Kona, North Carolina


Kona is an unincorporated community in [Mitchell County, North Toe River|North Carolina|Mitchell County], North Carolina, United States. The community is located along North Carolina Highway 80, near the confluence of the North and South Toe Rivers and at the western slope of Ellis Mountain.

History

The community of Kona is named after the chemical make-up of feldspar; K for potassium, O for oxygen, and Na for sodium. Founded in 1916, Kona became the original starting point for the Black Mountain Railway and where it connected to the South and Western Railroad ; it had daily roundtrip passenger and mixed train service to Murchison, via Burnsville. By the 1950s, only freight service remained along both lines; in 1982, the Yancey Railroad ceased operations and the rail line was abandoned. CSX, successor of the Clinchfield Railroad, continues rail service through the area.
The Kona Post Office operated from 1916 to 1953, when it was replaced with rural letter carrier service from Bakersville.

Notable person