The Catawba (also known as Issa or Esaw) are a tribe of Native Americans that traditionally lived in the Southeast United States, along the border between North and South Carolina. Despite their small number, Catawbas served as patriots in the American Revolutionary War, fighting alongside other American revolutionaries against the British in battles such as Guilford Court House. Though their contribution to the Revolution was greatly appreciated in South Carolina, the population and land holdings of the Catawbas continued to dwindle as white Americans flourished around them.
As of 1996, about 1,400 Catawbas remain, most in South Carolina, with smaller groups in Oklahoma, Colorado, and elsewhere. The Catawba State Reserve, located in York County, South Carolina, has a population of 124 (1990). The Catawba language, which is now being resurrected, is part of the Siouan language family. Most Catawbas today are members of the Mormon Church.
The Catawba River takes its name from the tribe.
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