Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
For the geographical feature, see Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain is the highest town
east of the Rocky Mountains
, located in both Avery
and Watauga
counties in the U.S. state
of North Carolina
. The population was 310 at the 2000 census. The town is located atop Beech Mountain
, one of the higher peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains
range.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.7 sq mi (17.4 km²), all land.
At an elevation of 5,506 feet (1,678 m), Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated community east of the Mississippi River
. Beech Mountain Ski Resort is one of very few ski areas operating in the Southeastern United States
.
of 2000, there were 310 people, 145 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density
was 46.6 people per square mile (18.0/km²). There were 1,868 housing units at an average density of 280.8 per square mile (108.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White
, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 145 households out of which 15.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.45.
The age distribution was 12.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,500, and the median income for a family was $52,813. Males had a median income of $32,031 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $26,799. About 2.8% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.
Beech Mountain (North Carolina)
For the incorporated town, see Beech MountainBeech Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country and wholly in the Pisgah National Forest. Its elevation reaches 5,506 feet and generates feeder streams for the Elk River. Nestled on the top is the Town of Beech...
Beech Mountain is the highest town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
east of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, located in both Avery
Avery County, North Carolina
- Climate :As a result of its relatively high elevation, Avery County has a Humid continental climate enjoying considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the Eastern US. Likewise, winters are longer, colder and snowier than most other locations in the region. This can be evidenced by the...
and Watauga
Watauga County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The population was 310 at the 2000 census. The town is located atop Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain (North Carolina)
For the incorporated town, see Beech MountainBeech Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country and wholly in the Pisgah National Forest. Its elevation reaches 5,506 feet and generates feeder streams for the Elk River. Nestled on the top is the Town of Beech...
, one of the higher peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
range.
Geography
Beech Mountain is located at 36°12′23"N 81°52′59"W (36.206374, -81.883115).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 6.7 sq mi (17.4 km²), all land.
At an elevation of 5,506 feet (1,678 m), Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated community east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Beech Mountain Ski Resort is one of very few ski areas operating in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 310 people, 145 households, and 95 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 46.6 people per square mile (18.0/km²). There were 1,868 housing units at an average density of 280.8 per square mile (108.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 145 households out of which 15.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.45.
The age distribution was 12.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,500, and the median income for a family was $52,813. Males had a median income of $32,031 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $26,799. About 2.8% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.