When you travel to Asheville in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, there's no guarantee you'll meet a native Carolinian. You're just as likely to find a Long Islander or a Bostonian who came and never left. Stressed-out urban warriors who come here to vacation find themselves renewed by the area's mountainous beauty, its laid-back attitude and artistic atmosphere. Visitors appreciate Asheville's mild climate and the bounty from local organic farms. They find themselves returning again and again, eventually settling in to pursue careers in massage therapy, to lose themselves in the ceramic arts or to open the vegetarian restaurant of their dreams.

Indeed, Western North Carolina has become such a nexus of alternative lifestyles that the word alternative has almost lost its meaning here. Environmental awareness, natural medicine and vegetarianism are commonplace in Asheville, which locals proudly call the Paris of the South.

- Quick Facts -

Population (2010)
City	83,393
Bucombe County	238,318
Density	1704.6 / sq. mi.(657.94/km)
	US Census Bureau estimate

Time Zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)

2010 Property Taxes
County	0.525 per $100 Valuation
City	0.945 per $100 Valuation
	Buncombe County Tax Department (2010)

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Building Permit Fees
Buncombe County Libraries
Climate
Demographics
NC Drivers License
Education
Geography
Metropolitan Area
Neighborhoods
Vehicle Registration
Voter Registration
Utilities

- 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 107.0 km (41.3 mi). 106.0 km (40.9 mi) of it is land and 1.0 km (0.4 mi) of it is water. The total area is 0.94% water.

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- Climate -

Asheville's weather resembles the weather of the rest of the southeastern U.S., but with somewhat cooler temperatures due to the higher altitude. The highest recorded temperature in Asheville was 99°F (37°C) in 1983, and the lowest recorded temperature was -17°F (-27°C) in 1985. In winter, temperatures may fall below freezing, and Asheville almost always receives snow and freezing rain a few times each year.

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- Neighborhoods -

Central - includes the neighborhoods of Downtown, Montford, and Kenilworth. Montford was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1980.
North - includes the neighborhoods of Albemarle Park, Beaverdam, Grove Park, and Kimberly. Albemarle Park was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1989.
South - includes the neghborhoods of Biltmore Village, Reynolds, and Skyland. Biltmore Village was designated a local historic district by the Asheville City Council in 1987.
East - includes the neighborhoods of Haw Creek, Oakley, and Oteen.
West - includes the neighborhoods of Emma, Malvern Hills, and West Asheville.

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- Demographics -

According to Asheville city Census 2010 results, the population of the area was approximately 83,393 people. From 2000 to 2010, the Asheville city population growth percentage was 17.4% (or from 68,889 people to 83,393 people). 18.5% of the Asheville city residents were under 18 years of age. Census 2010 race data for Asheville city include the racial breakdown percentages of 13.2% black, 1.4% Asian and 6.5% Hispanic. Also, there were 41,626 housing units in Asheville city, 89.8% of which were occupied housing units.

Asheville, North Carolina Demographics

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- 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 2005 population estimate - 392,831.

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, 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), Oteen, Skyland, and Swannanoa.

Though technically beyond the boundaries of the MSA, a number of other nearby towns, including Brevard (an hour drive) and Old Fort (a 30 minute drive) are also often considered part of the Asheville region.

Asheville is also part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville Designated Market Area (DMA), a grouping corresponding to TV and radio markets.

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- Education -

Asheville and its surrounding area is home to several institutions of higher education.

- Public and Private Schools -

To enroll children in Asheville City or Buncombe County public schools, parents must first call or visit the neighborhood school. To register a student entering a school for the first time, parents need the birth certificate, immunization record, previous report card, and medical release from the county Health Department or a personal physician. A Social Security number is required.

To confirm which system (city or county) manages the nearest neighborhood school, call (828) 232-4240. Transfers within and between the systems may be allowed for special circumstances, but processing and tranfer fees are usually required.

Both systems are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the state of North Carolina.

The Asheville City Schools district includes:

Asheville High School

Asheville High has been ranked by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top 100 high schools in the United States.

Asheville Middle School

Asheville City Elementary Schools include:

The Buncombe County School system operates high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools both inside and outside the city of Asheville, including six additional high schools:

Each county high school has, as feeder schools, a middle school:

The school year usually begins in mid-August, and typically ends in late May or early June.

Buncombe County Elementary Schools include::

Two private residential high schools are located in the Asheville area:

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 enroll local day students including:

In addition:

New City Christian School (a private school whose mission is to educate low-income students)

Asheville is also home to several charter schools, including:

Francine Delany New School for Children (one of the first charter schools in North Carolina)

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- Vehicle Registration -

Asheville, NC Tag Office Lobby - South Forest Shopping Center

Auto license tags need to be purchased within a 30 day period upon relocating to the state. Bring your car title, proof of insurance and odometer reading to the following license tag offices:

Tag Office East * 85 Tunnel Road * (828) 252-8526
Tag Office South * 780 Hendersonville Road * (828) 277-7767

For more information Click Here

Vehicles must be inspected within 10 days of the date of registration. Most quick oil change stores along with auto service garages perform inspections.

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- NC Drivers License -

New residents need to apply for a North Carolina driver's license within a 30 day period upon relocating to the state. Written tests and eye exams are required. You are also able to register to vote at the DMV office. Please visit the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles at one of the following locations:

DMV West * 1624 Patton Avenue * (828) 251-6065

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- Voter Registration -

To vote in city, county, state and federal elections, you must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, mentally sound and not under conviction of a felony. You must register 30 days prior to the election you wish to vote in. You may register to vote in Asheville and Buncombe County immediately after establishing residency.

Registration may be done by mail or in person at the Buncombe County Board of Elections office, the Pack Memorial Library and several other locations. Call for the nearest registration site. (Or, if you also need to get a NC driver's license, you may register to vote at the DMV office.)