Banner Elk is a town in

Avery County Avery County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,806. The county seat is Newland. The county seat was initially established in Elk Park when the county was first formed, bu ...

, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2010 census. Banner Elk is home to

Lees–McRae College Lees–McRae College is a private college in Banner Elk, North Carolina, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Lees–McRae College sits in the Appalachian Mountains at above sea level, the highest elevation of any American college or un ...

History

The area surrounding the Elk River was inhabited by the Cherokee before western settlement, although no evidence of a permanent Cherokee settlement has ever been found. It is likely the area was used for hunting and fishing. The first permanent settlement was established by Martin L. Banner in 1848. Although the Banner family originally came from Wales, Martin Banner moved from Forsyth County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Eventually, the Banner family grew to 55 members, and the area where they lived became known as Banner's Elk. This name was later shortened to Banner Elk when the town was incorporated in 1911.Heritage, 1976 The

Banner Elk Hotel Banner Elk Hotel is a historic hotel building located at Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina Avery County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,806. The county seat is Newl ...

and Robert Chester and Elsie H. Lowe House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 1,049 people, 277 households, and 147 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 811 people, 215 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density was 679.8 people per square mile (263.1/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 243.1 per square mile (94.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.26% White, 3.95% African American, 0.62% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population. Of the 215 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.65. In the town, the population was spread out, with 10.7% under the age of 18, 47.8% from 18 to 24, 16.8% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males

Geography

Banner Elk is located at (36.159561, −81.871649). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Banner Elk is located in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

's humid continental climate zone due to its elevation, which gives it a climate more like that of Altoona, Pennsylvania, than

Asheville, North Carolina Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous cit ...

, during the winter. During the summer the temperatures are much like a mountain lake town in New Hampshire. The town typically has cold, snowy winters and mild summers.

Attractions

During summertime there is hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and other activities. The largest lake in the area, Watauga Lake, is a favorite spot just 30 minutes away for boating, fishing and wake boarding. In the winter the main activities are skiing and snowboarding. There are two slopes in the area: Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain. There was formerly a third, but in the winter of 2008-2009, Hawks' Nest became an all-tubing park, the largest in the Eastern United States. There are several restaurants in Banner Elk in addition to a post office, bank, and many lodging choices. The town has hosted the

Woolly Worm The Arctiinae (formerly called the family Arctiidae) are a large and diverse subfamily of moths with around 11,000 species found all over the world, including 6,000 neotropical species.Scoble, MJ. (1995). ''The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and D ...

festival over the third weekend of October since 1978. In the 1970s, Beech Mountain was home to a theme park based on ''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...

'', called The Land of Oz, but it closed after 10 years. The attraction was never fully removed, and there have been various attempts to revive it.

Education

is a private four-year college in Banner Elk. Banner Elk has a K-5th school, run by the Avery County School system.

Photo gallery

Image:Shawneehaw Creek into Mill Pond.jpg, Mill Pond, where

Shawneehaw Creek The Shawneehaw Creek is a stream in the North Carolina High Country and is named after a Cherokee word for a tree that blooms early in the Spring, the current name for the tree is Serviceberry, or sarvisberry, and is located in the town of Banner ...

and the Elk River merge (2009-12-26) Image:The Shawneehaw Creek over bridge.jpg, Unique bridge that fords Shawneehaw Creek (2009-12-26)

References

External links

Town of Banner Elk official website

Avery Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Towns in North Carolina Towns in Avery County, North Carolina Populated places established in 1848