Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina’s foothills, about half an hour from Charlotte, is the small town of Kings Mountain. While my grandparents were alive, my mother and father took me back to visit at least once a week and we remain close to the numerous uncles, aunts and cousins who are still Mountaineers. In fact, it seems that most of the people in the town are my relatives since my grandfather was one of seven children and most of their descendants stayed in town. I am proud to call Kings Mountain my adopted home.
Kings Mountain’s claim to fame is the battle of Kings Mountain, which was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. However, the battle occurred near the mountain which is actually outside the city limits. British Colonel Ferguson underestimated the cleverness and marksmanship of the American guerrilla fighters and his redcoats were routed and he himself killed. Today it is a tradition to throw a stone on Ferguson’s grave as you travel through Kings Mountain to symbolize the victory of the American fighters.

Kings Mountain also was known for the gold mine that was mined many years ago and even the names of street names are named for the town and the gold mine. The street names are Kings, Mountain, and Gold.
My grandparents always used to debate how Kings Mountain got its name. Kings Creek flows at the bottom of the mountain and the land was originally deeded as a king’s grant. However my family prefers to believes that it was named because when viewed from the town of Kings Mountain, the trees on top of the mountain seem to form a crown.

Kings Mountain today is wonderful small town that values family life over modernization. Walking down the street, you see the coffee shops, stores, banks and other stores that are the same today as they were in the early 1960’s, when my mother was growing up. The mom and pop shops are still there. Each shop runs the same way that it ran decades ago and everyone is fine with that. It has some chain stores, the Eckerds and McDonalds every town has, but it also has Norman’s Fish Box and the Mountaineer Pharmacy.

The people of Kings Mountain are deeply rooted in a sense of nostalgia. They do things on their own time, at their own pace. Nothing seems to bother them. In the summer the town seems to slow down even further. Almost every yard has a huge old magnolia tree and when they bloom, the fragrance is incredible. There are no worries about time. The only thing that people worry about is what will be on the dinner table and sometimes even that doesn’t matter. People and animals alike seem to slow down. I guess it’s the fragrance of the magnolias, or maybe just the feeling of belonging and being home.

Hank S

Submitted: Wednesday 11th February 2004, 1:46 PM

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