Asheville (a.k.a. 'Ashevegas') is a city located 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 2004, the Census Bureau estimates that Asheville's population is 70,400.
Attractive to hip and creative young people as well as to hip and creative retirees, Asheville has been listed in both Rolling Stone and Modern Maturity as an ideal place to live or visit. The open and accepting character of the city is evidenced by the many lifestyles and beliefs that coexist peacefully there. The art scene is especially active, and Asheville has become a mecca for potters, painters and musicians, with much of the current creativity inspired by the folk art and old ballads of early Scottish, English and Scots-Irish settlers. Since the publication of Joshua P. Warren's book Haunted Asheville, in 1996, paranormal investigators from the around the world have flocked to the city's famed mysterious sites like Helen's Bridge and Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria.
Asheville is home to University of North Carolina at Asheville, or UNCA, a liberal arts college in North Asheville of about 3500 students and part of the University of North Carolina System. It is the birthplace of actress Eileen Fulton, who has starred on the soap opera As the World Turns for over forty-five years.
The city is home to the French Broad Food Coop, as well as the Asheville Community Resource Center.
Asheville is located at 35°34'48" North, 82°33'21" West (35.579862, -82.555810).
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.
As of the census of 2000, there are 68,889 people, 30,690 households, and 16,726 families residing in the city. The population density is 650.0/km2 (1,683.4/mi2). There are 33,567 housing units at an average density of 316.7/km2 (820.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 3.76% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 30,690 households out of which 22.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% are married couples living together, 13.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.5% are non-families. 36.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.14 and the average family size is 2.81.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $32,772, and the median income for a family is $44,029. Males have a median income of $30,463 versus $23,488 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,024. 15.5% of the population and 10.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.9% of those under the age of 18 and 10.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Several ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Asheville in honor of this town.
Asheville has several sister cities worldwide, including:
Asheville was incorporated on Jan. 27, 1798. The city was not built upon an organized plan of city squares, markets and parks as it looks today, but almost carved out of the surrounding mountains. Originally, Asheville had closer relations to Tennessee than its registered state, North Carolina. This was because there was no road connecting it to the rest of the state. Asheville was isolated from the outside world until late 1880, with the opening of railroads. Here was born Roberta Flack in 1939.
Source:
AshevilleNorthCarolina.com
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