Seagrove, a small but thriving artistic town in North Carolina, is known as the handmade pottery capital of the United States, with a rich and extensive history that predates the commonly studied late European settlement period. This unique pottery hub owes its origins to the area's Paleozoic-era mountain range and the ceramic traditions of its Native American inhabitants, who were working with clay long before European settlers arrived.

Over 500 million years ago, during the Ordovician period of the Paleozoic Era, the Uwharrie mountain range formed in central North Carolina. As one of the oldest mountain ranges in the nation, the Uwharries were created by accretion along the Gondwanan tectonic plate. The volcanic ash and igneous rocks that formed the Uwharries eventually broke down into the dense, clay-rich soil that makes Seagrove an ideal environment for potters.

Before European settlement, the Haliwa-Saponi and Kayauwee tribes were among the Native American communities in central North Carolina who practiced traditional clay-working techniques like coiling. While Seagrove is not particularly known for its native pottery today, successful Haliwa-Saponi potters like Senora Lynch continue to draw inspiration from their heritage and use their craft to educate others.

In the 1750s, the construction of the Great Wagon Road opened up central North Carolina to European settlers, who recognized the value of the region's abundant clay resources. Key developments like the 1895 opening of Owens Pottery (the oldest in the state) and the 1917 founding of the famous Jugtown Pottery by the Busbee couple helped solidify Seagrove's reputation as a hub for ceramics.

Today, Seagrove remains a vibrant community of over 85 potters who support and inspire one another. Recognized as the State Birthplace of North Carolina Traditional Pottery in 2005, Seagrove continues to thrive as a niche environment that has sustained ceramic artistry for thousands of years.