WAXHAW IN HISTORY
A twelve mile drive west of Monroe and only twelve miles from the Charlotte city limits, the picturesque Village of Waxhaw, North Carolina reflects the charm of its romantic past. Situated between two historic streams which connect to the Catawba River, the town developed about midway between the center of the Old Waxhaws Settlement and its northeastern fringe where Andrew Jackson, Sr., father of Andrew Jackson, settled his family.
Originally called “Wisacky”, the Waxhaw Indians hunting grounds, the Waxhaw settlement was established on busy Trader’s Path which ran from Petersburg, Virginia to Augusta, Georgia. John Lederer, a German traveler and scholar, discovered the Indian village of the Waxhaws in 1670. it became a wellspring of lore and legend, the most famous being the controversy over Andrew Jackson’s birthplace: both North and South Carolina claim him as a native son. James Polk was also born just north of the settlement.
Waxhaw reflects its heritage of creative energy. Antique collectors, artists and craftsmen have been attracted to the area’s charm and have impacted their community with respect for the town’s history and vision for its’ future. Behind the multipaned windows of the historic red brick buildings facing Main Street are antiques, country crafts, and professional offices. A footbridge arches over the seaboard Railway, connecting North and South Main Streets. The Village Green runs the length of the village on both sides of the railroad tracks, providing a tree shaded parkway for the community’s many festivals, antique shows, arts and crafts fairs and its annual Fourth of July Parade. Thousands of tourists attend these activities as well as the Waxhaw Drama Group’s presentations such as “Listen and Remember” based on the life of Andrew Jackson at the Waxhaw Amphitheatre. Located on the same grounds as the Amphitheatre is the Andrew Jackson Memorial Museum which is a fine tribute to our seventh President. Each October the Amphitheatre hosts Scottish games similar to larger festivals at Grandfather Mountain. In November, tourists can enjoy the Christmas Tour of Historic Homes as they wander shaded lanes lined with sprawling Victorian homes and country cottages listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
The Town of Waxhaw was chartered in 1889, making it the oldest town in Union County. Today, Waxhaw has a population of 8,500 within a five mile radius and is considered part of the Metrolina area with a population of over 1,000,000. The accessibility of Charlotte, Monroe and Lancaster, South Carolina all within a fifteen minute drive of downtown Waxhaw, provides urban opportunity away from the problems of urban density. Students attend Western Union and Waxhaw Elementary Schools, Parkwood and Sun Valley Middle and High Schools. Private schools in both Monroe and Charlotte are within a convenient driving distance. Other points of interest in Waxhaw are the Waxhaw Antique Village consisting of 19 shops in the downtown area, Cane Creek Park which is a full camping and activity facility, JAARS Center and Museum where one can learn about the history and languages of Mexico and the Pleasant Grove Campground which will remind the tourist of the rich religious background in the area. The campground held its first meeting in October of 1829 and has done so each summer almost continually since that time.
Waxhaw offers a unique blend of natural beauty, historic, religious and artistic values. This combination of attributes makes it not only a wonderful place to visit but a great place to live.