| Appalachian Mountains | include all of the E mountains of the United States from Alabama to northern Maine. The name was given by Spaniards under Hernando De Soto in 1539 for the Apalachee Indians, whose name meant "people on the other side" (presumably of a river). In North Carolina the Blue Ridge, Black Mountains, and Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains. At one time, both Appalachian and Allegheny were names applied to the range from Georgia to New York, but a study by Arnold Guyot, "On the Appalachian Mountain System," published in 1861, firmly established the present name. See also Mountain Region. |
| Appalachian Trail | a marked footpath extending approx. 2,050 mi. from Maine to Georgia. In North Carolina approx. 70 of the 200 mi. within the state cross the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains. The highest point on the trail is Clingmans Dome, with an alt. of 6,642 ft. Proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937, it has been described as the longest marked footpath in the world. |
| Appie | community in N Greene County. Named about 1907 for Mrs. Appie (Apelia?) Bynum, local resident. |
| Apple Grove | community in NW Ashe County. Alt. 3,137. |
| Appletree | community in NW Greene County served by post office, 1886-98. Later known as Lindell, which see. |
| Appletree Branch | rises in W Macon County and flows SE into Nantahala River. |
| Appletree Branch | rises in NW Macon County and flows SW into Queens Creek. |
| Appletree Swamp | rises in NE Wayne County and flows SE into Nahunta Swamp in Greene County. The name appears in local records prior to 1750. |
| Applewhite | community in E Columbus County served by post office, 1892-1907. |
| Aquadale | community in S Stanly County. Inc. 1943; charter repealed 1945. Named by local resident: aqua (water) and dale (valley). Many springs in the area. |