Jefferson, town in Ashe County, North Carolina, United States
Jefferson is a small town in Ashe County located at the foot of Mount Jefferson in North Carolina's Appalachian region. The New River, one of the oldest rivers in the eastern United States, flows through the area, and the town sits near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The town was established in 1799 and originally named Jeffersonton after Thomas Jefferson, the third President. In 1849 the name was shortened to Jefferson, and the restored courthouse from 1904 on Main Street now houses the Museum of Ashe County History.
Jefferson was established in 1799 as the first town in the United States to bear this name, reflecting deep local pride in its founding. This heritage appears visibly today in downtown galleries and murals celebrating the region's music traditions and mountain landscape.
The town sits near a scenic overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mileposts 266 and 267 offering views from above. Downtown West Jefferson has more than a dozen art galleries, restaurants, and shops to explore on foot.
Near the town in Glendale Springs stands Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, featuring remarkable frescoes by artist Ben Long including a Last Supper scene. Additional works by Long can be found in the nearby St. Mary's Episcopal Church.
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