[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 117 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MAGGIE VALLEY

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                           HON. CHUCK EDWARDS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2024

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of 
Maggie Valley's incorporation as a municipality in North Carolina. Home 
to about 1,800 North Carolinians, Maggie Valley's rich history predates 
the town's official incorporation by many years.
  Located in Haywood County, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 
occupied this region prior to the first White settlers. In the early 
1800s, mountain settlers began to move into the valley and brought with 
them the characteristics that still define Maggie Valley--self-
sufficiency, resourcefulness, independence and free-thinking.
  In 1890, one of the valley's residents, Jack Setzer, became fed up 
with having to pay someone to take and pick up mail from the nearest 
post office located five miles away. Setzer began contacting officials 
with the United States Postal Service to establish a post office in his 
area that everyone in the valley could use.
  When the U.S. postmaster general approved the creation of the post 
office, authorities requested that Setzer submit three potential names. 
He gave them the names of his three daughters: Cora, Mettie, and Maggie 
Mae.
  On May 10, 1904, Jack received a letter from the U.S. Postmaster 
General Frank Hitchcock that postal authorities had decided on a name: 
Maggie, North Carolina.
  In 1974, the North Carolina General Assembly voted to approve Maggie 
Valley as an official municipality and approved the town's formation of 
a local government, consisting of a mayor and a five-member board of 
aldermen.
  Maggie Valley serves as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain 
National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The town's proximity to these 
two attractions allows thousands of visitors to experience the beauty 
of Maggie Valley each year.
  This year commemorates Maggie Valley's five decades as an official 
town. As residents celebrate the 50th anniversary this week, they honor 
the virtues and traditions that have defined Maggie Valley for half a 
century and look to carry those forward for 50 more years.

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