Henderson County, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state
of North Carolina
. It is part of the Asheville, North Carolina
, Metropolitan Statistical Area
. As of 2008, the population was 102,367. Its county seat
is Hendersonville
.
. It was named for Leonard Henderson
, Chief Justice
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
from 1829 to 1833.
In 1855 parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County
were combined to form Polk County
, and in 1861 parts of Henderson County and Jackson County
were combined to form Transylvania County
.
Henderson County, which in 1861 encompassed present-day Transylvania County as well, contributed 1,296 soldiers to the Confederate States Army out of its approximately 10,000 population, as well as 130 Union troops. (Figures from Terrell T. Garren's "Mountain Myth: Unionism in Western North Carolina, published 2006).
Henderson County government was centered around Hendersonville
in the 1905 county courthouse
on Main Street, until this structure was replaced by the new Courthouse (c. 1995) on Grove Street in Hendersonville.
The first rail line reached Hendersonville in 1879, ushering in a new era of access to the outside world. However, parts of the county had long been known as retreats, including the "Little Charleston" of Flat Rock, in which South Carolina's Low Country planter families had maintained second homes since the early 19th century.
A major land boom ensued in the 1920s, culminating in the crash of 1929, which severely deflated prices and left structures such as the Fleetwood Hotel atop Jumpoff Mountain incomplete. Population growth in the county has been rapid since the 1960s as a result of an influx from the North, with extensive housing developments now occupying areas that were formerly largely rural.
Other notable historic sites in Henderson County include: the Woodfield Inn (1852), Connemara
-- final home of Carl Sandburg
(originally known as Rock Hill, the home of CSA Secretary of the Treasury Christopher Memminger
) -- and the St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church.
of governments. It is governed by the five-member Henderson County Board of Commissioners, with Bill Moyer currently serving as chairman.
, the county has a total area of 375 square miles (971.2 km²), of which 374 square miles (968.7 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) (0.28%) is water. The county's largest body of water is Lake Summit, a reservoir impounded by the Duke Power Company for hydroelectric generation.
Henderson County is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains
, but is situated in an intermontane
basin formed by the French Broad River
and its tributaries. The county seat is situated in a bowl surrounded by mountains. The lowest point in the county is to be found along the Rocky Broad River at approximately 1,200 feet, and the high point is located on Young Pisgah Mountain at approximately 5,200 feet. The county's major streams are the French Broad River, Mills River
, Green River
, Little River, Mud Creek, Clear Creek, Cane Creek and Hungry River
.
: Blue Ridge, Clear Creek, Crab Creek, Edneyville, Fletcher, Green River, Hendersonville, Hoopers Creek, and Mills River. Of these nine, the city of Hendersonville, the town of Fletcher, and the town of Mills River are constituted as incorporated municipalities. The villages of Flat Rock
and the town of Laurel Park
, are the other two municipalities in the county. Mills River and Flat Rock
are the newest and Flat Rock
use the Mayor/ counsel system, where as the other four municipalities use a counsel / manager system.
of 2008, there were 102,367 people, 42,205 households, and 28,613 families residing in the county. The population density
was 275.83 people per square mile (92/km²). There were 42,996 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.5% White
, 3.3% Black
or African American
, 0.4% Native American
, 0.8% Asian
, and .9% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. The county contains a large but undefined illegal immigrant population, predominantly Mexican in origin, but also coming from other Latin American countries and also countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Undocumented immigrants living in Henderson County may number over 7000, but any estimates of this population are at best approximate. Interestingly, today Russian is the second-largest foreign language in use in Western North Carolina (primarily Asheville and vicinity), after Spanish.
There were 42,205 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males. Henderson County is characterized by its exceptionally large retiree population. Its demographics are comparable to some of the top retiree destinations in Florida, producing a pronounced deviation in favor of the 65 and older population in public policy and accommodation.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,013 and the median income for a family was $44,974. Males had a median income of $31,845 versus $23,978 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $33,500. About 6.80% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
. The present incumbent is a Democrat
, Heath Shuler
. Both the Henderson County Republican
Party and the Henderson County Democratic Party are active, and have their offices in the County seat, Hendersonville
. In 2008, there was a vigorous election battle, which witnessed a Democratic
surge in what has been historically a strongly Republican
area. Possible reasons for this movement away from the Republican Party
may include the large influx into the County in recent years of retirees and young professionals from outside the State, as well as the growing economic concerns of the County's largely rural population.
Political news and civic affairs are covered by the county's daily newspaper, the Times-News of Hendersonville.
Henderson County currently has five incorporated towns/cities: Hendersonville, Fletcher, Flat Rock, Laurel Park and Mills River.
Of these five, only Hendersonville -- the county seat -- possesses the typical characteristics of a dense urban center with significant population. The other incorporations -- particularly Mills River and Flat Rock -- were created for the purpose of preserving specific cultural/historic areas, and to prevent annexation by adjoining towns and cities. Although Fletcher is the most "urban" of the remaining areas, it was formed to avoid annexation by municipalities in adjoining Buncombe County. Mills River, the newest town, was incorporated in 2003.
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...
. It is part of the 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...
, 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...
. As of 2008, the population was 102,367. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Hendersonville
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
.
History
The county was formed in 1838 from the southern part of Buncombe CountyBuncombe 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...
. It was named for Leonard Henderson
Leonard Henderson
Leonard Henderson was an American jurist who served as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1829 to 1833, and an associate judge of that court beforehand....
, Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
from 1829 to 1833.
In 1855 parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
were combined to form Polk County
Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...
, and in 1861 parts of Henderson County and Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
were combined to form Transylvania County
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
.
Henderson County, which in 1861 encompassed present-day Transylvania County as well, contributed 1,296 soldiers to the Confederate States Army out of its approximately 10,000 population, as well as 130 Union troops. (Figures from Terrell T. Garren's "Mountain Myth: Unionism in Western North Carolina, published 2006).
Henderson County government was centered around Hendersonville
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
in the 1905 county courthouse
Henderson County Courthouse (North Carolina)
The Henderson County Courthouse, also known as the Historic Henderson County Courthouse and the Old Henderson County Courthouse, is an historic 3-story brick gold-domed Classical Revival style courthouse building located at One Historic Courthouse Square, corner of 1st and Main streets in...
on Main Street, until this structure was replaced by the new Courthouse (c. 1995) on Grove Street in Hendersonville.
The first rail line reached Hendersonville in 1879, ushering in a new era of access to the outside world. However, parts of the county had long been known as retreats, including the "Little Charleston" of Flat Rock, in which South Carolina's Low Country planter families had maintained second homes since the early 19th century.
A major land boom ensued in the 1920s, culminating in the crash of 1929, which severely deflated prices and left structures such as the Fleetwood Hotel atop Jumpoff Mountain incomplete. Population growth in the county has been rapid since the 1960s as a result of an influx from the North, with extensive housing developments now occupying areas that were formerly largely rural.
Other notable historic sites in Henderson County include: the Woodfield Inn (1852), Connemara
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, located near Hendersonville in Flat Rock, North Carolina, preserves Connemara Farms, the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg...
-- final home of Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
(originally known as Rock Hill, the home of CSA Secretary of the Treasury Christopher Memminger
Christopher Memminger
Christopher Gustavus Memminger was a prominent political leader and the first Secretary of the Treasury for the Confederate States of America.-Early life and career:...
) -- and the St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church.
Law and government
Henderson County is a member of the Land-of-Sky Regional CouncilLand-of-Sky Regional Council
The Land-of-Sky Regional Council is one of the 17 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments established by the North Carolina General Assembly for the purpose of regional planning and administration. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, it serves Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, and...
of governments. It is governed by the five-member Henderson County Board of Commissioners, with Bill Moyer currently serving as chairman.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited 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 county has a total area of 375 square miles (971.2 km²), of which 374 square miles (968.7 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) (0.28%) is water. The county's largest body of water is Lake Summit, a reservoir impounded by the Duke Power Company for hydroelectric generation.
Henderson County is located in 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...
, but is situated in an intermontane
Intermontane
Intermontane is a physiographic adjective formed from the prefix "inter-" and the adjective "montane" Usage includes intermontane basin such as New Zealand's Mackenzie Basin and intermontane...
basin formed by the French Broad River
French Broad River
The French Broad River flows from near the village of Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into the state of Tennessee. Its confluence with the Holston River at Knoxville is the beginning of the Tennessee River....
and its tributaries. The county seat is situated in a bowl surrounded by mountains. The lowest point in the county is to be found along the Rocky Broad River at approximately 1,200 feet, and the high point is located on Young Pisgah Mountain at approximately 5,200 feet. The county's major streams are the French Broad River, Mills River
Mills River (North Carolina)
The Mills River is located in Transylvania and Henderson counties, North Carolina, USA is a tributary of the French Broad River. The river flows out of the Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest in two forks: the North Fork, which drains the slopes just south of the Blue Ridge...
, Green River
Green River (North Carolina)
The Green River in North Carolina, United States, is perhaps best known as one of the extreme whitewater kayaking challenges in North America that is run on a regular basis....
, Little River, Mud Creek, Clear Creek, Cane Creek and Hungry River
Hungry River
The Hungry River flows in western North Carolina, USA. It flows its entire course within Henderson County. It arises in eastern Henderson County and flows southwesterly before it empties into the Green River....
.
Townships
The county is officially divided into nine electoral townshipsTownship (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
: Blue Ridge, Clear Creek, Crab Creek, Edneyville, Fletcher, Green River, Hendersonville, Hoopers Creek, and Mills River. Of these nine, the city of Hendersonville, the town of Fletcher, and the town of Mills River are constituted as incorporated municipalities. The villages of Flat Rock
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
and the town of Laurel Park
Laurel Park, North Carolina
Laurel Park is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,835 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Laurel Park is located at ....
, are the other two municipalities in the county. Mills River and Flat Rock
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
are the newest and Flat Rock
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
use the Mayor/ counsel system, where as the other four municipalities use a counsel / manager system.
Adjacent counties
- Buncombe County, North CarolinaBuncombe 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...
- to the north - Haywood County, North CarolinaHaywood County, North Carolina-National protected areas:* Blue Ridge Parkway * Great Smoky Mountains National Park * Pisgah National Forest -Major Highways & Roads:* Interstate 40* U.S. Highway 19* U.S. Highway 23* U.S. Highway 74* U.S...
- to the northwest - Rutherford County, North CarolinaRutherford County, North Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
- to the northeast - Polk County, North CarolinaPolk County, North CarolinaPolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...
- to the east - Greenville County, South CarolinaGreenville County, South Carolina- External Links :*...
- to the south - Transylvania County, North CarolinaTransylvania County, North CarolinaTransylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
- to the west
National protected areas
- Blue Ridge ParkwayBlue Ridge ParkwayThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
(part) - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic SiteCarl Sandburg Home National Historic SiteCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, located near Hendersonville in Flat Rock, North Carolina, preserves Connemara Farms, the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg...
- Pisgah National ForestPisgah National ForestPisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
(part)
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 2008, there were 102,367 people, 42,205 households, and 28,613 families residing in the county. 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 275.83 people per square mile (92/km²). There were 42,996 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.5% White
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...
, 3.3% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.4% Native American
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...
, 0.8% Asian
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 .9% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. The county contains a large but undefined illegal immigrant population, predominantly Mexican in origin, but also coming from other Latin American countries and also countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Undocumented immigrants living in Henderson County may number over 7000, but any estimates of this population are at best approximate. Interestingly, today Russian is the second-largest foreign language in use in Western North Carolina (primarily Asheville and vicinity), after Spanish.
There were 42,205 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males. Henderson County is characterized by its exceptionally large retiree population. Its demographics are comparable to some of the top retiree destinations in Florida, producing a pronounced deviation in favor of the 65 and older population in public policy and accommodation.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,013 and the median income for a family was $44,974. Males had a median income of $31,845 versus $23,978 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 county was $33,500. About 6.80% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Henderson County is located in the 11th Congressional District of North CarolinaNorth Carolina's 11th congressional district
The 11th Congressional District encompasses most of Western North Carolina, anchored by Asheville. Starting in the 110th Congress, it is represented by Heath Shuler, a Democrat. Shuler defeated 8-term Republican representative Charles H. Taylor in the 2006 midterm elections.The 11th District is...
. The present incumbent is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Heath Shuler
Heath Shuler
Joseph Heath Shuler is a businessman, a former NFL quarterback, and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. Both the Henderson County Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Party and the Henderson County Democratic Party are active, and have their offices in the County seat, Hendersonville
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
. In 2008, there was a vigorous election battle, which witnessed a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
surge in what has been historically a strongly Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
area. Possible reasons for this movement away from the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
may include the large influx into the County in recent years of retirees and young professionals from outside the State, as well as the growing economic concerns of the County's largely rural population.
Political news and civic affairs are covered by the county's daily newspaper, the Times-News of Hendersonville.
Cities and towns
- BalfourBalfour, North CarolinaBalfour is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,200 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Balfour is located at ....
- Barker HeightsBarker Heights, North CarolinaBarker Heights is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2000 census...
- Bat CaveBat Cave, North CarolinaBat Cave is an unincorporated community in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- East Flat RockEast Flat Rock, North CarolinaEast Flat Rock is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,151 at the 2000 census...
- EtowahEtowah, North CarolinaEtowah is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,766 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Etowah is located at ....
- Flat RockFlat Rock, Henderson County, North CarolinaFlat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
(incorporated) - FletcherFletcher, North CarolinaFletcher is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,185 at the 2000 census.Fletcher is home to Asheville Regional Airport, which serves Western North Carolina...
(incorporated) - Fruitland
- HendersonvilleHendersonville, North CarolinaHendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
(incorporated) - Horse Shoe
- Laurel ParkLaurel Park, North CarolinaLaurel Park is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,835 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Laurel Park is located at ....
(incorporated) - Mills RiverMills River, North CarolinaMills River is a town located in Henderson County, North Carolina . It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.It lies in the northwestern part of the county, covering roughly , and located near Etowah and Fletcher...
(incorporated) - Mountain HomeMountain Home, North CarolinaMountain Home is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,169 at the 2000 census...
- SaludaSaluda, North CarolinaThe City of Saluda is located in both Henderson and Polk counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 713 at the 2010 census. Saluda is famous for sitting at the top of the Norfolk Southern Railway's Saluda Grade, the steepest main line standard gauge railroad line east of the...
-- partly in Polk County - TuxedoTuxedo, North CarolinaTuxedo is an unincorporated community in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States.Tuxedo is located on U.S. Route 25 about north of the South Carolina border, at 2,054 feet above sea level....
- Valley HillValley Hill, North CarolinaValley Hill is a census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Zirconia
Henderson County currently has five incorporated towns/cities: Hendersonville, Fletcher, Flat Rock, Laurel Park and Mills River.
Of these five, only Hendersonville -- the county seat -- possesses the typical characteristics of a dense urban center with significant population. The other incorporations -- particularly Mills River and Flat Rock -- were created for the purpose of preserving specific cultural/historic areas, and to prevent annexation by adjoining towns and cities. Although Fletcher is the most "urban" of the remaining areas, it was formed to avoid annexation by municipalities in adjoining Buncombe County. Mills River, the newest town, was incorporated in 2003.