Black Mountain, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Black Mountain is a town in Buncombe County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The town is named for the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge range in the Southern Appalachians.
. They were forced about by the encroaching European-American settlers. A road was built through the area in 1850 and a railroad followed in 1879.
and Montreat Conference Center
.
Black Mountain College
was formerly located within city limits, but the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center, dedicated to the experimental educational institution's history, is now located in downtown Asheville, North Carolina
. Black Mountain also plays host to the Swannanoa Valley Museum. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located down the street from the Museum. In 2002 the community raised 1.2 million dollars to buy the old Town Hall and convert it to the Art Center.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.
of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,340 households, and 2,027 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,165.7 people per square mile (450.3/km²). There were 3,703 housing units at an average density of 574.7 per square mile (222.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.84% White, 6.27% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 3,340 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,541, and the median income for a family was $43,373. Males had a median income of $28,604 versus $22,476 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,509. About 7.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
, which was written by William R. Forstchen
, a resident of the town. Many local institutions and residents are featured in the novel, beneath a thin veneer of fiction.
Literary
Music
Architecture
Athletes and sporting figures
Religion
Film, television, and theater
Politicians
Geography
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Asheville metropolitan area
The Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in western North Carolina...
. The town is named for the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge range in the Southern Appalachians.
History
Black Mountain was incorporated in 1893. The first recorded inhabitants of the area were the CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
. They were forced about by the encroaching European-American settlers. A road was built through the area in 1850 and a railroad followed in 1879.
About the town
The downtown area has many eclectic shops, attracting seasonal tourism, a main staple of the local economy. There are also many quaint bed and breakfasts. The town is near several Christian retreat areas including RidgecrestRidgecrest, North Carolina
Ridgecrest is an unincorporated settlement in eastern Buncombe County, North Carolina, off Interstate 40/U.S. Route 70. The community is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Montreat Conference Center
Montreat Conference Center
Montreat Conference Center located in Montreat, North Carolina, United States, is a conference center serving the Presbyterian Church...
.
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain College, a school founded in 1933 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, was a new kind of college in the United States in which the study of art was seen to be central to a liberal arts education, and in which John Dewey's principles of education played a major role...
was formerly located within city limits, but the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center, dedicated to the experimental educational institution's history, is now located in downtown Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. Black Mountain also plays host to the Swannanoa Valley Museum. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located down the street from the Museum. In 2002 the community raised 1.2 million dollars to buy the old Town Hall and convert it to the Art Center.
Geography
Black Mountain is located at 35°37′9"N 82°19′32"W (35.619208, -82.325434).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 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.
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 7,511 people, 3,340 households, and 2,027 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 1,165.7 people per square mile (450.3/km²). There were 3,703 housing units at an average density of 574.7 per square mile (222.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.84% White, 6.27% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 3,340 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,541, and the median income for a family was $43,373. Males had a median income of $28,604 versus $22,476 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 $20,509. About 7.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
In popular culture
Black Mountain is the setting for the 2009 novel One Second AfterOne Second After
One Second After is a 2009 novel by American writer William R. Forstchen. The novel deals with an unexpected electromagnetic pulse attack on the United States as it affects the people living in and around the town of Black Mountain, North Carolina....
, which was written by William R. Forstchen
William R. Forstchen
William R. Forstchen is an American author who began publishing in 1983 with the novel Ice Prophet. He is a Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina...
, a resident of the town. Many local institutions and residents are featured in the novel, beneath a thin veneer of fiction.
Notable people and places
Education- Black Mountain CollegeBlack Mountain CollegeBlack Mountain College, a school founded in 1933 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, was a new kind of college in the United States in which the study of art was seen to be central to a liberal arts education, and in which John Dewey's principles of education played a major role...
- Montreat CollegeMontreat CollegeMontreat College is a private, four-year, liberal arts Christian college with campuses located in Black Mountain, Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, United States and its primary campus in Montreat, North Carolina. The college offers on-campus traditional four-year degrees, an adult studies...
Literary
- Patricia CornwellPatricia CornwellPatricia Cornwell is a contemporary American crime writer. She is widely known for writing a popular series of novels featuring the heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner.-Early life:...
- William R. ForstchenWilliam R. ForstchenWilliam R. Forstchen is an American author who began publishing in 1983 with the novel Ice Prophet. He is a Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina...
Music
- McDibbsMcDibbsMcDibbs, a music house in Black Mountain, North Carolina pioneered the development of both the non-smoking bar, and the now thriving Asheville area music scene. David Peele founded McDibbs in the late 70's to showcase local talent. His innovations in running McDibbs eventually drew high profile...
(music venue) - Lake Eden Arts FestivalLake Eden Arts FestivalLake Eden Arts Festival is a non-profit organization established to build community and enrich lives through the arts, locally and globally, through festivals, events, mentoring, and educational programs....
- David WilcoxDavid Wilcox (American musician)David Patrick Wilcox is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter guitarist. He has been active in the music business since the late 1980s.-Career:...
- David LaMotteDavid LaMotteDavid LaMotte, born on April 25, 1968 in Norfolk, Virginia, is a singer-songwriter based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His work includes original folk music, children's music, lectures and peacemaking...
- Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
- The Morris BrothersThe Morris BrothersThe Morris Brothers were an American country music group particularly popular in the 1930s, although they continued to play together occasionally until the 1970s.-Biography:The Morris Brothers were born in Old Fort, North Carolina...
Architecture
- Rafael GuastavinoRafael GuastavinoRafael Guastavino Moreno was a Valencian architect and builder, creator of the Guastavino tile, a "Tile Arch System" patented in the US in 1885. It is a technique for constructing robust, self-supporting arches and architectural vaults using interlocking terracotta tiles and layers of mortar...
Athletes and sporting figures
- Brad Daugherty (NBA All-Star, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
[commentator, and NASCAR team owner) - Brad JohnsonBrad Johnson (American football)James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
(NFL quarterback) - Sammy StewartSammy StewartSamuel Lee "Sammy" Stewart , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978-1987. He attended Owen High School in Asheville and Montreat College, and signed his first pro contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 1975...
(Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher) - Steven Hensley (Minor League BaseballMinor league baseballMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitcher) - Roy WilliamsRoy Williams (coach)Roy Williams is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina. After averaging nearly an 80% win percentage in 15 seasons at the University of Kansas, he became the eighteenth head coach at North Carolina when he replaced Matt Doherty in 2003...
(NCAA Basketball coach)
Religion
- Billy Graham
- Franklin GrahamFranklin GrahamWilliam Franklin Graham III , known publicly as Franklin Graham, is an American Christian evangelist and missionary. He is the president and CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse.He currently lives in Boone,...
(evangelist) - L. Nelson BellL. Nelson BellLemuel Nelson Bell was a medical missionary in China and the father-in-law of famous evangelist Billy Graham. Few people had more influence on Billy Graham than Bell. -Life:Bell was born in Longdale, Virginia...
(missionary, Christianity Today founder)
Film, television, and theater
- Matt LutzMatt LutzMatt Lutz is an American film, television, and theatre actor, who played Phil Newberry on the Hallmark Channel's "McBride" murder-mystery series from 2004–2006, and has had significant roles in the feature films "A Walk to Remember", "Bringing Down the House", and "End of the Spear"...
(actor)
Politicians
- Roy A. TaylorRoy A. TaylorRoy Arthur Taylor was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.Born in Vader, Washington, Taylor graduated from Asheville-Biltmore College, Asheville, North Carolina, 1929....
(U.S. Congress)
Geography
- Great Craggy MountainsGreat Craggy MountainsThe Great Craggy Mountains, commonly called the Craggies, are a mountain range in western North Carolina, United States. They are a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains and encompass an area of approx. 194 sq mi . They are situated in Buncombe County, North Carolina, 14 miles northeast of Asheville...
- Black MountainsBlack Mountains (North Carolina)The Black Mountains are a mountain range in western North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. They are part of the Blue Ridge Province of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Blacks are the highest mountains in the Eastern United States...
- Mount MitchellMount MitchellMount Mitchell can refer to:* Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States* Mount Mitchell , in Jasper National Park of Canada* Mount Mitchell * Mount Mitchell , in Queensland...
- Swannanoa RiverSwannanoa RiverThe Swannanoa River flows through the Swannanoa Valley of western North Carolina, and is a major tributary to the French Broad River. It begins at its headwaters in Black Mountain, NC, however, it also has a major tributary near its headwaters: Flat Creek, which begins on the slopes of Mount...