Haywood, North Carolina

Haywood is an unincorporated community in southeastern Chatham County, North Carolina, United States.

[1] Haywood was settled in 1796 at the Deep and Haw Rivers confluence, which marks the Cape Fear River's beginning for it was decided, Haywood was one of the sites considered in 1788 as a possible location for North Carolina's new capital, although Raleigh was ultimately chosen.

Not only did the town lose the opportunity of hosting the state capital, in 1792 Haywood was also passed up as the location for what would become the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

[2] The new town pinned its hopes on the shipping industry, as Haywood's location at the confluence of two rivers was suitable for an inland port.

Haywood made a critical mistake by denying trains access to the town; consequently, the railroad station would be located in Moncure, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west.