Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina
—  City  —
Downtown Asheville

Flag
Seal
Location in North Carolina
Coordinates:
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Buncombe
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)  0.94%
Elevation 2,134 ft (650 m)
Population (2008)[1]
 - City 74,543.
 - Density 1,704.6/sq mi (657.94/km2)
 - Urban 221,570
 - Metro 408,436
  US Census Bureau estimate
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s) 828
FIPS code 37-02140[2]
GNIS feature ID 1018864[3]
Website www.ashevillenc.gov
Asheville City Hall. This building epitomizes the Art Deco style of the 1920s.
View of downtown Asheville, 1888
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 guests, who also come to see the adjacent gardens, enjoy a similar view to this 1902 photo.

Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States.[4] It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and continues to grow. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Asheville's population in 2009 was 76,636.[1] Asheville is a part of the four-county Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, the population of which was estimated by the Census Bureau in 2008 to be 408,436.[5]

Contents

History

Origins

Before the arrival of Europeans, the land where Asheville now exists lay within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.[6] In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area, bringing the first European visitors[7] in addition to European diseases which seriously depleted the native population.[8] The area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century.[9]

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.

The United States Census of 1790 counted 1,000 residents of the area, excluding the Cherokee. Buncombe County 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.[10][11]

The Civil War

Asheville, with a population of approximately 2,500 by 1861, remained relatively untouched by the Civil War, but contributed a number of companies to the Confederate States Army, and a substantially smaller number of soldiers to the Union. For a time, an Enfield rifle manufacturing facility was located in the town. The war came to Asheville as an afterthought, when the "Battle of Asheville" was fought in early April 1865 at the present-day site of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with Union forces withdrawing to Tennessee after encountering resistance from a small group of Confederate senior and junior reserves and recuperating Confederate soldiers in prepared trench lines across the Buncombe Turnpike; orders had been given to the Union force to take Asheville only if this could be accomplished without significant losses.

An engagement was also fought later that month at Swannanoa Gap as part of the larger Stoneman's Raid, with Union forces retreating in the face of resistance from Brig. Gen. Martin, commander of Confederate troops in western North Carolina, but returning to the area via Howard's Gap and Henderson County. In late April 1865 troops under the overall command of Union Gen. Stoneman captured Asheville. After a negotiated departure, the troops nevertheless subsequently returned and plundered and burned a number of Confederate supporters' homes in the town. The years following the war were a time of economic and social hardship in Buncombe County, as throughout most of the defeated South.

1900s to present

Construction on Grove Park Inn, 1912

While Asheville prospered in the decades of 1910s and 1920s, the period of Asheville's history made world-famous by the novel Look Homeward, Angel, the Great Depression hit Asheville quite hard. On November 20, 1930, eight local banks failed.[12] Only Wachovia remained open with infusions of cash from Winston-Salem. Because of the explosive growth of the previous decades, the 'per capita' debt owed by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest of any city in the nation.[13] By 1929, both city and Buncombe County had incurred over $56 million in bonded debt to pay for a wide range of municipal and infrastructure improvements, including the courthouse and City Hall, paved streets, Beaucatcher Tunnel, school buildings and municipal parks. 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.[14][15]

The Asheville area was subject to severe flooding from the remnants of a tropical storm on July 15–16, 1916, causing over $3 million in damage. Heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Ivan caused major flooding in Asheville in September 2004, particularly at Biltmore Village.{[9] [10]}

In 2003, Centennial Olympic Park bomber Eric Robert Rudolph was transported to Asheville from Murphy, North Carolina, for arraignment in federal court.[16][17]

General information

Asheville pops up on national rankings for a variety of things: Modern Maturity named it one of "The 50 Most Alive Places To Be,"[18] AmericanStyle magazine called it one of "America's Top 25 Arts Destinations,"[19] Self magazine labeled it the "Happiest City for Women,"[20] it is one of AARP Magazine's "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life",[21] 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,[22] and named the "most vegetarian-friendly" small city in America by PETA.[23] In August 2006 Asheville was named one the "Best Outside Towns" by Outside Magazine.[24] In the 2008 book, The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner, Asheville was cited by the author as one of the happiest places in the United States.

In 2007, Asheville was named one of the top seven places to live in the U.S. by Frommer's Cities Ranked and Rated,[25] and #23 of 200 metro areas for business and careers by Forbes. It was also named one of the world's top 12 must-see destinations for 2007 by Frommer's travel guides.[26]

Asheville and the surrounding mountains are also popular in the autumn when fall foliage peaks in October. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the Asheville area and near the Biltmore Estate.

Downtown Asheville is a major attraction for tourists in the area

Mayor Terry Bellamy, the city's first African-American female mayor, is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[27]. In 2005, Mayor Charles Worley signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and in 2006 the City Council created the Sustainable Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment. In 2007, the Council became the first city on the East Coast to commit to building all municipal buildings to LEED Gold Standards and to achieve 80% energy reduction of 2001 standards by 2040. In 2007, the Council signed an agreement with Warren Wilson College stating the intent of the city and college to work together toward climate partnership goals. In 2009, the election of city councilman Cecil Bothwell was challenged because the North Carolina Constitution does not allow for atheists to hold public office.[28]

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 41.3 square miles (107.0 km2), of which 40.9 square miles (105.9 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.94%) is water.

Climate

The climate of Asheville is a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa), resembling the rest of the southeastern U.S., but with noticeably cooler temperatures due to the higher altitude. The area's summers in particular, though warm, are not as hot as summers in cities farther east in the state, as average highs peak at 85 °F (29.4 °C) in July. Winters are cool, with a January mean of 36.4 °F (2.4 °C). Snowfall is sporadic and usually light, with an average seasonal amount of 13.3 inches (34 cm). Freezing rain often occurs, accompanied by more significant disruption. Precipitation is relatively well-spread, though fall and early winter are the driest, and totals 37.3 inches (947.4 mm).

Extremes range from -16 to 100 °F (-27 to 38 °C), in January 1985 and August 1983, respectively.[29][30]

Climate data for Asheville, North Carolina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 46.1
(7.83)		 50.3
(10.17)		 58.0
(14.44)		 66.8
(19.33)		 74.3
(23.5)		 80.8
(27.11)		 84.3
(29.06)		 82.9
(28.28)		 76.9
(24.94)		 67.7
(19.83)		 57.8
(14.33)		 49.6
(9.78)		 66.3
(19.06)
Average low °F (°C) 26.6
(-3)		 29.1
(-1.61)		 36.2
(2.33)		 43.8
(6.56)		 52.1
(11.17)		 59.6
(15.33)		 63.5
(17.5)		 62.4
(16.89)		 56.4
(13.56)		 45.0
(7.22)		 36.8
(2.67)		 29.8
(-1.22)		 45.1
(7.28)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.07
(78)		 3.19
(81)		 3.89
(98.8)		 3.16
(80.3)		 3.53
(89.7)		 3.24
(82.3)		 2.97
(75.4)		 3.34
(84.8)		 3.01
(76.5)		 2.40
(61)		 2.93
(74.4)		 2.59
(65.8)		 37.32
(947.9)
Snowfall inches (cm) 4.3
(10.9)		 3.1
(7.9)		 2.5
(6.4)		 0.8
(2)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.5
(1.3)		 2.1
(5.3)		 13.3
(33.8)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.9 9.8 12.1 9.4 11.5 11.5 11.7 11.0 8.4 7.5 8.9 9.7 122.4
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.5 2.9 1.9 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.7 2.6 11.9
Sunshine hours 176.7 183.6 223.2 252.0 263.5 267.0 257.3 226.3 207.0 220.1 180.0 167.4 2,624.1
Source: NOAA (normals, 1971-2000)[31], HKO [32]

Neighborhoods

Architecture

Biltmore Estate today

Notable architecture in Asheville includes its Art Deco city hall, and other unique buildings in the downtown area, such as the Battery Park Hotel, the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building, Grove Arcade and the Basilica of St. Lawrence. The S&W Cafeteria Building is also a fine example of Art Deco architecture in Asheville.[34] The Grove Park Inn is an important example of architecture and design of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Asheville's recovery from the Depression was slow and arduous. Because of the financial stagnation there were no new buildings and the downtown district remained unaltered. This however has allowed Asheville to be a great collection of Art Deco and truly a style all its own.

Inside dome of the Basilica of St. Lawrence, and final resting place of Rafael Guastavino (d. 1908) in Asheville.

The Montford Area Historic District and other central areas are considered historic districts and include Victorian houses. On the other hand, Biltmore Village, located at the entrance to the famous estate, showcases unique architectural features that are found only in the Asheville area. It was here that workers stayed during the construction of George Vanderbilt's estate. Today, however, as with many of Asheville's historical districts, it has been transformed into a district home to quaint, trendy shops and interesting boutiques. The YMI Cultural Center, founded in 1892 by George Vanderbilt in the heart of downtown, is one of the nation's oldest African-American cultural centers.[35][36]

Demographics

Location of the Asheville-Brevard CSA and its components:      Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area      Brevard Micropolitan Statistical Area
Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1870 1,400
—
1880 2,616 86.9%
1890 10,235 291.2%
1900 14,694 43.6%
1910 18,762 27.7%
1920 28,504 51.9%
1930 50,193 76.1%
1940 51,310 2.2%
1950 53,000 3.3%
1960 60,192 13.6%
1970 57,929 −3.8%
1980 54,022 −6.7%
1990 61,607 14.0%
2000 68,889 11.8%
Est. 2008 74,543 [37] 8.2%

Asheville is the larger principal city of the Asheville-Brevard CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Asheville metropolitan area (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison counties) and the Brevard micropolitan area (Transylvania County),[38][39][40] which had a combined population of 398,505 at the 2000 census.[2]

At the 2000 census[2], there were 68,889 people, 30,690 households and 16,726 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,683.4 per square mile (650.0/km²). There were 33,567 housing units at an average density of 820.3/sq mi (316.7/km²). 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 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.

Age distribution was 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 household income was $32,772, and the median family income 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 13% of families and 19% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

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 2008 Census Bureau population estimate - of 408,436.[5]

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), Leicester, Oteen, Skyland and Swannanoa.

Education

Asheville High School Main Entrance

Public Asheville City Schools include Asheville High School (known as Lee H Edwards High School 1935-1969), Asheville Middle School, Claxton Elementary, Randolph Learning Center, Hall Fletcher Elementary, Isaac Dickson Elementary, Ira B. Jones Elementary and Vance 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.

Asheville has one of the only Sudbury schools in the Southeast, Katuah Sudbury School. It is also home to several charter schools, including Francine Delany New School for Children, one of the first charter schools in North Carolina and Evergreen Community Charter School, an Outward Bound-Expeditionary Learning School, recognized as one of the most environmentally conscious schools in the country.

Two private residential high schools are located in the Asheville area: the all-male Christ School (located in Arden) and the co-educational 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 stated mission is to educate low-income students.

Colleges

Asheville and its surrounding area have several institutions of higher education:

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.[41]

The city operates the Asheville Transit System, which consists of several bus lines connecting parts of the city and surrounding areas.

The Norfolk Southern Railway passes through the city, though passenger service is currently not available in the area.

Public services and utilities

Water

Drinking water in Asheville is provided by the Asheville water department. The water system consists of three water treatment plants, more than 1,600 miles (2,600 km) of water lines, 30 pumping stations and 27 storage reservoirs. Until recently the direction of the water agency was shared between Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. The two governments are presently seeking agreement on water that could restore the previous intergovermental agency. The public drinking water supply in most areas of Asheville is presently fluoridated by the addition of hydrofluorosilic acid, at a rate of 0.9 to 1.1 parts per million

The original water system in Asheville dates from the 1880s when Asheville constructed a reservoir on Beaucatcher Mountain, collecting water from various springs and branches. Pipes were laid and unfiltered water distributed by gravity flowed down into the town.

Sewer

Sewer services are provided by the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County.

Electricity

Power is provided by Progress Energy Inc.

Natural gas

Natural gas is provided by PSNC Energy.

Local culture

Music

Live music is a significant element in the tourism-based economy of Asheville and the surrounding area. Seasonal festivals and numerous nightclubs and performance venues offer opportunities for visitors and locals to attend a wide variety of live entertainment events.[42]

A popular activity in Asheville is the Drum Circle, an unorganized event that is held by local residents in Pritchard Park, that is open to anyone.[43]

In particular, Asheville has a very strong street performer ("busking") community. Outdoor festivals, such as Bele Chere and the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival, known as LAAFF, feature local music. One event 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. Another event is "Downtown After 5". This is a monthly concert series held from 5PM till 9PM that hosts popular touring musical acts as well as local acts.

Asheville also hosts the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam annually. The event raises money for Habitat For Humanity and attracts several major touring acts each year, with past performers including Dave Matthews, The Allman Brothers, Ani Difranco, Widespread Panic, and Phish. Other big acts that have played the Asheville area in recent years are bands such as Porcupine Tree, Broken Social Scene, Ween, The Avett Brothers, Gillian Welch, Cat Power, Ghost Mice, Loretta Lynn, M. Ward and The Mountain Goats. 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. A residency at local music establishment The Orange Peel by Smashing Pumpkins in 2007, along with Beastie Boys in 2009, brought national attention to Asheville.[44]

Sports

Current teams

Name Sport Founded League Venue
Asheville Tourists Baseball 1897 South Atlantic McCormick Field
Asheville Grizzlies Football ?? NAFL Memorial Stadium

Previous teams

Name Sport Founded League Venue Years in Asheville
Asheville Smoke Ice hockey 1991 United Hockey League Asheville Civic Center 1998 - 2002
Asheville Aces Ice hockey 2004 Southern Professional Hockey League Asheville Civic Center 2004
Asheville Altitude Basketball 2001 NBA Development League Asheville Civic Center 2001–2005

Other 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 participate in mountain biking and ultimate sports teams. The College is also home of the Hooter Dome, where the Owls play their home basketball games. The Civic Center is home to the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, an up and coming team in the sport of Women's Flat-Track Roller Derby.

Recreational sports

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.[45] Some of the most distinguished whitewater kayakers live in or around Asheville.[46] In its July/August 2006 journal, the group American Whitewater named Asheville one of the top five US whitewater cities.[46] Asheville is also home to numerous Disc Golf courses. Soccer is a huge recreational sport in Asheville as well. Many games are held at Azalea Park. HFC is the local soccer club in Asheville. The Asheville Hockey League provides opportunities for youth and adult inline hockey at an outdoor rink at Carrier Park. The rink is open to the public and pick-up hockey is also available. The Asheville Civic Center has held recreational ice hockey leagues in the past.

Performing arts

The Asheville Community Theatre was founded in 1946, producing the first amateur production of the Appalachian drama, Dark of the Moon. Soon after, the young actors Charlton Heston and wife Lydia Clarke would take over the small theatre. The current ACT building has two performance spaces - the Mainstage Auditorium, which seats 399 patrons (and named the Heston Auditorium for its most famous alumni); and the more intimate black box performance space 35 Below, seating 40 patrons.

The North Carolina Stage Company is the only resident professional theatre in the downtown area.

The Asheville Lyric Opera recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by featuring a concert by Angela Brown, David Malis, and Tonio Di Paolo, veterans of the Metropolitan Opera.[47] The ALO has typically performed three fully-staged professional operas for the community in addition to its vibrant educational program.

Asheville Vaudeville [48], Asheville's only monthly vaudeville variety show, performs new material each month from local magicians, jugglers, comedians, musicians, stilt-walkers, knife-throwers and more.[49]

In 2004, the Asheville Arts Center opened. It is a theatre, dance and music studio designed for arts education. The Grand Hall of the Arts Center is a regular venue for local bands as well as the Asheville Movement Collective.

The Asheville capoeira performance movement was solidified with the arrival of world renowned Mestre Pe de Chumbo Mestre Pe de Chumbo to the area in 2006. The capoeira group continues to give performances in the streets, on the stage and during festivals. Due to this group's cumulative efforts in the art of capoeira and in developing community, the Asheville Culture Project (ACP) was established in 2010. The ACP is a community arts initiative that offers a space for the integration of cultural performing arts, community and social justice. The cultural center offers the community performances, classes and outreach.

Places of worship

Places of worship in Asheville include the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Lawrence, the Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls, the Episcopal St. Luke's Church, and the Conservative Jewish Beth Israel Synagogue,Asheville Mennonite Church, as well as many Baptist and United Methodist Churches.

Film and 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 has completed its sixth year. However the City of Asheville, which funds the festival, has announced that it will no longer fund the festival. The festival's future is in doubt. The city is also an annual participant in the 48-Hour Film Project. The city's public access cable station URTV began broadcasting programs in spring 2006. Films made at least partially in the area include A Breed Apart, Searching for Angela Shelton, Last of the Mohicans, Being There, My Fellow Americans, Loggerheads, The Fugitive, All the Real Girls, Richie Rich, Thunder Road, Hannibal, Songcatcher, Patch Adams, Nell, Forrest Gump, Mr. Destiny, Dirty Dancing, Bull Durham, The Private Eyes, The Swan, The Clearing and 28 Days. Locally produced films include Golden Throats of the 20th Century and Anywhere, USA, a winning film at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.. And Asheville hosts the ActionFest Film Festival, the only festival in the world devoted to action film. The 2010 inaugural edition included Chuck Norris, who was honored as the first ActionFest "man of action."

Media

Asheville is in the "Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson" television DMA and the "Asheville" radio ADI for the city's .[50]

The primary television station in Asheville is ABC affiliate WLOS-TV Channel 13, with studios in Biltmore Park and a transmitter on Mount Pisgah. Other stations licensed to Asheville include WUNF, PBS station on Channel 33 and The CW affiliate WYCW on Channel 62. Asheville is also served by the Upstate South Carolina stations of WYFF Channel 4 (NBC), WSPA-TV Channel 7 (CBS), WHNS-TV Channel 21 (FOX), MyNetworkTV station WMYA Channel 40 and 3ABN station Channel 41. SCETV PBS affiliates from the Upstate of South Carolina are generally not carried on cable systems in the North Carolina portion of the DMA.

The Asheville Citizen-Times is Asheville's daily newspaper which covers most of Western North Carolina. The Mountain Xpress is the largest weekly in the area, covering arts and politics in the region.

Notable natives and residents

Living

Deceased

Points of interest

Sister cities

Asheville has six sister cities:[76]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Population Finder: Asheville, North Carolina. U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 Population Estimates. Accessed February 10, 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008 (CBSA-EST2008-01)". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/CBSA-est2008-annual.html. Retrieved May 27, 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Original extent of Cherokee claims 1732" (map/.GIF). Collection at the University of Georgia. 1996-06-26. http://cherokeehistory.com/original.gif. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  7. ↑ The Historic News (1999). "A History of Asheville and Buncombe County" (text/.html). Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society. http://www.obcgs.com/ashv_hist.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  8. ↑ "Cherokee History, Part One" (text/.html). Lee Sultzman. 1996-02-28. http://www.tolatsga.org/Cherokee1.html. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  9. ↑ "Asheville - 0-1800 The Early Settlers" (text/.html). Asheville.be. 2006. http://www.asheville.be/history/Asheville_History_Pre_1800.html. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  10. ↑ Caton, Alex S.; Rebecca Lamb (1999-2004). "The Early Settlement of Buncombe Country and the Drover's Road" (text/.html). Smith-McDowell House Museum. http://www.wnchistory.org/museum/droversroad.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  11. ↑ "Western North Carolina Heritage: Asheville" (text/.htm). Land of the Sky. 2001-2002. http://dd1.library.appstate.edu/regional_history/urban%20centers/asheville.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-23. 
  12. ↑ "8 CAROLINA BANKS FAIL AS BOOM ENDS". The New York Times. 1930-11-21. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60912F7355C11738DDDA80A94D9415B808FF1D3. Retrieved 2010-04-25. 
  13. ↑ http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/asheville/preservation.htm
  14. ↑ ABOUT
  15. ↑ Preservation-Asheville, North Carolina: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary
  16. ↑ Ellingwood, Ken (2003-06-02). "The Nation; Fugitive's Capture Heightens Speculation; Locals are touchy about the theory that some sympathetic with his anti- government views helped the suspected bomber elude the law". http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/342886211.html?dids=342886211:342886211&FMT=ABS. 
  17. ↑ Fletcher, Michael A (2003-06-03). "Rudolph to be tried first in Alabama ; Abortion clinic bomb case said to be strongest". Chicago Tribune. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/343027361.html?dids=343027361:343027361&FMT=ABS. 
  18. ↑ Modern Maturity. May-June 2000,
  19. ↑ AmericanStyle Magazine, Summer 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004.
  20. ↑ Self, October 2002.
  21. ↑ "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life", AARP Magazine, May-June 2003
  22. ↑ CBS News' Eye On America, 1996. [1].
  23. ↑ "America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities". GoVeg.com. PETA. undated. http://goveg.com/f-vegcities-asheville.asp. Retrieved 2006-10-04. 
  24. ↑ Outside Magazine Best Outside Town Archive
  25. ↑ "24 Blue Ridge Mountain Retirement Locations". Retirement Housing Guide. http://www.e50plus.com/public/937.cfm. Retrieved 2009-05-15. 
  26. ↑ Frommer's, November 2007, [2].
  27. ↑ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml. 
  28. ↑ Schrader, Jordan; Neal, Dale (December 8, 2009). "Critics of Cecil Bothwell cite N.C. bar to atheists". Asheville Citizen-Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2009. http://www.freezepage.com/1260466905IMUDOBICGE. Retrieved December 10, 2009. 
  29. ↑ NOAA records for August - Asheville, NC
  30. ↑ NOAA records for January - Asheville, NC
  31. ↑ "Climatography of the United States No. 20 (1971–2000)" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/nc/310301.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-31. 
  32. ↑ "Climatological Normals of Asheville". Hong Kong Observatory. http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/n_america/us/Asheville_e.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-31. 
  33. ↑ http://www.ashevilleneighborhoods.info/ Asheville Neighborhoods.info listing of Asheville neighborhoods
  34. ↑ http://www.heritagewnc.org/buildings/s&w_cafeteria.htm WNC Heritage Database
  35. ↑ Putting YMI on the Map: The YMI Cultural Center History Project
  36. ↑ History of the YMI
  37. ↑ "Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2008-4.html. Retrieved 2009-09-01. 
  38. ↑ METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
  39. ↑ MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
  40. ↑ COMBINED STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENT CORE BASED STATISTICAL AREAS, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
  41. ↑ "I-26 Connector, Asheville, NC". Public Information Website. North Carolina Department of Transportation. undated. http://www.ncdot.org/projects/I26Connector/default.html. Retrieved 2006-08-20. 
  42. ↑ "Music pumps up economy, enlivens nightlife"; Michael Flynn; Asheville Citizen-Times; August 22, 2003
  43. ↑ The beat goes on
  44. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins' return puts Asheville on music map"; Associated Press; June 22, 2007 http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=217801
  45. ↑ Rocking the boat | Mountain Xpress Features | mountainx.com
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 American Whitewater Journal July/August 2006 (not published on the web yet)
  47. ↑ Asheville Citizen-Times article on Asheville Lyric Opera's Tenth Anniversary. Jan 26, 2009. Accessed February 2, 2009
  48. ↑ [3]
  49. ↑ Vaudeville! Burlesque! Cabaret!
  50. ↑ Market Ranks and Schedule (1-50)
  51. ↑ New York Times - For Harry Anderson, the New Orleans Magic Is Gone; August 30, 2006
  52. ↑ CFL Roster;
  53. ↑ "Racer at heart, Daugherty much more than meets eye";
  54. ↑ "Despite personal tensions and lineup changes, labelmates Lost Sounds and the Reigning Sound push ahead."; [4]
  55. ↑ [5]
  56. ↑ Roberta Flack Biography;
  57. ↑ Eileen Fulton Biography;
  58. ↑ Mule.net Meet the Band;
  59. ↑ David Holt: About David;
  60. ↑ Zack Smith. "Hope Larson on Chiggers and More". Newsarama. http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=153858. Retrieved April 18, 2008. 
  61. ↑ Leonard Little
  62. ↑ "The two lives of Andie MacDowell";
  63. ↑ "Keep an Eye on Roberson High School’s Cameron Maybin ";
  64. ↑ NBADraft.net - Rashad McCants profile
  65. ↑ Bryan Lee O'Malley|LibraryThing;
  66. ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5102100
  67. ↑ buzzhired
  68. ↑ Robert Pressley
  69. ↑ Angela Shelton (I) - Biography
  70. ↑ asheville.com news: Roy Williams
  71. ↑ http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/2001/2001_E02167.pdf Representative Charles H. Taylor - United States Congress - Congressional Record, Thursday, November 29, 2001
  72. ↑ http://www.heritagewnc.org/historic_register_sites/default_national_register.htm National Historic Sites of Asheville, Buncombe County
  73. ↑ [6]
  74. ↑ [7] Asheville Citizen-Times w/ photo
  75. ↑ [8] Asheville Antique Fair
  76. ↑ "Asheville Sister Cities." Asheville Sister Cities Inc. Retrieved on July 8, 2008.

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