Asheville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern North Carolina. The city sits at the confluence of the Swannanoa and the French Broad Rivers. Because of its high altitude, the summers tend to be mild, with temperatures in the mid 80s. The winters are mild, with temperatures in the mid 30s with only about 13 inches average snowfall. Those moving to Asheville will discover a lovely city with a very unique downtown complete with art deco buildings dating back to the 1920s. It has won numerous awards for being friendly and happy. If you are thinking of moving to Asheville, you will certainly find a city that is unique and very warm to visitors and newcomers alike.
Economy:
The median household income for Asheville is lower than the average for the state. The cost of living in Asheville is close to the national average. Unemployment is only about 6 percent. Even though the city has been hard hit by the recession, it is working hard on attracting new industry and business to the area. Some of the successful businesses there include Dixon Hughes, Emdeon, Industry Nine Componetry and Nypro.
History:
The first known Europeans to settle in the area built a cabin there in 1784. In 1790 there were 1,000 people living in the area. The town was called Morristown and was chosen as the county seat in 1793. In 1797 the city was incorporated and the name was changed to Asheville to honor Samuel Ashe who was the governor of North Carolina. The area was left in economic hardship after the Civil War. In 1880 the railroad arrived and improved things. The population increased and there were textile mills established. The city prospered until the great depression. Eight banks failed during this period. Because of the depressed state that Asheville was in from the 1920s until the 980s, the downtown area remained untouched and the result was that the city is a marvel of art deco architecture now.
Tourism:
One of the most impressive things to do in Asheville is to view the historic downtown area, which has one of the most unique collections of art deco architecture anywhere. It also has an area called the Biltmore Village. Adjacent to the entrance to the Biltmore Estate, the home of George Vanderbilt, it is a small community that was built to accommodate the estate workers. It was panned and built as a small English country village. You can also tour the Biltmore home, which has 250 rooms and is the largest home in the country. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site is the childhood home of author Thomas Wolfe. Bele Chere is a festival held in July that features art, music and food. The Festival of Native Peoples is held in July as well.