Local health care availability.

WestCare Health System provides the health-care services in our region. WestCare operates two hospitals (Harris Regional Hospital, in Sylva, and Swain Hospital, in Bryson City) with a combined medical staff of over 90 physicians, in 23 medical & surgical specialties, that serve the people in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina.

Harris Regional Hospital is an acute-care facility with 86 beds. In addition, a new Outpatient Surgery Center has 14 rooms for pre- and post-surgery care, including new endoscopy and bronchoscopy suites. Harris Regional Hospital provides a 24-hour emergency department staffed by board-certified physicians.

Together with Memorial Mission Hospital (in Asheville), Harris Regional operates the Mountain Regional Cancer Center, one of the most advanced radiation therapy centers in the region.

A quick education on local schools.

The importance of a quality education has long been a top priority in Jackson County. The Jackson County Schools have been consistently recognized as one of North Carolina’s Exemplary School Systems. The Jackson County School System consists of four K-8 elementary schools, and a 9-12 grade high school.

Western Carolina University, a member of the University of North Carolina system, offers more than 150 academic programs, leading to degrees at the bachelor, masters and doctoral levels.  WCU is organized into five colleges and a graduate school.  The colleges include Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, Applied Sciences and a residential Honors College.

The campus, located in nearby Cullowhee, consists of approximately 600 acres, including academic instructional buildings, residence halls, and recreational, athletic and cultural facilities featuring the new Fine and Performing Arts Center, which houses an art museum and galleries alongside a 1,000 seat performance hall.  In addition, the campus is home to the Liston B. Ramsey Activity Center, the largest multi-purpose complex in the mountain region.  This facility hosts a variety of events and activities such as basketball games, arts and craft shows and concerts.