Texana Community of Murphy Takes Devastating Blow

Texana, a small African American community located one mile north of downtown Murphy was hit by the recent tornados.  Photos: Urban News

by Johnnie Grant

The town of Murphy in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina is slowly putting the pieces back together in the aftermath of a devastating tornado that tore through the town March 3.

As the sounds of chainsaws, trucks, and an occasional prayer of thanks fill the air, many residents of the mountain town are still assessing the damage.

Hit devastatingly hard was the community of Texana, a small, primarily
African American community located one mile north of downtown, perched
high on a mountain in this far western region of North Carolina.

The EF-2 tornado moved through the most heavily populated areas, peeling
off roofs, flipping mobile homes, and downing heavily rooted trees.
Many residents lost all they had, and have no insurance, few resources,
and no way to recoup their losses.

Anyone willing to help the residents of Texana is asked to send monetary
donations to: Texana Community Club, Attn: Heather Leak, PO Box 715,
Murphy, NC 28906.

Texana History

Texana was founded by a black woman named Texana McClelland, who moved
with her family to the area around the 1850s. One of the first things
that residents accomplished after settling in Texana was the
construction of a community church. The First Baptist Church in Texana
was built of logs hewn by the women who had moved into the settlement.

In 1881, the community tore down the old church and built Mt. Zion
Baptist Church, which is still the community’s church today. Texana has
about 353 residents, most of whom live along Texana Road, on the same
mountain hillside where Texana McClelland first lived.

Although Texanans live in the Great Smoky Mountains of Appalachia – the
area is home to both Native Americans and whites – residents do not
forget the diversity, determination, and strength that Texana McClelland
brought to her mountain community.