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Polls, surveys and other mostly made-up stuff are great for starting a good talk or a bad fight, depending on your mood. They’re fun to debate if for no other reason than everyone can be considered right, because there really isn’t a wrong answer when you’re just spouting off your opinion.
Worldatlas.com seems to have figured that out, as the website has all kinds of lists available in a rather obvious clickbait scheme. What are the 10 most adorable towns in North Carolina? Which towns are the prettiest? How about the 12 most unforgettable small towns, or the seven oldest founded ones?
After seeing Bryson City on multiple lists and overcoming a bit of envy, Cherokee County finally showed up on one – “The 11 Most Underrated Towns in North Carolina to Take a Trip To.” Here’s what World Atlas has to say about the most far-western city in the state:
“Murphy is a calming, mountainside town, full of action and rest depending on what visitors seek for a getaway. The Great Smoky Mountains National
Park is next to the city, so take advantage of this enchanting, biodiverse marvel. Travelers can try gem mining, sifting through the dirt like those in the old gold rush days to find amethysts, rubies and emeralds. Try lake tours and explore the undeveloped body of wonder on a pontoon boat, fishing or cruising on a kayak.”
That sounds nice, even though “calming” and “full of action” might seem to contradict. And those are, in fact, all things you can do in and around Murphy. However, that description doesn’t come close to defining us.
First, a big correction: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not next to Murphy – it’s next to the Town of Cherokee, which is 55 miles away. The website’s AI researcher must have digitally burped on that one, but it’s not the first time – and likely won’t be the last – that Cherokee County and the Town of Cherokee have been confused.
Secondly, a small complaint: Every time I see a list like this, it’s only about towns. While Murphy does have a gorgeous downtown, what about our entire county?
When you expand outside Murphy to include all of Cherokee County – areas steeped in history like Andrews, Bear Paw, Beaverdam, Bellview, Brasstown, Culberson, Ebenezer, Grape Creek, Hanging Dog, Happy Top, Hiwassee Dam, Hot House, Junaluska, Liberty, Marble, Martins Creek, Ogreeta, Peachtree, Ranger, Suit, Texana, Tomotla, Topton and Unaka – we have a whole lot more to offer visitors. While Murphy also has a beautiful River Walk, those other areas are where destinations like Andrews Valley Rail Tours, John C. Campbell Folk School, Fields of the Wood, Panther Top Lookout Tower and Tri-County Community College are located.
The website also listed a smattering of local businesses. Did those businesses have to pay for the privilege of being included? Or did the writer just use the “fickle finger of fate” – open a phone book, close your eyes and let your fingers do the walking – to decide which ones to include?
(And, yes, I stole the “fickle finger of fate” from church, where the term has been applied to describe how some preachers decide what to pontificate about in their sermon next week.)
Back to the original list: Is Murphy really underrated nowadays? A lot of people clearly know our little secret, as more folks have been moving here – and not just from Florida. But it’s good to know that when special places in North Carolina are talked about, we’re right there in the middle of it.
David Brown is publisher of the Cherokee Scout. You can reach him by phone, 837-5122; email, dbrown@cherokeescout.com; or Twitter @daviddBstroh.