Elkin North Carolina
“Experience Elkin!”
Town of Elkin NC
The town of Elkin in Surry County North Carolina is in the middle of the Yadkin Valley in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is North of Elkin and draws many visitors every year during all seasons to this small charming town. Elkin offers outdoor recreation with places to hike, bike, canoeing, kayaking, and river tubing. Elkin boasts 3 major trails come through the downtown (Overmountain Victory Trail, NC Mountains to Sea Trail, and Yadkin River Trail). In Elkin’s downtown area you will find restaurants, a winery, live music, gourmet bakeries, and antique shopping.
History of Elkin NC
Since the coming of the Paleo-Indians 10,000 years ago, the Yadkin River and Big Elkin Creek has drawn settlers to this area. The first were the Sioux Indians followed by English colonists in the 1800s along with the Cherokee Indians.
The town of Elkin was founded by Richard Gwyn when he settled next to the Yadkin River. After 10 years, several family members created the Elkin Manufacturing Company harnessing the power of the Yadkin River. Alexander Chatham and Thomas Lenoir Gwyn then opened a small woolen mill in 1877 which became the largest industry in Elkin. Elkin was primed for expansion and when the town became a stop on the railroad through town Elkin prospered with an increase in wealth and population. The town grew with a cotton mill, forges, gristmills, sawmills, textile and show factories.
