Asheville, North Carolina

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Asheville, North Carolina
Downtown Asheville
Location in North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°34′48″N, 82°33′21″W
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Buncombe County
Incorporated	1797
Government
- Mayor	Terry Bellamy
Area
- City	41.3 sq mi (107.0 km²)
- Land	40.9 sq mi (106.0 km²)
- Water	0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Elevation	2,134 ft (650 m)
Population (2005)[1]
- City	72,231
- Density	1,704.6/sq mi (657.94/km²)
	US Census Bureau estimate
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Website: City of Asheville

Asheville City Hall. This building epitomizes the Art Deco style of the 1920s.

The Biltmore House on Biltmore Estate, which is the largest house in America, with more than 250 rooms, was built as a private residence complete with indoor pool and bowling alley. Modern tourists, who often come to see the adjacent gardens, enjoy a similar view to this 1902 photo.

Asheville is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and is its county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 68,889. It is the largest city in western North Carolina, and continues to grow. As of 2005, the Census Bureau estimates that Asheville's population is 72,231 ^[1].

[edit] History

Before the arrival of Europeans, the land where Asheville now exists lay within the boundaries of Cherokee country.^[2] In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto came to the area, bringing the first European visitors,^[3] in addition to European diseases which seriously depleted the native population.^[4] As the Cherokee were eventually dominated by European settlers, the area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century.^[5]

The history of Asheville, as a town, begins in 1784. In that year Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley, redeeming a soldier's land grant from the state of North Carolina. Soon after building a log cabin at the bank of Christian Creek, Davidson was lured into the woods by a band of Cherokee hunters and killed. Davidson's wife, child and female slave fled on foot to Davidson's Fort (named after Davidson's father General John Davidson) 16 miles away.

In response to the killing, Davidson's twin brother Major William Davidson and brother-in-law Colonel Daniel Smith formed an expedition to retrieve Samuel Davidson's body and avenge his murder. Months after the expedition, Major Davidson and other members of his extended family returned to the area and settled at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.

Over the course of years, more settlers came to the area. The United States Census of 1790 counted 1,000 residents of the area, excluding the Cherokee. The county of Buncombe was officially formed in 1792. The county seat, named “Morristown” in 1793, was established on a plateau where two old Indian trails crossed. In 1797 Morristown was incorporated and renamed “Asheville” after North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe.^[6][7]

While Asheville prospered in the 1910s and 1920s, the Great Depression hit Asheville quite hard. Most of Asheville's banks closed. The 'per capita' debt held by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest of any city in the nation. Rather than default, the city paid those debts over a period of 50 years. From the start of the Depression through the 1980s, economic growth in Asheville was slow. During this time of financial stagnation, most of the buildings in the downtown district remained unaltered. This resulted in one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.^[8][9]

In 2005, "Olympic Park Bomber" Eric Robert Rudolph was transported to Asheville from Murphy, North Carolina for arraignment in federal court.

Heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Ivan caused major flooding in Asheville in September 2004, particularly at Biltmore Village.

Asheville has adopted at least two nicknames over its history:

• The Land of the Sky, based on a book of the same name written by Frances Fisher Tieran (nom de plume Christian Reid).
• The Paris of the South (also used by New Orleans, Louisiana and Charleston, South Carolina).

[edit] General information

The city is known for the lavish Biltmore Estate, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Other notable architecture in Asheville includes its Art Deco city hall and other unique buildings in the downtown area. The Montford neighborhood and other central areas are considered historic districts and include Victorian houses. Asheville and the surrounding mountains are also extremely popular in the autumn when fall foliage peaks in October. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the Asheville area and the grounds of Biltmore Estate. Biltmore Village is a section of the city adjacent to the estate, where workers stayed during its construction. It is currently home to small trendy shops.

Downtown Asheville is a major attraction for tourists in the area

The Asheville Citizen-Times is Asheville's daily newspaper which covers most of Western North Carolina. The Mountain Xpress is Asheville's award-winning alternative newsweekly, which covers arts and politics in the region. The Asheville Global Report is a local, independent newspaper, that has been publishing for over a decade. It is the recipient of 10 Project Censored Awards and is run primarily by volunteers.

Asheville pops up on national rankings for a variety of things: Modern Maturity named it one of "The 50 Most Alive Places To Be,"^[10] AmericanStyle Magazine called it one of "America's Top 25 Arts Destinations,"^[11] Self Magazine labeled it the "Happiest City for Women,"^[12] it is one of AARP Magazine's "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life,"^[13] and was proclaimed the "New Freak Capital of the U.S." by Rolling Stone. Asheville has also been called "a New Age Mecca" by CBS News' Eye On America,^[14] and named the "most vegetarian-friendly" small city in America.^[15]

[edit] Transportation

Asheville is served by Asheville Regional Airport in nearby Fletcher, North Carolina, and by Interstate 40, Interstate 240, and Interstate 26. A milestone was achieved in 2003 when Interstate 26 was extended from Mars Hill (north of Asheville) to Johnson City, Tennessee completing a 20-year half-billion dollar construction project through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Work continues to improve Interstate 26 from Mars Hill to Interstate 40 by improving U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 23 and the western part of Interstate 240. This construction will include a multi-million dollar bridge to cross the French Broad River and is not slated to start until after 2008.^[16]

[edit] Geography

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 107.0 km² (41.3 mi²). 106.0 km² (40.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.94% water.

[edit] Climate

Asheville's weather resembles the weather of the rest of the southeastern U.S., but with somewhat cooler temperatures due to the higher altitude. The highest recorded temperature in Asheville was 99ºF (37ºC) in 1983, and the lowest recorded temperature was -17ºF (-27ºC) in 1985. In winter, temperatures may fall below freezing, and Asheville almost always receives snow and freezing rain a few times each year.

[edit] Neighborhoods

• Central - includes the neighborhoods of Downtown, Montford, and Kenilworth. Montford was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1980.

• North - includes the neighborhoods of Albemarle Park, Beaverdam, Grove Park, and Kimberly. Albemarle Park was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1989.

• South - includes the neghborhoods of Biltmore Village, Reynolds, and Skyland. Biltmore Village was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1987.

• East - includes the neighborhoods of Haw Creek, Oakley, and Oteen.

• West - includes the neighborhoods of Emma, Malvern Hills, and West Asheville.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 68,889 people, 30,690 households, and 16,726 families residing in the city. The population density was 650.0/km² (1,683.4/mi²). There were 33,567 housing units at an average density of 316.7/km² (820.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.95% White, 17.61% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.

There were 30,690 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,772, and the median income for a family was $44,029. Males had a median income of $30,463 versus $23,488 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,024. About 10.3% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Metropolitan Area

Asheville is the largest city located within the Asheville MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). The MSA includes Buncombe County; Haywood County; Henderson County; and Madison County; with a combined population - as of the 2005 population estimate - 392,831.

Apart from Asheville, the MSA includes Hendersonville and Waynesville, along with a number of smaller incorporated towns: Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Canton, Clyde, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Hot Springs, Laurel Park, Maggie Valley, Mars Hill, Marshall, Mills River, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.

Several sizable unincorporated rural and suburban communities are also located nearby: Arden, Barnardsville (incorporated until 1970), Bent Creek, Candler, Enka, Fairview, Jupiter (incorporated until 1970), Oteen, Skyland, and Swannanoa.

Though technically beyond the boundaries of the MSA, a number of other nearby towns, including Brevard (an hour drive) and Old Fort (a 30 minute drive) are also often considered part of the Asheville region.

Asheville is also part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville Designated Market Area (DMA), a grouping corresponding to TV and radio markets.

[edit] Education

Asheville and its surrounding area is home to several institutions of higher education.

• Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (Asheville, NC)
• Black Mountain College (Black Mountain, NC: 1933-1957)
• Brevard College (Brevard, NC)
• Mars Hill College (Mars Hill, NC)
• Montreat College (Montreat, NC)
• South College (Asheville, NC)
• University of North Carolina at Asheville (Asheville, NC)
• Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa, NC)
• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC)

[edit] Public and Private Schools

Asheville has several public schools. The Asheville City Schools district includes Asheville High School, Asheville Middle School, Claxton Elementary, Isaac Dickson Elementary, Vance Elementary, and Hall Fletcher Elementary. Asheville High has been ranked by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top 100 high schools in the United States. The Buncombe County School system operates high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools both inside and outside the city of Asheville, including six additional high schools: A. C. Reynolds, C. D. Owen, C. A. Erwin, Enka, North Buncombe and T. C. Roberson. Each high school has, as feeder schools, a middle school and several elementary schools. A. C. Reynolds High School has two feeder middle schools (Cane Creek Middle School and A.C. Reynolds Middle School), as does T. C. Roberson (Cane Creek Middle School and Valley Springs Middle School). The school year usually begins in mid-August, and typically ends in late May or early June.

Two private residential high schools are located in the Asheville area: the all-male Christ School (located in Arden) and the coeducational Asheville School. Each offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and enrolls boarding students from around the world in addition to local day students.

Several other private schools, including Rainbow Mountain Children's School, Asheville Christian Academy, Hanger Hall School for Girls, The New Classical Academy and Carolina Day School, enroll local day students. In addition, New City Christian School is a private school whose mission is to educate low-income students.

Asheville is also home to several charter schools, including Francine Delany New School for Children, one of the first charter schools in North Carolina.

[edit] Local culture

[edit] Music

Live music is a significant element in the tourism-based economy of Asheville and the surrounding area. Seasonal festivals and numerous nightclubs offer opportunities for visitors and locals to attend a wide variety of live entertainment events.^[18]

Asheville is host to numerous clubs and performance venues. Outdoor festivals, such as Bele Chere and the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival, feature local music. One of the most popular annual events is "Shindig on the Green," which happens Saturday nights during July and August on City/County Plaza. By tradition, the Shindig starts "along about sundown" and features local bluegrass bands and dance teams on stage, and informal jam sessions under the trees surrounding the County Courthouse.

DJ music, as well as a small, but active, dance community are also components of the downtown musical landscape. The town is also home to the Asheville Symphony and the Asheville Lyric Opera and there are a number of bluegrass, country, and traditional mountain musicians in the Asheville area.

[edit] Sports

Area colleges and universities, such as the University of North Carolina at Asheville compete in sports. UNCA's sports teams are known as the Bulldogs and play in the Big South Conference. The Fighting Owls of Warren Wilson College are respected for their mountain biking and ultimate teams. The College is also home of the Hooter Dome, where the Owls play their home basketball games.

Asheville boasts several club sports with generally open membership including Asheville Rugby, Asheville Rowing Club, Asheville Lacrosse Club, Asheville Track Club, and the Asheville Ultimate Community. The Asheville Lightning Junior Olympic Team is open to boys and girls from 6 to 18 can participate.

Due to its location among the tallest mountains of the eastern United States and receiving 80-100 inches of annual rainfall, Asheville is a major hub of whitewater recreation, particularly whitewater kayaking, in the eastern US. Many kayak manufacturers have their bases of operation in the Asheville area^{[citation needed]} and some of the most distinguished whitewater kayakers live in or around Asheville, including Shane Benedict, Woody Calloway, Robert Pearson, Al Gregory, Pat Keller, Buffy Bailey Burge, Andrew Holcombe, Tommy Hilleke, Andria Baldovin, Anna Levesque, Whitney Lonsdale, Maria Nokes, Katie Hilleke, Jennifer Cribbs and Molly Malone.^[19] In its July/August 2006 journal, the group American Whitewater named Asheville one of the top five US whitewater cities along with Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Chico/Oroville, California; Boise, Idaho and Washington, DC.^[20]

[edit] Film & TV

Although the area has had a long history with the entertainment industry, recent developments are cementing Asheville as a potential growth area for both film and TV. The Asheville Film Festival is now in its third year, and the city is an annual participant in the 48 Hour Film Project. The city's public access cable station URTV began airing programs in the spring of 2006. Notable films made (at least partially) in the area include: Searching for Angela Shelton, Last of the Mohicans, Being There, My Fellow Americans, The Fugitive, All The Real Girls, Richie Rich, Conquest of Canaan, Hannibal, Songcatcher, Patch Adams, The Journey of August King, Nell, Forrest Gump, Mr. Destiny, Winter People, Dirty Dancing, Bull Durham, The Private Eyes, The Swan, The Clearing, and 28 Days. Locally produced films include: Vance, The Devil's Courthouse, Inbred Rednecks, Sinkhole, The Nudger, Ether, Brother Cellophane and For Catherine, as well as a number of forthcoming projects such as Moon Europa, Golden Blade III: Return of the Monkey's Uncle and Asheville, The Movie. Local film-production groups include: Tabula Rasa Studios, B-clip Productions, 207 Pictures, A Viewpoint Productions, Blue Ridge Motion Pictures, Ironwood Media Group, Harrow Beauty, and Buried Pictures. Asheville is also home to the Asheville Film Festival.

[edit] Famous residents

• Harry Anderson (1952- ), actor and magician, currently residing in Asheville
• Brad Daugherty (1965- ), retired NBA basketball player and current ESPN analyst, currently residing in Asheville
• Hobey Ford, puppeteer, based near Asheville
• Charles Frazier (1950- ), author, born in Asheville and graduated from University of North Carolina-Asheville.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), author
• Zelda Fitzgerald (1900-1948), wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, died in a fire in an Asheville mental institution
• Roberta Flack (1937- ), singer, born in Asheville
• Eileen Fulton (1933- ), actress, born in Asheville, has starred on the CBS soap As the World Turns since 1960.
• Warren Haynes (1960- ), musician, spent his formative years in Asheville
• David Holt (1946- ), American folk musician, currently residing near Asheville
• Stephen Leicht (1987- ), NASCAR driver, born in Asheville
• Andie MacDowell (1958- ), actress, currently residing in Biltmore Forest
• Robert Moog (1934-2005), pioneer of electronic music, inventor of the Moog synthesizer
• Robert Morgan (1918-2004), pilot of the "Memphis Belle," the famed WWII B-17 bomber
• Shirley Hemphill (1947-1999), actress, born in Asheville
• Robert Pressley (1959- ), retired NASCAR driver, born in Asheville
• Artimus Pyle (1948- ), musician, currently resides in Asheville
• Angela Shelton (1972- ), actress and producer
• George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862-1914), entrepreneur, original founder of the Biltmore Estate
• Charles Vernon, musician, an Asheville native
• Roy Williams (1950- ), University of North Carolina basketball coach, grew up in Asheville
• Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938), author, born and raised in Asheville

[edit] Points of interest

• Biltmore Estate
• Botanical Gardens at Asheville
• North Carolina Arboretum
• Vance Monument
• Pack Square
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• The Health Adventure
• Thomas Wolfe Memorial
• Asheville Urban Trail
• Riverside Cemetery
• Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center
• Smith-McDowell House Museum
• Richmond Hill Inn
• Grove Park Inn

[edit] Sister Cities

Asheville has four sister cities [3], as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

• San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
• Vladikavkaz, Russia
• Karpenisi, Greece
• Saumur, France

[edit] External links

• Official Asheville, NC website
• Official Buncombe County, NC website
• Asheville travel guide from Wikitravel
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 35.579862° -82.55581°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

[edit] References

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