Area Information
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY
Located in Buncombe County, Asheville is the largest city in western North Carolina and is continually growing. Formerly known as Morristown, Asheville was established as a town in 1784. Buncombe County was officially formed in 1792.
Today Asheville is known for one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. The city is also known for the lavish Biltmore Estate, the Art Deco City Hall, as well as many other unique buildings located in the downtown area. October is an extremely popular month to visit, as it is peak fall foliage season for Asheville and the surrounding mountains.
Asheville's economy is mainly supported by four major factions: manufacturing, government, health care, and tourism. An area rich in history and culture, there's much to see, from arts to antiques, theaters, museums, historic attractions, and many unique shops.
ACCOLADES
CLIMATE
North Carolina has a subtropical climate. Winters are short and mild, while summers are typically warm and sunny. Spring and fall offer distinct and refreshing periods of transition.
Asheville is the eastern gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain at the junction of the French Broad and the Swannanoa rivers. Built on an uneven plateau at an elevation of about 2,200 feet, Asheville has a relatively mild climate. Due to the higher altitude Asheville's temperatures are somewhat cooler but the climate does resemble much of the southeastern U.S., with seasons much the same.
Click here for a chart of average monthly high and low temperatures.
DEMOGRAPHICS
A summary of key facts from the 2000 Census is provided below. Click here for the fully detailed "Quick Facts" page available on www.census.gov.
Population
Races
Education
COST OF LIVING
North Carolina's balanced tax policy and lower cost of living are refreshing changes from many other states. For example, according to the Cost of Living Calculator at www.bestplaces.net, Asheville's Cost of Living Index compares very favorably versus the national average and many U.S. urban areas:
LOCATION AND LANDSCAPE
Asheville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the confluence of the Swannanoa River and the French Broad River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.3 square miles, of which 40.9 square miles is land and 0.4 square miles (0.94%) is water.
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ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS
The Asheville area is a destination, which boasts a thriving arts community, outdoor adventure, a charming downtown, numerous historic and architectural attractions, fine dining, and many unique shopping options. Winter in Asheville brings the invitation of mild temperatures as ski resorts and snow activities are mere minutes away. Spring blankets the hills with wildflowers and butterflies, summer brings long lazy days, and when the leaves change in autumn the hills and valley turn honey brown, bright yellow, and fiery red with breath-taking foliage.
Outdoor Recreation and Adventures
Outdoor recreation and adventures are seemingly endless in the Western North Carolina Mountains. Acclaimed by numerous magazines as a top outdoor adventure destination, visitors can enjoy whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and experiencing the highest peaks in the entire Eastern U.S.
Adventure seekers will find: natural waterslides, rollercoaster-like mountain bike trails, and stunning vistas in the Asheville area, which will take your breath away. Whether you're into extreme sports or soft adventure, the mountains surrounding Asheville offer endless opportunity. Asheville is consistently ranked by Outside Magazine among its top destinations for outdoor recreation and adventures.
Downtown Asheville
Asheville is an eclectic mix of tourists, food connoisseurs, artists, and locals, creating vibrancy rarely found in a city of this size. With a perfect mix of unique boutique finds, fine cuisine, and downtown's thirty plus galleries, Asheville is a premier destination.
Asheville skipped the urban renewal process that stripped the character from many downtowns. Today, its rich architectural legacy with its mix of Art Deco, Beaux Arts, and Neoclassical styles is the perfect backdrop to the city's edgy energy.
The Arts
The Asheville Arts scene is buzzing, featuring hundreds of fine artists, performing arts venues, mountain crafters, folk artists, hip arts neighborhoods, numerous art galleries, and myriad art events. There are several arts districts home to hundreds of artists, such as the thirty-plus member Asheville Downtown Gallery Association.
Asheville's diverse music scene ranges from bluegrass native to the area, to major national acts, opera, ballet, country music, and experimental jazz. Street performers entertain crowds on nearly every corner of downtown. Asheville has been heralded as a prime arts destination by the New York Times, Southern Living, Travel + Leisure, and American Style Magazine, to name a few media accolades.
Golf
Golfers rave about the Asheville area's magnificent mountains: their scenic beauty, temperate year-round weather, and lush fairways.
ACCESS TO SERVICES
Shopping
With dozens of arts and crafts galleries, retail shops and antique shops, as well as fresh produce finds and local food products at 45 farmers' markets in the region, Asheville is a shopper's paradise.
Every downtown street leads to a treasure-trove of uncommon businesses that could only flourish in Asheville. There is a diverse mix of shopping malls and shopping districts, along with specialty stores such as toy and children's shops and outfitters.
Lose yourself in the block-long Grove Arcade, a shopping and dining destination in one location. Built as a planned community in the late 1890s, Historic Biltmore Village features elegant restaurants and interesting boutiques and galleries.
Transportation
Asheville is located just off Interstate 240 and only minutes from Interstate 40.
EMPLOYMENT
Asheville serves as the regional hub for business, health and human services, the arts, shopping, dining, and other community amenities for citizens and visitors.