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Settled as a maritime and agricultural colony, North Carolina's history has always been intertwined with agriculture and farming. After the Civil War, North Carolina became the nation's top grower of tobacco, and one of the country's largest tobacco companies--the American Tobacco Company--flourished from the huge quantities of Eastern North Carolina-grown tobacco that was purchased. With the growing success of cotton farming and other crops and livestock--including corn, peanuts, and hogs--the region was particularly rich in subsistence farming. Over the course of the 20th century, farming and agriculture went through tremendous change. The familiar landscape of cotton and tobacco began to shift and include more varied crops, such as soybeans and sweet potatoes. At the same time, hand tools were exchanged for tractors and combines. Eastern North Carolina Farming showcases the rich history of this agriculturally dynamic region while telling the individual stories of farmers who grew for families, markets, and distribution.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern North Carolina, Cleveland County has long been cultivated. Before the Civil War, self-reliant farms grew and raised a diverse array of vegetables, field crops, and livestock. These small farms relied on family labor, draft animals, waterwheels, and ingenuity. Eventually, the county became a leader in production of cotton and dairy products; tractors, combines, and hay balers became farm mainstays. Cleveland County Agriculture showcases the triumphs and trials of farmers--farmers who endured the Great Depression, the arrival of the boll weevil, and the everyday challenges of farm life.