Wachovia Tract

Members of the Moravian Church in Europe purchased 98,985 acres (400.58 km2) of land in the backcountry (middle/western area) of the Province of North Carolina, from John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.

Bishop Spangenberg and the surveying team in 1752 strayed into the mountains of western North Carolina, coming down through what is now Wilkes County (viz.

It was this mountainous landscape in the Carolina back country along the Catawba, Little, New and Yadkin Rivers that suggested the Wachau region in Lower Austria.

[3] Twelve Moravian Single Brethren traveling from Pennsylvania, most from the Christiansbrunn farm near Nazareth, arrived in Wachovia in 1753, forming Bethabara, in Hebrew meaning "House of Passage", a transitional congregational settlement founded November 17, 1753.

The first planned Moravian settlement, and oldest incorporated municipality in Wachovia is Bethania, Province of North Carolina, formed June 12, 1759, also known historically as Bethany, meaning "house/place of dates and figs" in Hebrew.

Today, Bethania remains the only independent, continuously active Moravian town in the southern United States.

The museums each contribute to the story of Moravians in North Carolina, and preserve, interpret, and demonstrate life in Wachovia over time.

Many individuals and organizations have seen the dative phrase and have irresponsibly and unknowingly dropped the preposition, leaving "...der Wachau," which is incorrect when used as a proper noun.