<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Geology </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Orogeny </Th> <Td> Alleghenian </Td> </Tr> <P> The Black Mountains are a mountain range in western North Carolina, in the southeastern United States . They are part of the Blue Ridge Province of the Southern Appalachian Mountains . The Blacks are the highest mountains in the Eastern United States . The range takes its name from the dark appearance of the red spruce and Fraser fir trees that form a spruce - fir forest on the upper slopes which contrasts with the brown (during winter) or lighter green (during the growing season) appearance of the deciduous trees at lower elevations . The Eastern Continental Divide, which runs along the eastern Blue Ridge crest, intersects the southern tip of the Black Mountain range . </P> <P> The Black Mountains are home to Mount Mitchell State Park, which protects the range's highest summit and adjacent summits in the north - central section of the range . Much of the range is also protected by the Pisgah National Forest . The Blue Ridge Parkway passes along the range's southern section, and is connected to the summit of Mount Mitchell by North Carolina Highway 128 . The Black Mountains are mostly located in Yancey County, although the range's southern and western extremes are part of Buncombe County . </P>

How did black mountain north carolina get its name