Tryon

He was honored for his negotiation with the Cherokee for a treaty during a period of conflict following the French and Indian War.

• Official Name — Tryon, North Carolina • Settlement Type — Town • Motto — "The Friendliest Town In The South" • Mapsize — 250x200px • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — North Carolina • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Polk • Established Title — Incorporated • Established Date — 1885 • Named For — William Tryon • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 5.17 • Area Land Km2 — 5.17 • Area Water Km2 — 0.00 • Area Total Sq Mi — 2.00 • Area Land Sq Mi — 2.00 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.00 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 1562 • Population Density Sq Mi — 782.17 • Timezone — Eastern (EST) • Utc Offset — -5 • Timezone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — -4 • Elevation Ft — 1063 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 28782 • Area Code — 828 • Blank Name — FIPS code • Blank Info — 37-68580 • Blank1 Name — GNIS feature ID • Blank1 Info — 2406761 • Website — tryon-nc.com • Population Density Km2 — 301.94

The area which Tryon now occupies was originally part of the Cherokee hunting grounds of Western North Carolina. Archaeological evidence dates indigenous peoples' occupation of the site to the end of the last ice age, more than 11,000 years ago. Successive cultures occupied the river valleys. Semi-permanent villages appeared in the area by about 8,000 B.C. They later developed towns with a democratic political structure, developing religion, domesticated crops, pottery and skilled, powerful archery. The culture developed cultivated vegetables, and hunted and fished. Each historic Cherokee village had a peace chief, war chief, and priest.

Having landed near present-day Panama City, Florida on May 30, 1539, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reputedly traveled up to the area of present-day Spartanburg, South Carolina and then north into western North Carolina. Traveling on horses, de Soto and 1,000 men arrived in North Carolina in mid-May 1540.. In search of gold, de Soto explored the area of Asheville area and met with the Cherokee in their village of Xuala, the area now known as Tryon. After a day or two, de Soto continued his journey with provisions provided by the Cherokee. Luys Hernandez de Biedma, one of de Soto's officers, wrote of a group of Spanish men who made their way to Xuala on May 21, 1540: The next day, they went to Xuala which is a town on a plain between some rivers; its chief was so well provisioned that he gave to the Christians however much they asked for: slaves, corn, little dogs [probably opossums]… and however much he had. "The horse is all important in Polk County. Horses provide sport, pleasure, entertainment, business, and the good country living. It can be said that horses are a way of life in our pleasant community here in rural North Carolina." When Carter Brown came to Tryon from Michigan in 1917, he opened the Pine Crest Inn, developing it as a resort for wealthy northerners. They could come here to ride horses or play golf during the winter months. In 1925 Brown founded and was the first president of the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. Brown also helped organize the Tryon Horse Show and the Block House Steeplechase in 1929 and 1934, respectively. Ross noted in 2010 that in their heyday, the Tryon Horse Show "was so popular that the schools were let out and most businesses closed for the afternoon." The Tryon Horse Shows are held at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE). In 1956, the US Equestrian Team prepared and trained for the 1956 Olympics in Tryon. The Tryon Horse Show continues to be held; it is the third oldest horse show and a rated United States Equestrian Federation event. Smaller shows are held at Harmon Field. Many local organizations, such as the Carolina Carriage Club, the Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association, Foothills Riding Club, and River Valley Pony Club also hold shows and events. • Illustration — Morris, the town symbol Morris, the Tryon Horse, stands at the center of Tryon. A large version of toys made by the Tryon Toymakers and Woodcarvers, the Tryon Horse was commissioned in 1928 by the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. The current Morris is the fifth generation; three of the previous versions succumbed to fire, mischievous kidnapping and age, and the fourth was refurbished with a fiberglass body. Morris serves as a billboard during the Tryon Horse Show and Block House Steeplechase Races. At Christmas, he is decorated with garland and a top hat. In May 2012, a group of volunteers, together with the Town of Tryon and the Tryon Daily Bulletin (The World's Smallest Daily Newspaper!), banded together to raise money to restore and maintain Morris, which was deteriorating. The enormous statue was "kidnapped" in the dead of night on June 8, 2012, and held for "ransom". The refurbished Morris was returned to his rightful spot in November 2012. • Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) In June 2014, the $100 million TIEC and Resort opened to host numerous multi-day, international-level equestrian competitions across several disciplines in collaboration with the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. Located outside Tryon in nearby Mill Spring, the 1400-acre equestrian facility features up to 10 riding arenas (including one with stadium seating for 6,000), 1,000 permanent stalls, elevated and shaded viewing decks, and a large covered riding facility. In addition, the Tryon Sports Complex on site includes a health club, game room, kids' camp, sports bar, children's playground, tennis courts, mountain bike park, climbing walls, basketball court, and a large pool. A 150-room hotel overlooks the equestrian center. The TIEC hosted the 2018 World Equestrian Games. It was at these games that the horse Barack Obama died. • Foothills Equestrian Nature Center The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) is a 380 acre nature preserve with trails established for hiking, horseback riding, and bird-watching. The center, which also includes picnic areas and a pond, hosts equestrian events and live concerts.

The Lanier Library Association is named for poet Sidney Lanier. He was living in "the Wilcox house" on Highway 108 in Lynn, three miles (5 km) north of Tryon. He died there on September 7, 1881, and it has since been known as the "Lanier House". In 1889 five women from Tryon developed the idea for a library to provide "intellectual and cultural stimulation for the community"; they opened library membership to local women. Two volumes of Sidney Lanier's poems, a gift from his wife Mary, were the first books for the library. Initially the books of the library were located at several places in town before the Lanier Library was constructed in 1905; it has been expanded over the years. In 1930 the library established an endowment fund to support its operations. It extended library membership to men. The Lanier Library Association, Inc., previously called the Lanier club, was organized to provide library services and related cultural programs to the community. Lanier Library remains a membership library supported solely by membership dues, endowments and donations. It is one of a few membership libraries in the country.

The area is known for its scenic drives featuring well-kept horse farms, hardwood forests, and Carolina foothills overwhelmed by kudzu.

Tryon has several parks including: • Rogers Park, located in downtown Tryon, this facility also has an open-air amphitheater. The natural setting includes a small creek and trails. Landscaping features native plants and Crab Orchard stone walls. Its facilities are used for public events, such as music performances. It can also be reserved for private events, such as weddings and other occasions. • Greene Corner, on Melrose Avenue across from the entrance to the Tryon Fine Arts Center, has a beautiful garden and gazebo, often a setting for photos. Sassoon Park, also on Melrose Avenue, has a modern sculpture and greenery. • Harmon Field, a 46 acre park in Tryon, located on Harmon Field Road between US Hwy 176 and NC Hwy 108, is regularly used by town residents and visitors. It offers a variety of activities, from trail walking to active sports participation: • There are periodic events for horseback riders (see their calendar of events). Facilities include four horse rings and 140 stalls. • There are two baseball fields, two soccer fields, four tennis courts, basketball courts, dog park, trails, disc golf course, and a playground. • Shelters and grills are available for picnics. • The field also offers rental facilities and a concession stand.:

• Illustration — Pearson's Falls off of the Pacolet River, between Tryon and Saluda, North Carolina • Pacolet Scenic Byway, one of North Carolina Scenic Byways, is a ten-mile (16 km) portion of US 176 that runs from Tryon to Saluda. It provides views of the Pacolet River and waterfalls. • Pearson's Falls Natural Heritage Site, named for its 90 ft waterfall, is owned and maintained by the Tryon Garden Club. Located between Tryon and Saluda, it offers a picnic area, and hiking and biking trails. A one-quarter mile walk to the waterfall can be found from the entrance at US 176. The "botanical preserve" offers more than 200 species of wildflowers and plants. It has been classified as a deciduous climax forest. The falls were named after engineer Charles William Pearson, who surveyed the Blue Ridge Mountains for a route for construction of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Tryon is located west of Interstate 26, which runs northwest to Asheville and southeast to Spartanburg, South Carolina, approximately one mile from the NC/SC border. U.S. Highway 176 runs through the center of town, where it is known as Trade Street.

• George Charles Aid (1872–1938), painter • Katharine Alexander (1898–1981), actress, died in Tryon • Margaret Culkin Banning (1891–1982), whose home "Friendly Hills", was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 • William Behrends (born 1946), sculptor • Cathy Smith Bowers (born 1949), poet and professor; North Carolina Poet Laureate, 2010–2012 • Ligon Flynn (1931–2010), architect • Crystal R. Fox (born 1964), actress • Henry Jacques Garrigues (1831–1913), Danish-born doctor considered to have introduced antiseptic obstetrics to the United States • William Gillette (1853–1937), Sherlock Holmes actor who built a home in Tryon; this was adapted as the Thousand Pine Inn • Mary Alice Monroe, author • Richard Christian Nelson (born 1961), artist • Mark Schweizer (1956–2019), singer, composer, conductor, author, and publisher, founder of St. James Music Press • Nina Simone (1933–2003), singer, pianist, composer, and activist • Amelia Van Buren (1856–1942), photographer