Ashe County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Ashe County Courthouse in Jefferson | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°26′N81°30′W / 36.44°N 81.50°W /36.44; -81.50 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1799 |
| Named after | Samuel Ashe |
| Seat | Jefferson |
| Largest community | Jefferson |
| Area | |
• Total | 429.37 sq mi (1,112.1 km2) |
| • Land | 426.26 sq mi (1,104.0 km2) |
| • Water | 3.11 sq mi (8.1 km2) 0.72% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 26,577 |
• Estimate (2024) | 27,266 |
| • Density | 62.35/sq mi (24.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Ashe County (/ˈæʃ/ASH) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. The population was 26,577 at the2020 census.[1] Itscounty seat isJefferson.[2]
Historical evidence shows that Ashe County was inhabited byNative Americans, which included theCherokee,Creek, andShawnee tribes. Pieces of broken pottery, arrowheads, and other Native American artifacts have been found, indicating their presence. Most of these artifacts have been found in the Old Fields area of Ashe County.[3]
The earliest Europeans to explore Ashe County were BishopAugust Gottlieb Spangenberg – head of theMoravian Church in America – and his associates, Timothy Horsefield, Joseph Mueller, Henry Antes, Johan Merck, and Herman Loesch. Bishop Spangenberg wrote about his journey in Ashe in a diary that has been preserved by the Moravian church. He was given 100,000 acres (400 km2) inVirginia as a place for his fellow Moravians to settle. The only one of Spangenberg's group to return and permanently settle in Ashe County was Herman Loesch. Other early settlers were David Helton, William Walling, William McLain andDaniel Boone, the famous pioneer. With the exception of Boone, these men and their families all settled in Ashe in 1771.[4]
During theRevolutionary War oneskirmish was fought in Ashe County, the Battle of Big Glades. The battle was fought in July 1780 between a force of Americans, led byCaptain Robert Love, and a force of 150 British Loyalists on their way toCharlotte to joinLord Cornwallis, the British commander in the Southern colonies. The Americans won the skirmish.[5]
In the 1780s, Ashe County was a part of the self-declared "State of Franklin", within the boundaries of its Washington County. The "State of Franklin" marked the beginnings of the State ofTennessee. The North Carolina legislature created Ashe County in late 1799 with an area of 977 square miles (2,530 km2). Many family surnames noted in the 1800 Ashe County Census, such as Bare, Barker, Blevins, Hart, Stamper, Miller, Burkett, Gambill, Baldwin, and Ballou, are still present today. Ashe County was named in honor ofSamuel Ashe, a Revolutionary patriot, a superior court judge, and theGovernor of North Carolina from 1795 to 1798.
From 1807 to 1913, the county went through numerous boundary changes. In 1849, to formWatauga County, the southwestern part of Ashe County was combined with parts ofCaldwell County,Wilkes County, andYancey County.[6] Ten years later in 1859, the eastern part of the remainder of Ashe County becameAlleghany County.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 429.37 square miles (1,112.1 km2), of which 426.26 square miles (1,104.0 km2) is land and 3.11 square miles (8.1 km2) (0.72%) is water.[8]
Ashe County is located in extreme northwesternNorth Carolina. The county is bordered by two states:Virginia on the north; andTennessee to the west. The county is located entirely within theAppalachian Mountains region of North Carolina. Most of the county is located atop a rolling plateau that ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 feet (760 to 910 m) above sea level. On the county's southeastern border the land drops sharply to about 1,500 feet (460 m) in neighboring Wilkes County, North Carolina. Numerous mountains and hills dot the plateau. In total, five mountains in the county rise to over 5,000 feet (1,500 m). A prominent landmark isMount Jefferson, which is a State Natural Area and rises to 4,665 feet (1,422 m), and towers more than 1,600 feet (490 m) above the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson.
The county's main river is theNew River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, and one of the few major rivers in the southeastern United States to flow primarily north instead of south, east, or west. 34 creeks and streams flow into the New River in Ashe County. In 1998, the river was designated an "American Heritage River" by PresidentBill Clinton, and it is famed for its beautiful rural scenery, clear water, fly fishing, and kayaking and canoeing.
Isolated by mountainous terrain from the remainder of North Carolina to the east, Ashe County was described in the 19th and early 20th centuries as one of theLost Provinces of North Carolina.[9]
Ashe County generally is known for its mountain scenery, and the tourism industry is an important mainstay of the county's economy. TheBlue Ridge Parkway runs along the county's southeastern border. Ashe County has historically consisted of rural farmland, with numerous cattle and poultry farms. However, cattle farming in recent decades has given way to the industry of raisingChristmas trees. Many cattle farmers have switched to growing Christmas trees. In 1997, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2021, and 2023, an Ashe County Christmas tree was selected as the officialWhite House Christmas Tree by the National Christmas Tree Association.[10] The tree is put on display in theBlue Room (White House). As of 2014, Ashe County grows more Christmas trees than any other county in the Eastern United States.
Ashe County has a considerably different climate than most of thesoutheastern United States. Summers typically average around 80 °F (27 °C). Temperatures rarely exceed 90 °F (32 °C), but on rare occasions can reach the mid-90s °F (~35 °C) as they did in 2012—the most recent that 90 °F+ (32 °C+) was observed. 100 °F+ (38 °C+) has never been observed. Summer nights are cool, and temperatures often dip to near 60 °F (16 °C), even in July. In winter there is snow, averaging about 30 inches (0.76 meters) for the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson during the past thirty years. Considerably more snow falls on the peaks and the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. During the 2009–2010 snow season, Jefferson received some 60 inches (1.52 meters) of snow. Snow has been observed as early as around October 1 and as late as around May 1. Ashe County is also a very windy location, especially in winter, when several times each year the Jefferson Airport sees winds gusting 60 to 85 MPH (97 to 137 KPH). Combined with the winds typical for the region, Ashe County can also see extremely cold temperatures during winter. In January 2014, the low temperature dipped below 0 °F (−18 °C) several times, the coldest being −8 °F (−22 °C) on January 30–31.[11] DuringWinter Storm Elliott in December 2022, Ashe County recorded an atypical low of −15 °F (−26 °C).[12] Single digit temperatures, often just above zero Fahrenheit, are observed occasionally in the winter months. The average winter high is around 45 °F (7 °C), with an average winter low near 20 °F (−7 °C). Despite its southerly latitude, these factors can make Ashe County experience winter conditions typically seen in thenortheastern United States.
TheUSDAhardiness zones range from Zone 6A (−10 °F to −5 °F or −23 °C to −21 °C) in northwestern Ashe County, to Zone 7B (5 °F to 10 °F or −15 °C to −12 °C) in areas along the county's southeastern border withWilkes County.[13]
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Wind and flooding fromHurricane Helene devastatedNorth Carolina on September 27, 2024, primarily in its westernAppalachian region, causing at least 108 reported deaths and major destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across several settlements. After making landfall in theBig Bend region ofFlorida as aCategory 4 hurricane on September 27, Helene began to traverse over land acrossGeorgia as a Category 2 hurricane and into the Appalachian mountain range as atropical storm, depositing record-breaking amounts of rainfall across several settlements inwestern North Carolina.
Ashe County was severely impacted by Helene due to the multiple largestreams in the county, limited infrastructure, and rural population. One fatality was reported in Ashe County due to Hurricane Helene. Extensive damage and destruction occurred across most of the county. While wind caused moderate damage in portions of the county due to fallen trees, the primary threat wasflash flooding. Flood damages were largely dependent on proximity to creeks and rivers; as a result, damages were most severe in areas of the county adjacent to theNew River and other streams. Nearly all businesses in downtownLansing sustained major flood damage, as a result of nearby Big Horse Creek overflowing its banks. DowntownWest Jefferson sustained relatively minor flood damage, due to no major streams in the vicinity of the community. Portions ofJefferson sustained moderate flood damage. Numerous bridges andlow water crossings were washed away. It is expected that the repair of all local roads will take several years. Local public schools were closed for over a month while recovery efforts ensued. Multiplenonprofit organizations, including theAmerican Red Cross andThe Salvation Army, have supplemented state and federal support during recovery efforts.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 2,783 | — | |
| 1810 | 3,694 | 32.7% | |
| 1820 | 4,335 | 17.4% | |
| 1830 | 6,987 | 61.2% | |
| 1840 | 7,467 | 6.9% | |
| 1850 | 8,777 | 17.5% | |
| 1860 | 7,956 | −9.4% | |
| 1870 | 9,573 | 20.3% | |
| 1880 | 14,437 | 50.8% | |
| 1890 | 15,628 | 8.2% | |
| 1900 | 19,581 | 25.3% | |
| 1910 | 19,074 | −2.6% | |
| 1920 | 21,001 | 10.1% | |
| 1930 | 21,019 | 0.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,664 | 7.8% | |
| 1950 | 21,878 | −3.5% | |
| 1960 | 19,768 | −9.6% | |
| 1970 | 19,571 | −1.0% | |
| 1980 | 22,325 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 22,209 | −0.5% | |
| 2000 | 24,384 | 9.8% | |
| 2010 | 27,281 | 11.9% | |
| 2020 | 26,577 | −2.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 27,266 | [15] | 2.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16] 1790–1960[17] 1900–1990[18] 1990–2000[19] 2010[20] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 24,028 | 90.41% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 125 | 0.47% |
| Native American | 48 | 0.18% |
| Asian | 102 | 0.38% |
| Pacific Islander | 12 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 743 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,519 | 5.72% |
As of the2020 census, there were 26,577 people, 11,938 households, and 7,894 families residing in the county.
As of the 2020 census, Ashe County has the most proportionately white population among any county in the state.[22]
At the2010 census,[23] there were 27,281 people, 11,755 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23 people/km2). There were 17,342 total housing units at an average density of 37 units per square mile (14 units/km2). Of the total 11,755 housing units were occupied.
The racial makeup of the county was:
4.8% of the population wasHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 11,755 households, out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 10.5% under 10, 10.9% from 10 to 19, 9.9% from 20 to 29, 11.6% from 30 to 39, 13.8% from 40 to 49, 15.2% from 50 to 59, 14% from 60 to 69, 8.7% from 70 to 79, and 5.1% who were 80 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.39 males.
The per capita income was $20,706 and the median household income was $34,056. 18.1% of the population was below the poverty level.
At the2000 census,[23] there were 24,384 people, 10,411 households, and 7,423 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 13,268 housing units at an average density of 31 units per square mile (12 units/km2).
The racial makeup of the county was:
2.42% of the population wasHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 10,411 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 19.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
Themedian income for a household in the county was $28,824, and the median income for a family was $36,052. Males had a median income of $25,666 versus $19,983 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,429. About 10.10% of families and 13.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those ages 65 and over.
Like much ofAppalachia, Ashe County is a stronglyRepublican county. The lastDemocratic presidential nominee to carry Ashe County wasJimmy Carter in1976, and the last to reach forty percent of the county's vote wasBill Clinton in1992. Recent elections have seen Ashe trend rapidly towards the Republican Party.Hillary Clinton andJoe Biden won just 26 percent of the county vote in2016 and2020, respectively. However,Kamala Harris performed marginally better in2024, winning 27 percent of the vote in Ashe.
In 2024, Ashe County was one of 10 counties in western North Carolina that voted more Democratic than in 2020, shifting by nearly 2 points.[24]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 478 | 14.21% | 1,643 | 48.86% | 1,242 | 36.93% |
| 1916 | 1,939 | 50.53% | 1,898 | 49.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 3,808 | 52.60% | 3,431 | 47.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3,952 | 47.68% | 4,333 | 52.28% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1928 | 4,337 | 55.64% | 3,458 | 44.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 3,871 | 44.70% | 4,751 | 54.86% | 38 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 4,557 | 45.08% | 5,552 | 54.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 4,175 | 46.96% | 4,716 | 53.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 4,524 | 50.91% | 4,363 | 49.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 4,266 | 46.74% | 4,633 | 50.76% | 228 | 2.50% |
| 1952 | 4,563 | 50.15% | 4,536 | 49.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,588 | 53.54% | 3,982 | 46.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,823 | 51.86% | 4,477 | 48.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 4,191 | 45.77% | 4,965 | 54.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,894 | 53.15% | 3,426 | 37.21% | 888 | 9.64% |
| 1972 | 5,784 | 62.95% | 3,313 | 36.06% | 91 | 0.99% |
| 1976 | 4,937 | 48.62% | 5,193 | 51.14% | 25 | 0.25% |
| 1980 | 5,643 | 54.72% | 4,461 | 43.26% | 208 | 2.02% |
| 1984 | 6,611 | 62.10% | 4,009 | 37.66% | 25 | 0.23% |
| 1988 | 6,019 | 59.69% | 4,034 | 40.01% | 30 | 0.30% |
| 1992 | 5,200 | 46.97% | 4,624 | 41.77% | 1,246 | 11.26% |
| 1996 | 5,203 | 52.33% | 3,825 | 38.47% | 914 | 9.19% |
| 2000 | 6,226 | 60.35% | 4,011 | 38.88% | 79 | 0.77% |
| 2004 | 7,292 | 61.68% | 4,477 | 37.87% | 54 | 0.46% |
| 2008 | 7,916 | 60.57% | 4,872 | 37.28% | 281 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 8,242 | 65.36% | 4,116 | 32.64% | 252 | 2.00% |
| 2016 | 9,412 | 70.11% | 3,500 | 26.07% | 512 | 3.81% |
| 2020 | 11,451 | 72.41% | 4,164 | 26.33% | 199 | 1.26% |
| 2024 | 11,629 | 71.55% | 4,431 | 27.26% | 193 | 1.19% |
Ashe County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners.[26] In theNorth Carolina Senate, Ashe County lies in the47th district and is represented by RepublicanRalph Hise.[27] In theNorth Carolina House of Representatives, Ashe County lies in the93rd district and is represented by RepublicanRay Pickett.
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Ashe County lies inNorth Carolina's 5th congressional district and is represented by RepublicanVirginia Foxx.
Ashe County is a member of the regionalHigh Country Council of Governments.
TheAshe Post and Times[28] is the newspaper of record for Ashe County, serving readers with the latest news and events throughout the county. It is a weekly, paid circulation newspaper that is published every Wednesday.[28] The newspaper is owned by Adams Publishing Group, which also owns the Watauga Democrat.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ashe County.[29]
† =county seat
| Rank | Name | Type | Population (2020 census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Jefferson | Town | 1,622 |
| 2 | West Jefferson | Town | 1,279 |
| 3 | Lansing | Town | 126 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Geographic data related toAshe County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Ashe County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofAshe County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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