Each small town has a unique history, made up of events, stories, songs and other customs. These fragments of the past allow us to look through the eyes of history, allowing historians to understand how our ancestors lived and shaped the world we live in today. Wilkes County, officially established in 1777, was first settled by Scots-Irish and German immigrants (NC Online Historical Encyclopedia, n.d.). Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains; the verdant landscape is home to a rich agricultural community, centered on tobacco, poultry, soybeans and other cash crops. The citizens of Wilkes County have a deep connection to nature; therefore, home gardening is widely practiced throughout the community. Also noteworthy is the role played by its citizens during the Prohibition era; once coined the “Moonshine Capital of America,” Wilkes County was home to some of the most creative and daring bootleggers of the era. Drivers like Junior Johnson, who earned fame driving in NASCAR races, began their legacy on the twisty backroads of my hometown. For all its charm, there is a difficult situation among the population, which has led to national headlines. The opioid epidemic in Wilkes County has been among the worst in the nation, and while it is hindered by the efforts of some extraordinary citizens; Lives are lost to accidental overdoses every year (Project Lazarus Results, 2015). Our elders have such wise wisdom, a vast resource of life experience and knowledge; too often they are ignored and their stories are lost to time. I have always done my best to stay in touch with my grandmother, as her stories about her youth have always fascinated me; this is why I chose her to interview for this essay. He lived through a time of great transformation in Wilkes County, and his extensive knowledge of its history was extremely helpful in writing this article. Wilkes County is the 13th largest county in the state, but the population density is very low, creating a rural, sleepy feel that gives this place its vibe. The history of my hometown is not as historically relevant as others, but it is still rich in detail and in-depth documentation of the past. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Wilkes County, as previously mentioned, was founded in 1777 and was named after John Wilkes, an English journalist and politician (Mazzocchi, 2006). The land was perfect for agricultural purposes, of course with the help of logging. Logging has been a booming industry in Wilkes County for some time; the largest logging waterway in North Carolina found its home there (Starnes, 2006). Logging canals were essentially wooden tubs filled with running water and used to transport logs to a sawmill. This particular structure, built by the Giant Lumber Company in 1907; it served as a conduit that began at the peaks of the Blue Ridge and extended 19 miles to the Western NC Railroad in North Wilkesboro (Starnes, 2006). The climb into the Blue Ridge Mountains is particularly steep, their average elevation being 3,700 feet. This intense change in altitude and pressure creates the rainy climate often found in the mountains. According to the US climate data website; Boone, North Carolina, a mountain town 20 miles west of Wilkesboro, receives an average of 53 inches of rain and 34 inches of snow each year, with the highest peaks receivingmuch more (US Climate Data, 2017). All this water has to go somewhere, and in 1916 a flood destroyed the Blue Ridge Log Flume. Being at the base of the Blue Ridge, these natural disasters are unfortunately common in some areas of Wilkes County. This became evident in August 1940, when four days of constant rain caused what is still considered one of the most destructive events to hit the area. On the morning of August 13, 1940, the Old Number 9 railroad locomotive was preparing to venture into the flooded mountains. After crossing 2 feet of water, they sighted Grandfather Mountain, the second highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains; which takes its name from the profile formed by its steep peaks. As they approached, the captain would later say that Grandfather Mountain had transformed into a rushing waterfall. This would be the engine's last journey, as the flood damaged the railway line in both directions. (Osmond, 2015) The "Flood of '40", as it is called by locals, had a devastating impact on the county, torrential rains causing the banks of streams, rivers and lakes to flood. This has been especially severe in Ashe County, which is home to both the North and South Forks of the New River, as well as countless smaller creeks and streams. The water began to pour down the side of the mountain causing massive landslides; a 200-foot-wide mudslide was recorded that tore down miles of mountains, obliterating several homes and two gas stations in its path of destruction (Osmond, 2006). The flood swept away bridges, livestock, farm equipment, homes, cars and railroad tracks; all this was necessary to earn a living. The damage amounted to millions in Wilkes County alone, while in the High Country it was incalculable; Even more worrying was the loss of life. With the help of the state and federal governments, citizens were able to begin rebuilding and returning their lives to normal, now aware of the destructive force they were prone to. During the Prohibition era, bootleggers were the individuals who prepared and transported corn liquor, better known as "moonshine" or "white lightning" (The driving force behind their illegal activities was not simply drunkenness; rather , served as a steady and often substantial source of income if one was willing to take the risk of racing along the switchbacks, blind corners, and one-lane trails that crisscross the mountains. Obviously, every attempt was made to outsmart the. police, which led to some very clever modifications. In Wilkes County, the most popular vehicle for transporting alcohol was the Ford Coupe V8. With its powerful V8 engine and a massive trunk the car was the perfect model and it suited Moonshine's needs perfectly. Stiffening the suspension, boring the engine, adding hidden compartments and countless other tricks helped increase the car's performance. storage capacity (Scott, 2012). In their free time, usually on Sunday afternoons after church, the smugglers would meet and race their cars on a dirt road. This eventually led to the opening of the Wilkesboro Motor Speedway, the track responsible for unleashing the NASCAR racing phenomenon. The first race held in the NASCAR cup took place in 1949 on a dirt track; and for the next 40 years it would be home to roaring engines and screaming crowds (Bruce, 2016). Eventually the runway was paved, shoddily, one might say; resulting in uneven surfaces, bumps, cracks and other deadly conditions at high speeds. NASCAR drivers who.