Sylva

Sylva is a mountain town situated at 2,750 feet (839 meters) elevation in the Plott Balsam range in Jackson County, North Carolina. Downtown features restaurants, breweries, and independent shops that form the working heart of the community.

The town became prominent in 1913 when residents voted to relocate the county seat from Webster, driven by the establishment of a railroad station. This move sparked the development of the downtown that still exists today.

The former courthouse transformed into a library serves as a visual centerpiece of downtown life. This building anchors how locals and visitors experience the core of the community.

Pinnacle Park provides 1,400 acres of hiking trails in surrounding mountains with peaks above 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) elevation. The area is best reached on foot from downtown or via short drives to access trailheads.

The town served as a filming location for major motion pictures including The Fugitive in 1993 and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2017. Filmmakers chose the local landscape and streets for their on-location shots.

Location: Jackson County

Inception: 1889

Elevation above the sea: 839 m

Website: http://townofsylva.org

GPS coordinates: 35.37420,-83.21780

Latest update: December 17, 2025 07:53