23 Facts About Asheville, North Carolina That You Must Know About

Asheville, North Carolina, is located in the blue ridge mountains at the joining of the French board river and Swannanoa.

Asheville, North Carolina, is the twelfth most popular city in the state. Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina.

Asheville is considered one of the largest cities in the Asheville Metropolitan. It is located in the Blue Ridge mountains at the intersection of the french broad river and Swannanoa river.

As per the USA census bureau, Asheville comprises a total area of 45.3 sq mi (117.3265 sq. km). The south neighborhood of Asheville includes Biltmore village, Ballantrae, Royal Pines, Skyland, Biltmore Park, Shiloh, and oak forest.

The neighboring places in the north include Chestnut hills, Colonial heights, Beaverdam, Grove park, Hillcrest, Klondyke, Kimberly, Norwood park, and Montford. Albemarle Park and Montford are the local historic districts named by the Ashville City Council.

There are numerous Baptist churches, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Churches of Christ, and Presbyterian, and a few non-Christian-based worship places like a Tibetan Buddhist center, Urban Dharma. Asheville is one of the most important cities for North Carolinian Catholics. This city is home to many atheists, ethical, and cultural organizations, and humanists.

Live music is one the most popular elements in the tourism-based culture of Asheville and the surrounding area. Occasional festivals and many nightclubs and performance platforms provide numerous opportunities for locals and visitors to attend various live entertainment programs and events.

Asheville has a strong tradition of outdoor music, street performances, and festivals like Bele Chere. Asheville is the home of Moog Music headquarters and the museum established by the Bob Moog Foundation.

In 1946, the Asheville community theater was formed. The young actors Lydia Clarke and Charlton Heston took charge of the theater. The present ACT complex has two performance arenas, the mainstage auditorium, and the black box performance space.

The city is the host of an annual charity event that raises funds for human habitat and features significant musicians and DJs. Still, the active dance group also incorporates downtown Asheville.

In 2009, Asheville opera celebrated its tenth anniversary by hosting a concert featuring Tonio Di Paolo, David Malis, and Angela Brown. Scroll down to know more about the city.

Tourist Attractions in Asheville

Asheville comprises some of the most notable architectures, including ' Asheville City Hall' and buildings that are unique in the downtown area like the Battery Park Hotel, original of it was 475 ft (144 m) in height with a lot of chimneys and dormers, Jackson building which was the first skyscraper of pack square.

Grove Arcade is one of first America's indoor shopping malls. Grove Park Inn and the S&W Cafeteria building reflect the art deco architecture in Asheville.

One of the most beautiful places in Asheville is the Pisgah National Forest.

Asheville is a residence to a large number of local animals. Most zoos across the world showcase their foreign animals from a far-off place.

Ashville's city zoo park is a non-profit organization called the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

They have dedicated themselves to preserving their regional flora and fauna instead of trucking animals from various places worldwide.

In 2018, they took this commitment to a new level by constructing exhibits for animals and fauna.

Due to its diverse local beer options, Ashville is called the beer city of the USA. This is very intriguing because, In 1907, Ashville passed its prohibition laws.

Ashville comprises a lot of large privately owned residences. It is known as the Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore Estate is located on the outskirts of downtown Ashville. It is built incredibly and extends to 8000 acres, and most of it is open for tourism for the public.

Asheville is a residence for the comedy tours bus. The local Ashevillians started a unique tour company called Laoom.

The Economy Of Asheville

Some of the major corporations headquartered in Asheville city incorporate Ingles, The Biltmore Company, Moog Music, Earth Fare, HomeTrust Bancshares, and eastern headquarters for New Belgium Brewing Company and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Asheville city is a resident of a coal power plant near Lake Julian. In 2012, Duke university research found significant levels of arsenic and other poisonous gases in NC rivers and lakes.

Asheville was primarily affected by the great depression. Most of the local banks failed in 1930. Wachovia only remained open with an inducement of cash from Winston-Salem.

The debt owed by the city was the highest in the country due to the accelerated growth of the previous decades. By 1929, Asheville and Buncombe country had garnered over $56 million in debt to pay for many municipal and infrastructure developments, including the water system, city hall, and Asheville High School.

Ashville paid the debt distributed over five years. In 1959, the Asheville council bought the property located near Henderson country for developing Asheville regional airport.

Asheville city is dedicated to the sustainable development of the green economy. For Asheville city, this aim is defined in their plan to make decisions that balance environmental values, social responsibilities, and economic vitality to meet the needs without sacrificing the resources for future generations to meet their ends.

As part of the plan, the zero waste initiative, which started in 2012, each resident received a big blue rolling cart in which they could dispose of all their waste materials unsorted. They can recycle a wide variety of distinct materials.

History & Culture

Before the European arrival, which is now North Carolina, the terrestrial region surrounding Asheville was under the Cherokee nation. Later the American Revolution, Colonel Samuel Davidson was granted land from North Carolina to establish a living in Swannanoa valley, located in the blue ridge mountains.

The 1790's United States Census counted approximately 1000 residents of the region, apart from the native Cherokee Americans, as a separate region. In 1972, Buncombe County was officially established. In the 1800 United States census, around 107 residents were slaveholders and 300 enslaved African Americans, with a total population of 5812.

This settlement paved the way to discover what is now the city of Asheville. In 1972, Buncombe country was formed, comprising a city called 'Morristown.'

In 1797, 'Morristown' was renamed Asheville after the governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe.

After establishing a log cabin at Christian Creek's bank, Davidson was kidnapped in the woods and killed by a group of Cherokee hunters.

After Davidson's death, his wife, children, and the enslaved person fled to his port which was 16 mi (25 km away.

Asheville's culture became a magnet to philanthropists, pioneers, and artists. George W. Vanderbilt arrived in Asheville in the 1880s and bought 120,000 acres of land to build a grand estate called 'Biltmore estate.'

In 1900, Thomas Wolfe was born in Asheville and was one of the American Literature gods.

Samuel's twin brother Major William Davidson and his brother-in-law Danie Smith established an expedition to retrieve Davidson's body. After a few months, Major Davidson and his extended family returned to the area and established a living at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.

FAQs

Why was Asheville founded?

Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family were granted land from the North Carolina State after the American revolution to establish in the Swannanoa valley, blue ridge mountains. Their settlement paved the way for the formation of North Carolina Asheville. It is located at the intersection of the French Broad River and Swannanoa.

What celebrities live in Asheville?

Celebrities like Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Lopez, Debra Messing, The Avett Brothers, Bryan Cranston, Jude Law, and Michael C. Hall live in downtown Asheville.

What do people call Asheville?

Asheville is often known as the 'The Land of the Sky.'

What's Asheville, NC, known for?

Ashville is popular for its diverse beer options and is called the 'Beer City USA.' Due to its 26 different craft breweries in the city and 60 more nearby, beer lovers would hold on to the city.

Why is Asheville important?

Ashville played as a crossroads of Indian trails on a plateau consisting of rivers and mountains. In 1880, when the railroad arrived, it transformed buncombe county and Asheville into a therapeutic health center and a resort.

How did Asheville get so popular?

It became a target for commercial franchises, upscale tourist hotels, commercials, expensive condominiums, and chain operations such as Aloft and Starbucks, Subway, and many more. The rents grew exponentially, and Asheville became too costly and unaffordable.