The Catawba Indians have lived on their ancestral lands along the banks of the Catawba River dating back at least 6,000 years. Before contact with the Europeans, it is believed that the Nation inhabited most of the Piedmont area of South Carolina, North Carolina and parts of Virginia. Early colonial estimates of the Catawba population when settlers arrived are between 15,000 and 25,000. The tribal people called themselves yį iswąre (yeh -is-WAH h’reh), meaning “people of the river.” The colonists who came to trade began calling all the tribes along the Catawba River Valley by the name Catawba. By the late 17th century, trade began having a major impact on the Catawba society. The Catawba traded deerskins to the Europeans for goods such as muskets, knives, kettles and cloth. The Catawba villages became a major hub in the trade system between the Virginia traders and the Carolina traders.
The Catawba have long understood the need to work together and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. No one knew this better than King Hagler who led the tribe from 1754 to 1763. He adopted the title of King because the settlers coming into Catawba territory at the time were led by a king. King Hagler (1754–1763) was a powerful ally to the English and was well respected among the Piedmont tribes. He led the Catawba people to side with the English in the French and Indian War. He also protected the local settlers against Cherokee invaders. He firmly believed in the treaties that were created to protect his people, and when traveling to negotiate the documents, he took the principal Warriors with him. Even though King Hagler wanted to preserve the lands of the Catawba, he also understood that survival depended on working together.
Catawba Two Kings Casino celebrates the Catawba Nation’s history and hopeful future in their ancestral lands in North Carolina. The Two Kings name pays tribute to the 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and the City of Kings Mountain.
The Catawba Nation Today
The Catawba Nation is the only federally recognized tribe in South Carolina. The Catawba Two Kings project will bring positive economic development and jobs to the 3,300 members of the Catawba Nation and Kings Mountain residents. The 700-acre Catawba Nation reservation is located on the banks of the Catawba River, which is only a 30-mile drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
