
Overview
Wilkesboro, North Carolina, is a small town located in western North Carolina. Its population in 2010 was 3,413. It was founded in 1800 and became the county seat for Wilkes County, NC, a position that it maintains today. It features a rich history that dates back to the Revolutionary War. Presently, its largest industries are Tyson Foods and Lowe's Companies, Inc.
History
Wilkesboro was founded in 1800 and named for John Wilkes, an English journalist and politician, who supported American rebels during the Revolutionary War. During this time the town featured the “Tory Oak,” a tree from which Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, from Wilkes County, hanged British loyalists. This tree stands as a symbol of the town’s history to this day.
During the Civil War, the town was divided. Many residents supported the Confederacy, many supported the Union. Folk songs and stories have and still tell of Tom Dula, a Confederate veteran from Wilkesboro, who was perhaps wrongfully hanged for the murder of his lover, Laura Foster.
Many locations in the town are featured in the National Register of Historic Places, such as the Old Wilkes County Jail, the Wilkes County Courthouse, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Cemetery, and the Downtown Wilkesboro Historic District.
Attractions & Notable People
Wilkesboro is the home of Merlefest, a traditional or folk music festival held in April each year. 75,000 individuals on average from all over the world attend this festival each year and enjoy music in styles such as bluegrass, blues, Cajun, etc. The festival is held in honor of Eddy Merle Watson, who died in a tractor accident in 1985, and was created by his father, Doc Watson, prior to his death in 2012.
The town also features the North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of the original locations of NASCAR during the late 1940s.
One of the most notable former residents of Wilkesboro is Zach Galifianakis, an actor and comedian best known for his appearances in the Hangover trilogy, The Campaign, and his talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.