“What’s in a name anyway?”

In our culture a name is at its core almost meaningless. Reality is that buried in a name there is meaning. Consider …

The primary portion of land, 1000 acres in all, purchased by the Moravians in the mid-18th century was named “Wachovia”. It was thus named because the terrain reminded Bishop Spangenberg and company of the “Wachau” in Austria. 

The word “Wachau”, literally means “meadow along the Wach,” which is the prime spring in that area of Austria. 

This explains why the Moravians later named the principal stream in the center of their land - the “Wach”. Today that stream is called “Salem Creek.”

The naming of the Wachovia was important on many levels. That it was a reminder of home before they immigrated was important to these brave and hearty souls that left all behind.