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Buncombe County, NC Visitor Center

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Buncombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population estimate for 2010 was 238,318. Its county seat is Asheville.

Downtown Asheville

History

The county was formed in 1791 from parts of Burke County and Rutherford County. It was named for Edward Buncombe, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War, who was captured at the Battle of Germantown.

In 1808 the western part of Buncombe County became Haywood County. In 1833 parts of Burke County and Buncombe County were combined to form Yancey County, and in 1838 the southern part of what was left of Buncombe County became Henderson County. In 1851 parts of Buncombe County and Yancey County were combined to form Madison County. Finally, in 1925 the Broad River township of McDowell County was transferred to Buncombe County.

In 1820, a U.S. Congressman, whose district included Buncombe County, unintentionally contributed a word to the English language. In the Sixteenth Congress, after lengthy debate on the Missouri Compromise, members of the House called for an immediate vote on that important question. Instead, Felix Walker rose to address his colleagues, insisting that his constituents expected him to make a speech "for Buncombe." It was later remarked that Walker's untimely and irrelevant oration was not just for Buncombe--it "was Buncombe." Thus, buncombe, afterwards spelled bunkum and then shortened to bunk, became a term for empty, nonsensical talk.

Law and government

There are 100 counties in North Carolina and each one has a Board of Commissioners. In Buncombe County we have five Commissioners serving four-year terms. They are elected by the people in partisan elections.

In Buncombe County the Chairman is elected separately and also serves a four-year term. The Board oversees all the departments in the County through a County Manager form of government. The Board sets policy that is carried out by the County Manager.

The Commissioners enact policies such as establishment of the property tax rate, regulation of erosion control, noise and subdivisions outside municipal jurisdiction, and adoption of the annual budget.

Commissioners meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month in Room 204 of the Courthouse in downtown Asheville.

Our County Commissioners

David Gantt, an attorney, is serving his fourth term on the Board. He is currently an active member of the Boards of Metropolitan Sewerage District, Asheville Regional Airport Authority, Eblen Charities, United Way, Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council, Land of Sky Regional Council, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee. Commissioner Gantt is an advocate for education and the working people of Buncombe County. David Gantt, Chairman 82 Church Street Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: (828) 252-2852 Fax: (828) 254-4539 Email: commissioner@davidgantt.com

A retired high school coach and principal, Bill Stanley is serving his sixth term.  In addition to his local involvement in civic affairs, he is a former President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and is currently serving as a member of the MPO, RPO, Land of Sky Regional Council and the Civic Center Task Force. Commissioner Stanley was recently appointed to the NC Advisory Commission on Military Affairs by Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight. Bill Stanley, Vice Chairman Phone: (828) 250-4007 Fax: (828) 255-5535 Email: bill.stanley@buncombecounty.org

Commissioner K. Ray Bailey was elected to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2008.  He is the President Emeritus of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College where he served for 42 years serving the last 15 as the President.  Commissioner Bailey currently serves on the Economic Development Coalition and the Tourism Development Authority. K. Ray Bailey, Commissioner Phone: (828) 273-1921 Fax: (828) 250-6072 Email: ray.bailey@buncombecounty.org

Commissioner Holly Jones was elected to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2008. She served on Asheville City Council from 2001-2008. She currently serves on the Transportation Advisory Committee, Community Energy Advisory Committee and Land of Sky Council. Commissioner Jones works as the executive director of the YWCA in downtown Asheville. Holly Jones, Commissioner 322 Westover Drive Asheville, NC 28801 Phone: (828) 250-4004 Fax: (828) 255-5535 Email: holly.jones@buncombecounty.org

A fifth generation native of Buncombe County and a retired Director of Vocational Education for the Asheville City Schools, Carol Peterson is serving her second term of office. She also serves on the Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees, Buncombe County Board of Health, Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee, Smart Start Board and Governmental Affairs Task Force. Carol Peterson, Commissioner Phone: (828) 250-4005 Fax: (828) 255-5535 Phone: (828) 250-4004 Fax: (828) 255-5535 Email: carol.peterson@buncombecounty.org

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 660 square miles, of which 656 square miles is land and 4 square miles is water.

The French Broad River enters the county at its border with Henderson County to the south and flows north into Madison County. The source of the Swannanoa River, which joins the French Broad River in Asheville, is in northeast Buncombe County at Mount Mitchell. 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.

Cities & Townships

The county is divided into twenty-one cities, townships & communities which include:

• Asheville
• Avery Creek
• Bent Creek
• Biltmore Forest
• Black Mountain
• Broad River
• Fairview
• Flat Creek
• French Broad
• Ivy
• Leicester
• Limestone
• Lower Hominy
• Montreat
• Reems Creek
• Royal Pines
• Sandy Mush
• Swannanoa
• Upper Hominy
• Weaverville
• Woodfin

(Click map above to enlarge)

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 238,318 people, 96,465 households residing in the county out of which 6.1% had children under the age of 5, 20.8% had children under the age of 18 and 15.9% were over the age of 65. The average persons per household was 2.47. The population density was 361 per square mile. There were 110,587 housing units at an average density of 168 per square mile.

The racial makeup of the county was:

• 87.4% White
• 6.4% Black or African American
• 0.4% Native American
• 1.0% Asian
• 0.1% Pacific Islander
• 6.0% Hispanic or Latino
• 2.1% from two or more races

The median income for a household in the county was $40,979. The per capita income for the county was $26,209. 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line.