U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina

In the U.S. state of North Carolina U.S. Route 221 (US 221) is a north–south highway that travels through Western North Carolina. From Chesnee, South Carolina to Independence, Virginia, it connects the cities of Rutherfordton, Marion, Boone and Jefferson between the two out-of-state destinations. Its most memorable section, known as the Little Parkway Scenic Byway between Linville and Blowing Rock, offers area visitors a curvier alternative to the Blue Ridge Parkway and access to Grandfather Mountain.

This article is about the section of highway in North Carolina. For the entire length of highway, see U.S. Route 221.

U.S. Highway 221
Route of US 221 in North Carolina in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length153.5 mi[1] (247.0 km)
Existed1930–present
Tourist
routes		 Little Parkway Scenic Byway
Major junctions
South end US 221 at the South Carolina line near Chesnee, SC
 
North end US 21 / US 221 at the Virginia line near Independence, VA
Location
CountiesRutherford, McDowell, Burke, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany
Highway system
← US 220→ NC 222

Route description

US 221 enters from South Carolina as a rural highway, with mostly farms, wooded areas, or homes dotting the road. After 10 miles (16 km) it connects with US 74, where US 74 Business begins its overlap towards Rutherfordton (signs of US 74 Business are scarce throughout). At Rutherfordton, the first major intersection is Charlotte Street, where US 74 Business and US 221A go east. After Rutherfordton, the road reverts to a rural highway, and continues on to Marion.

Before entering Marion city limits, I-40 intersects with US 221. US 221 then joins with NC 226, going west around the city on the Marion Bypass. After the expressway passes the shopping centers along US 70, it continues as a four-lane highway with a turning median all the way to North Cove. Along the way, several business can be seen including shrubbery farms, stone/rock cutters, and a chemical plant. NC 226 splits early at Woodlawn, for travelers that want to go to Spruce Pine.

The climb to Linville Falls is somewhat curvy. It is a route heavily traveled by trucks, and a runaway truck ramp is located along this section. Also located in this section is Linville Caverns, a small tourist destination. At Linville Falls, nearby sites include Linville Gorge Wilderness, Linville Falls, (via NC 183) and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Between Linville Falls and Linville, the highway goes through large tracts of fraser fir farms, from the mountain tops to the valleys. At Linville, motorists are recommended to follow NC 105/US 221 Truck to Boone and Blowing Rock, which is faster and flatter. Those that continue on what is known as the Little Parkway Scenic Byway come upon an 18-mile (29 km) segment of numerous curves and elevation changes.[2] The entrance to Grandfather Mountain is located near Linville; also nearby is the Linn Cove Viaduct, via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Those that continue along the scenic route can take a short break at the state rest area.[3] Near Blowing Rock, visitors may also visit the Julian Price Memorial Park and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, via Blue Ridge Parkway.

Blowing Rock and Boone are popular year-round tourist destinations; as such the highway between the two towns offers an array of activities include skiing, shopping, amusement rides, and golf. In Boone, US 221 turns early along NC 105 to King Street, avoiding Appalachian State University and the downtown area; once on King Street (with US 421/NC 194 concurrency), it heads east out of town on a four-lane expressway.

At Deep Gap, US 221 goes north again on a slightly curvy two-lane road to Jefferson. As the road nears West Jefferson, the road appears to open up, allowing for more views of the surrounding areas. At West Jefferson and Jefferson, the road serves as a bypass, as well as the last commercialized area along US 221 until Galax, Virginia.

The next 21 miles (34 km) of US 221 is very curvy, similar to the stretch between Linville and Blowing Rock (minus the continuous elevation changes). Between the southern terminus of NC 93 and US 21 in Twin Oaks, US 221 is concurrent with North Carolina Bicycle Route 4.[4] US 221 and US 21 form a concurrency north from Twin Oaks to the Virginia state line.

Dedicated and memorial names
Dr. Mary Martin Sloop Highway

US 221 in North Carolina features a few dedicated or memorialized stretches of highway.

  • Dr. Mary Martin Sloop Highway – official North Carolina name of US 221 between Crossnore and Linville. It is named in honor of Dr. Mary Martin Sloop, the founder of the Crossnore School in 1913.[5][6]
  • Robert C. Hunter Expressway – official North Carolina name of the Marion Bypass in McDowell County. It is named in honor of Robert C. Hunter, who was a judge in the North Carolina Court of Appeals (approved on November 3, 1989).[7]
  • Robert G. Barr Expressway – official North Carolina name of US 221 between Baldwin and Jefferson, named after a politician from West Jefferson (approved on August 14, 1981).[7]
  • Trooper Pete Peterson Bridge – official North Carolina name of bridge that carries US 221 over US 74. It is named in honor of State Trooper Robert L. (Pete) Peterson (approved on January 5, 2001).[7][8]

History
US 221/US 321 Bus. in Blowing Rock

US 221 was established in 1930, from US 19E/NC 69, in Ingalls to US 21/NC 26, in Twin Oaks; it was in complete concurrency with NC 691.[9] In 1931, US 221 was extended north, in concurrency with US 21, into Virginia. In 1932, US 221 was removed from Ingalls/Three Mile area, which remained NC 691, and was placed on new routing south through Woodlawn, Marion, Rutherfordton, Spindale, Forest City and Cliffside, before entering South Carolina. In late 1934, the following concurrences were removed from US 221: NC 19, NC 28 and NC 207.[10] In 1941, US 221 was rerouted south of Rutherfordton on a more direct route to Chesnee; its former alignment through Spindale–Cliffside became US 221A.[11] Around 1953, US 221 was rerouted between Boone and Baldwin, by linking with US 421 to Deep Gap then north on new construction; the old alignment through Todd became an extension of NC 194.[12]

In 1972, US 221 was rerouted with concurrency with NC 105 to King Street in Boone, ending the US 221/US 321/US 421 intersection at Kings Street and Blowing Rock Road.[13][14] In 1981, US 221 was placed on new construction between Baldwin and Jefferson, which was two-lane that can be expanded later into a divided four-lane; the old alignment, that went through downtown West Jefferson and Jefferson, became US 221 Business.[15]

In 1991, US 221 was placed on new bypass west of Marion; the old alignment became US 221 Business.[16] The same year, US 221/NC 181 was placed on a new bypass west of Linville; the former alignment became a secondary road.[17][18] In 1997, US 221/US 421 was placed on new construction between NC 194 to the South Fork New River, in Boone.[19] In 2005, US 221/US 421 was placed on new four-lane expressway between the South Fork New River and Deep Gap; its old alignment, which partially paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway, was downgraded to secondary roads.[20]

North Carolina Highway 19

North Carolina Highway 19
LocationSC state line–TN state line
Length110.4 mi[21] (177.7 km)
Existed1921–1934

North Carolina Highway 19 (NC 19) was an original state highway that traversed from the South Carolina state line, near Tryon, through Columbus, Rutherfordton, Marion and Spruce Pine, to Bakersville. In 1929, NC 19 was extended to the Tennessee state line, via Ramseytown, replacing part of NC 692.[9] In 1934, NC 19 was decommissioned: South Carolina state line–Tryon to US 176, Tryon–Rutherfordton to NC 181, Rutherford–Woodlawn to US 221, Woodlawn–Ramseytown to NC 26 and Ramseytown–Tennessee state line to US 19W/US 23.[22]

North Carolina Highway 741

North Carolina Highway 741
LocationSC state line–Rutherfordton, NC
Length15.3 mi[23] (24.6 km)
Existed1935–1941

North Carolina Highway 741 (NC 741) existed twice in the state. Its first appeared by 1930 as a new primary routing between NC 151, north of Midland, through Mount Pleasant, to US 601/NC 80, in Gold Hill.[9] In 1933, the highway south of Mount Pleasant was downgraded to secondary roads, while north was partially replaced by NC 62 and secondary roads.[10]

The second NC 741 was established in 1935 as a new primary routing between the South Carolina state line, through Harris, to US 74/US 221/NC 181, in Rutherfordton.[10] In 1941, NC 741 was decommissioned and replaced mostly by US 221, with Jack McKinney Road, between the state line to Harris, as secondary road.[11]

Junction list
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Rutherford​0.00.0 US 221 south – ChesneeContinuation into South Carolina
​10.416.7
US 74 / US 74 Bus. begin – Forest City, Columbus, Asheville		West end of US 74 Bus overlap; exit 178 (US 74)
Rutherfordton15.625.1
US 221A south / US 74 Bus. east / NC 108 west (Charlotte Road)		East end of US 74 Bus. overlap
16.827.0 US 64 / US 74A (Mountain Street) – Lake Lure, Chimney Rock
McDowell​35.957.8 I-40 – Morganton, Ashevilleexit 85 (I-40)
Marion37.560.4
US 221 Bus. north (Rutherford Road) / NC 226 south – Shelby, Marion		South end of NC 226 overlap
40.064.4Henderson Street – Marion Downtown
40.765.5Old Highway 10 / Tate StreetTo Visitor Center
42.768.7 US 70 – AshevilleTo Mount Mitchell State Park
43.369.7
US 221 Bus. south (North Main Street)
Woodlawn49.679.8 NC 226 north – Little Switzerland, Spruce PineNorth end of NC 226 overlap
BurkeLinville Falls63.7102.5 NC 183 east – MorgantonTo Linville Gorge Wilderness
Avery64.3103.5 Blue Ridge ParkwayTo Linville Falls Visitor Center
​65.6105.6 NC 194 south (Three Mile Highway) – Spruce PineSouth end of NC 194 overlap
​70.5113.5 NC 194 north (Millers Gap Highway) – NewlandNorth end of NC 194 overlap
Pineola72.0115.9 NC 181 south (Beatrice Cobb Highway) – MorgantonSouth end of NC 181 overlap
Linville74.9120.5 NC 181 north (Newland Highway) – NewlandNorth end of NC 181 overlap
75.5121.5 NC 105 north – Banner Elk, Boone
​78.6126.5 Blue Ridge ParkwayTo Linn Cove Viaduct
Caldwell
 No major junctions
Watauga​92.4148.7 Blue Ridge ParkwayTo Julian Price Memorial Park and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Blowing Rock94.0151.3
US 321 Bus. south (Main Street) – Lenoir		South end of US 321 Bus. overlap
94.8152.6
US 321 south (Valley Boulevard) / US 321 Bus. end – Lenoir		South end of US 321 and north end of US 321 Bus. overlap
95.5153.7 Blue Ridge Parkway
Boone101.2162.9 US 321 north (Blowing Rock Road) / NC 105 south – Downtown, Linville, Newland, Banner ElkNorth end of US 321 and south end of NC 105 overlap; to ASU
102.0164.2 US 421 north / NC 194 south (King Street) / NC 105 endNorth end of US 421 / NC 105 and south end of NC 194 overlap
102.6165.1 NC 194 north (Jefferson Road) – ToddNorth end of NC 194 overlap
Deep Gap111.6179.6 US 421 south – Wilkesboro, Winston-SalemSouth end of US 421 overlap
AsheBaldwin120.4193.8 NC 194 south – ToddSouth end of NC 194 overlap
West Jefferson124.0199.6
US 221 Bus. / NC 194 north / NC 163 east – West Jefferson		North end of NC 194 overlap
Jefferson127.5205.2
US 221 Bus. south / NC 88 west – Jefferson		West end of NC 88 overlap
​128.4206.6 NC 16 south / NC 88 east – WilkesboroSouth end of NC 16 and east end of NC 88 overlap
​129.7208.7 NC 16 north – Mouth of WilsonNorth end of NC 16 overlap
Alleghany​141.5227.7 NC 113 – North Wilkesboro, Mouth of Wilson
​149.3240.3 NC 93 west – Piney Creek, Mouth of Wilson
Twin Oaks150.2241.7 US 21 south – SpartaSouth end of US 21 overlap
​153.5247.0 US 21 north / US 221 north – IndependenceContinuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. Google (March 8, 2016). "US 221 in North Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  2. "North Carolina Scenic Byways" (PDF). Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  3. "NCDOT: North Carolina Rest Area System". Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  4. "NC 4 - North Line Trace". North Carolina Bike Routes Beta. Walk Bike North Carolina Bicycle Routes. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  5. "Highway Dedicated to Dr. Mary Martin Sloop". High Country News. October 12, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  6. "The Crossnore School - History". Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  7. "North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities" (PDF). Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  8. "Trooper Robert L. (Pete) Peterson, North Carolina Highway Patrol". Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  9. State Highway System of North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1930. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  10. North Carolina County Road Survey 1936 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC / NCSTC / U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. North Carolina State Tax Commission. 1936. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  11. North Carolina County Road Survey 1944 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC / NCSTC / U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. North Carolina State Tax Commission. 1944. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  12. North Carolina County Road Survey 1953 (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCSHC / NCSTC / U.S. Bureau of Public Roads. North Carolina State Tax Commission. 1953. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  13. "Route Change (1972-11-02)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. November 2, 1972. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  14. "Route Change (1972-12-07)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. December 7, 1972. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. "Route Change (1981-09-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 1, 1981. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  16. "Route Change (1991-01-18)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. January 18, 1991. p. 6. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  17. "Route Change (1991-07-16)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. July 16, 1991. p. 10. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  18. "Route Change (1991-09-27)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 27, 1981. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  19. "Route Change (1997-07-25)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. July 25, 1997. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  20. "Route Change (2005-12-30)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. December 30, 2005. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  21. Google (March 7, 2016). "North Carolina Highway 19" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  22. North Carolina Primary Highway System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by NCDOT. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 1940. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  23. Google (March 8, 2016). "North Carolina Highway 741" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
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U.S. Route 221
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