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A Brief History of Saluda's Origin
Saluda, "The Gateway to the Blue Ridge" is at the top of a sudden rise of 1,000 feet from the plains below. The original name of this particular spot was "Pace's Ridge, presumably from the Ransom Pace Family. If kept, this name would be exclusive in the States today. In studying the English-Cherokee vocabulary, we learn that the English word Saluda came from the Cherokee word "Tsaludiyi" meaning "Green Corn Place". From legend, Tsaludiyi was a chief of the Cherokee Nation. The English changed the spelling of his name. Land owned by the Cherokee Nation ranged from Saluda River in South Carolina through present Tryon, on the French Broad River Basin. In South Carolina one finds Saluda - Old Town, Saluda County, and Saluda River. No records have been found of the Chief Tsaludiyi travels through "Saluda Gap" or "Saluda Trail"; nor just where the Cherokee held their annual "Green Corn Dance". Many Indian trails lead from the NC Mountains to the SC flat country, the name perhaps stuck to some. Many original Saluda families were Scotch-Irish pioneers, leaving Pennsylvania just before or after the "Whiskey Rebellion"
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