Scenic Beauty & Colorful History

 The Hiwassee River and the settlements on its banks were witness to important and ultimately heartbreaking historical events.  Settled around the river, Charleston and Calhoun were often referred to as the twin cities.  These two southern river towns in Tennessee may be small, but their place in history is significant and largely untold until now.  An important piece of American history was almost lost until the residents of these two cities decided this was a story that needs to be told and a people who need to be remembered.

In the early 1800's, the present day town of Charleston was known as Walker's Ferry.  John Walker, a part-Cherokee grandson of Nancy Ward, lived in and operated a ferry across the river in the present day town of Calhoun.  In 1819 the Cherokee Indians relinquished their lands north of the Hiwassee River  to the United States government.  Land South of the Hiwassee River and West to the Tennessee River became known as the Ocoee District.  The Cherokee Indian Agency was moved to the area at this time.  The present day area of Charleston was still Indian territory and passports were required of white settlers to enter this Indian Nation.  Lewis Ross, brother of John Ross was a notable merchant in the town at this time.  Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, a Revolutionary soldier was the first Indian Agent.  After his death in 1824, Meigs was followed by former Governor Joseph McMinn.  The Indian Agency was often referred to as the gateway to the Indian country.  During the Indian Removal of 1838, known as "The Trail of Tears", Charleston was the site of Fort Cass, an encampment that detained thousands of Cherokees awaiting their transport to Oklahoma.   Overlooked until now, Charleston is emerging as one of the most historic areas in the state.