N.C. Personal Injury Attorney
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina lies tucked away in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where four distinct seasons display the area's stunning natural splendor. Located at the convergence of the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, Asheville claims just over 41 square miles of Buncombe County. The community was named for Governor Samuel Ashe.
Asheville, population nearly 69,000 (Census 2000 data), is the primary city in the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, where estimates in 2006 suggest a population of more than 398,000. Asheville is western NC's largest city.
Asheville, the Buncombe County seat, serves as a vital hub for the region's business, health and human services. The local $13.2 billion economy stems from a diverse base of industry where information technology, manufacturing, and professional services play a primary role. The business community has the benefit of close proximity to Interstate 26, I-40, and the Asheville Regional Airport in nearby Fletcher. Forbes recently ranked Asheville #23 out of 200 metro areas for its outstanding business and career options.
Tourism plays a vital role in the economic success of Asheville, a city renowned for the luxurious Biltmore Estate. America's largest privately owned home, the Biltmore attracts more than one million visitors each year. Asheville's vibrant Downtown District offers stunning architecture, where more than 200 locally owned stores and a dozen nightclubs provide rich entertainment. Traditionally a mecca for live theatre, dance, and opera, Asheville also boasts a live music scene where concerts, outdoor festivals and street performances are a common occurrence.
The Asheville area hosts a portion of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, where amazing fall foliage peaks each October. Asheville also serves as a regional hub of whitewater kayaking, recognized by American Whitewater as one of the nation's top five whitewater cities. History buffs will enjoy sites such as the Smith-McDowell House and several other first-class museums, while outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Asheville's natural beauty at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, nearby Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Land of the Waterfalls, Linville Caverns, the North Carolina Arboretum, and Pisgah National Forest. Asheville also has a wealth of golf courses, ski resorts, spas and a thriving wine industry. In 2007, Asheville ranked among the world's top 12 must-see destinations in Frommer's travel guides.
Asheville offers impressive civic and social activities that complement the area's top-notch public and private schools. Asheville boasts numerous higher learning facilities located within the city limits and in the surrounding areas. These post-secondary institutions include Black Mountain College, Warren Wilson College, Mars Hill College, South College, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Western Carolina University.
Asheville, North Carolina lures visitors to the area with its enchanting beauty, while an astounding array of cultural and recreational attractions keeps them entertained. Business and educational opportunities abound in this enviable western NC locale. In 2008, Eric Weiner named Asheville "one of the happiest places in the United States" in his book The Geography of Bliss.
