Cherokee, Qualla

Cherokee is the only offical city and capital of the Carolinian State of Qualla. The city is located in the southern area of Qualla, situated in the Oconaluftee River Valley in the Appalachian Mountains. The city has become a regional hot-spot for tourists, especially those who want to gamble because of Qualla's relaxed gambling rules. The city is located at the intersection of National Highway 19 and National Highway 441. As of the 2010 Census, Cherokee had a population of 2,138.

Cherokee is the Capital of the state of Qualla. The city dually uses both English and Cherokee, because of its dual origins from the Cherokee Nation and North Carolina. Cherokee is the location of both the Qualla court system and the Assembly of the Elders, the legislative assembly of Qualla.

Geography
Cherokee is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, and the Oconaluftee River flows along the eastern side of the town. Being in the Appalachian Mountains, the surrounding area is very hilly however the city itself is relatively flat.

Economy
The economy of Cherokee is heavily based upon tourism. The opening of Harrah's Cherokee Casino in 1997 drastically changed the landscape of the city and the state of Qualla. In 2005 roughly four million people visited the casino creating around a $8,000 per capita profit. Qualla is the poorest state in Carolina, with the GDP Per Capita only being around $19,297. At one point tobacco and textile mills had opened near Cherokee however all of these have since moved overseas.

Infrastructure
Cherokee is only accessible by car at the present moment. National Route 19 and National Route 441 both run through the city providing a connection to the rest of Qualla and to North Carolina. Mark Awiakta Regional Airport will open in adjacent North Carolina in the Spring of 2017 and plans to offer flights to Charlotte and Atlanta. The airport is fully owned by the state of Qualla, despite being in North Carolina, and is named for the current chief.