Henry River Mill Village, human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America
Henry River Mill Village is a historic settlement in Burke County that was originally built as a worker community around a cotton yarn mill. The village consisted of about 35 worker houses, a two-story boarding house, a brick company store, and infrastructure like a bridge and dam.
The settlement was founded in 1905 when two families established a company to produce cotton yarn, building on waterpower sources dating back to 1860. Production tripled by 1963, but foreign competition led to closure, and a lightning strike destroyed the main mill building in 1977.
The village was named after a nearby river and functioned as a tightly-knit worker community where families supported each other through daily life. Residents used a special currency called Dougal script instead of regular money to purchase goods at the company store, keeping the local economy contained and self-reliant.
Visitors can take self-guided tours or join special tours to explore the old houses and film locations on the property. The grounds lack modern amenities, so plan ahead and wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
The location served as a filming site for Hunger Games movie scenes, particularly depicting District 12, attracting film enthusiasts from around the world. Since 2017, new owners have maintained the buildings and plan to convert some houses into overnight accommodations for visitors.
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