The Uwharrie Mountains

The Uwharrie Mountain Range runs through the counties of Stanly, Randolph, Davidson, and Montgomery Counties and has foothills in Anson, Union, and Cabarrus Counties of North Carolina. Scientist believe they were formed around 500 million years ago and were likely a coastal mountain range at first. At that time they stood about 20,000 feet at their peaks. By comparison, the highest peak in the Rockies is under 15,000 feet, and the Rockies are between 55 and 80 million years old.

Today the Uwharries are in the Carolina Piedmont, almost 200 miles from the coast. They are no longer tall, because erosion has worn them away over time. The highest peak sits atop High Rock Mountain and is a little under 1,200 feet. The mountains still hold artifacts of the native people who inhabited them for years.

This area is also part of the Uwharrie National Forest, which was cleared at one time for its timber and as farmland. However, in 1961, President Kennedy designated it as a U.S. National Forest, and the woodlands have come back. In fact, during deer season, hunters abound there.

In my soon-to-be-released, second historical novel, Sown in Dark Soil, the Uwharrie Mountains are mentioned as ones familiar to Leah on her journey west. However, she finds the Appalachian Mountains much more stunning when she gets to the Boone area.

(As with Cleared for Planting, all my profits from this book will go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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