Gibraltar is a former settlement in Union County, North Carolina, United States.[1][2] It was named for the British territory of Gibraltar.[3]

An interview with Derek Davis of Olive Branch, NC has shed some light on this community of Gibraltar. In 1980 Mr. Davis reports that his father Richard Davis took him and his brother to a place that had abandoned buildings grouped closely together. His father told him the name of the town was called Gibraltar and the people of the town were run off by large creatures. A circus had been through there recently and they thought some of the apes and gorillas had escaped.

When Mr. Davis was asked of the location of the community he indicated that it was located somewhere off of Highway 74 in the area of Peachland, NC, and Polkton, NC. These two towns are located on the present day county line of Union and Anson Counties.

In addition Mr. Davis told me they were always warned of the “Boogers” in the woods. They were told to not go deep in the woods without someone with them and were not allowed to go out at night. [4]

References

  1. ^ "Gibraltar". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ United States Board of Geographic Names (1907). Third Report of the United States Board on Geographic Names, 1890-1906. United States Government Printing Office. p. 71.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. United States Government Printing Office. p. 137.
  4. ^ Interview with Mr Derek Davis, Nikki Davis, Interviewed on October 14, 2023


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