Ashe County ( ) is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

. The population was 26,577 at the 2020 census. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Jefferson.

History

Historical evidence shows that Ashe County was inhabited by Native Americans, which included the

Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

, Creek, and

Shawnee The Shawnee ( ) are a Native American people of the Northeastern Woodlands. Their language, Shawnee, is an Algonquian language. Their precontact homeland was likely centered in southern Ohio. In the 17th century, they dispersed through Ohi ...

tribes. Pieces of broken pottery, arrowheads, and other Native American artifacts have been found, indicating their presence. Most of these artifacts have been found in the Old Fields area of Ashe County. The earliest Europeans to explore Ashe County were Bishop

August Gottlieb Spangenberg August Gottlieb Spangenberg (15 July 170418 September 1792) was a German theologian, minister, and bishop of the Moravian Church. As successor to Nicolaus Zinzendorf as bishop of the Moravian Church, he helped develop and lead international Mora ...

– head of the

Moravian Church The Moravian Church, or the Moravian Brethren ( or ), formally the (Latin: "Unity of the Brethren"), is one of the oldest Protestant denominations in Christianity, dating back to the Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century and the original ...

in America – and his associates, Timothy Horsefield, Joseph Mueller, Henry Antes, Johan Merck, and Herman Loesch. Bishop Spangenberg wrote about his journey in Ashe in a diary that has been preserved by the Moravian church. He was given in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

as a place for his fellow Moravians to settle. The only one of Spangenberg's group to return and permanently settle in Ashe County was Herman Loesch. Other early settlers were David Helton, William Walling, William McLain and

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

, the famous pioneer. With the exception of Boone, these men and their families all settled in Ashe in 1771. During the Revolutionary War one

skirmish Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to Screening (tactical), screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They may be deployed in a sk ...

was fought in Ashe County, the Battle of Big Glades. The battle was fought in July 1780 between a force of Americans, led by Captain Robert Love, and a force of 150 British Loyalists on their way to Charlotte to join

Lord Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805) was a British Army officer, Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and colonial administrator. In the United States and United Kingdom, he is best kn ...

, the British commander in the Southern colonies. The Americans won the skirmish. In the 1780s, Ashe County was a part of the self-declared "

State of Franklin The State of Franklin (also the Free Republic of Franklin, Lost State of Franklin, or the State of Frankland) was an unrecognized proposed U.S. state, state located in present-day East Tennessee, in the United States. Franklin was created in ...

", within the boundaries of its Washington County. The "State of Franklin" marked the beginnings of the State of

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

. The North Carolina legislature created Ashe County in late 1799 with an area of . Many family surnames noted in the 1800 Ashe County Census, such as Bare, Barker, Blevins, Hart, Stamper, Miller, Burkett, Gambill, Baldwin, and Ballou, are still present today. Ashe County was named in honor of Samuel Ashe, a Revolutionary patriot, a superior court judge, and the

Governor of North Carolina The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the United States, U.S. state of North Carolina. Seventy-five people have held the office since the first state governor, Richard Caswell, took office in 1777. The governor serves a ...

from 1795 to 1798. From 1807 to 1913, the county went through numerous boundary changes. In 1849, to form Watauga County, the southwestern part of Ashe County was combined with parts of Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County. Ten years later in 1859, the eastern part of the remainder of Ashe County became Alleghany County.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.72%) is water. Ashe County is located in extreme northwestern

. The county is bordered by two states:

on the north; and

to the west. The county is located entirely within the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

region of North Carolina. Most of the county is located atop a rolling plateau that ranges from above sea level. On the county's southeastern border the land drops sharply to about in neighboring Wilkes County, North Carolina. Numerous mountains and hills dot the plateau. In total, five mountains in the county rise to over . A prominent landmark is Mount Jefferson, which is a State Natural Area and rises to , and towers more than above the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson. The county's main river is the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, and one of the few major rivers in the southeastern United States to flow primarily north instead of south, east, or west. 34 creeks and streams flow into the New River in Ashe County. In 1998, the river was designated an "American Heritage River" by President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...

, and it is famed for its beautiful rural scenery, clear water, fly fishing, and kayaking and canoeing. Isolated by mountainous terrain from the remainder of North Carolina to the east, Ashe County was described in the 19th and early 20th centuries as one of the Lost Provinces of North Carolina. Ashe County generally is known for its mountain scenery, and the tourism industry is an important mainstay of the county's economy. The

Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is the longest linear park in the U.S., runs for through 29 counties in Virginia and ...

runs along the county's southeastern border. Ashe County has historically consisted of rural farmland, with numerous cattle and poultry farms. However, cattle farming in recent decades has given way to the industry of raising Christmas trees. Many cattle farmers have switched to growing Christmas trees. In 1997, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2021, and 2023, an Ashe County Christmas tree was selected as the official

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

Christmas Tree by the National Christmas Tree Association. The tree is put on display in the

Blue Room (White House) The Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the residence of the president of the United States. It is distinctive for its oval shape. The room is used for receptions and receiving lines and is occasionally ...

. As of 2014, Ashe County grows more Christmas trees than any other county in the Eastern United States.

Climate

Ashe County has a considerably different climate than most of the

southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

. Summers typically average around 80 °F (27 °C). Temperatures rarely exceed 90 °F (32 °C), but on rare occasions can reach the mid-90s °F (~35 °C) as they did in 2012—the most recent that 90 °F+ (32 °C+) was observed. 100 °F+ (38 °C+) has never been observed. Summer nights are cool, and temperatures often dip to near 60 °F (16 °C), even in July. In winter there is snow, averaging about 30 inches (0.76 meters) for the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson during the past thirty years. Considerably more snow falls on the peaks and the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. During the 2009–2010 snow season, Jefferson received some 60 inches (1.52 meters) of snow. Snow has been observed as early as around October 1 and as late as around May 1. Ashe County is also a very windy location, especially in winter, when several times each year the Jefferson Airport sees winds gusting 60 to 85 MPH (97 to 137 KPH). Combined with the winds typical for the region, Ashe County can also see extremely cold temperatures during winter. In January 2014, the low temperature dipped below 0 °F (−18 °C) several times, the coldest being −8 °F (−22 °C) on January 30–31. During Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022, Ashe County recorded an atypical low of −15 °F (−26 °C). Single digit temperatures, often just above zero Fahrenheit, are observed occasionally in the winter months. The average winter high is around 45 °F (7 °C), with an average winter low near 20 °F (−7 °C). Despite its southerly latitude, these factors can make Ashe County experience winter conditions typically seen in the

northeastern United States The Northeastern United States (also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. Located on the East Coast of the United States, ...

. The

USDA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commerc ...

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...

s range from Zone 6A (−10 °F to −5 °F or −23 °C to −21 °C) in northwestern Ashe County, to Zone 7B (5 °F to 10 °F or −15 °C to −12 °C) in areas along the county's southeastern border with Wilkes County.

National protected areas

(part) *

Cherokee National Forest The Cherokee National Forest is a United States National Forest located in the U.S. states of Tennessee and North Carolina that was created on June 14, 1920. The forest is maintained and managed by the United States Forest Service. It encompas ...

(part) * Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge

State and local protected areas

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is a List of North Carolina state parks, North Carolina state park in Ashe County, North Carolina, Ashe County, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Jefferson, North Carolina, it includes the peak ...

* New River State Park (part) * Phoenix Lake, Ashe County Park * Pond Mountain Game Land * Three Top Mountain Game Land * West Jefferson Municipal Park

Major water bodies

* Big Horse Creek * Brush Creek * Cranberry Creek * Grassy Creek * Helton Creek * Hoskin Fork * Jerd Branch * Little Horse Creek * Little Phoenix Creek * Long Hope Creek * Mill Creek * Minner Creek * New River * North Fork New River * Obids Creek * Roundabout Creek * South Fork New River

Adjacent counties

Grayson County, Virginia Grayson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,333. Its county seat is Independence. Mount Rogers, the state's highest peak at , is in Grayson County ...

– north * Alleghany County – east * Wilkes County – southeast * Watauga County – southwest * Johnson County, Tennessee – west

Major highways

* * * * * *

Major infrastructure

* Ashe County Airport

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 26,577 people, 11,938 households, and 7,894 families residing in the county. As of the 2020 census, Ashe County has the most proportionately white population among any county in the state.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 27,281 people, 11,755 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,342 total housing units at an average density of . Of the total 11,755 housing units were occupied. The racial makeup of the county was: * 95.5%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

* 0.6%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

* 0.2% Native American * 0.4% Asian * 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

* 2.2% from other races * 1.0% from two or more races. 4.8% of the population was

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. There were 11,755 households, out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.75. In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 10.5% under 10, 10.9% from 10 to 19, 9.9% from 20 to 29, 11.6% from 30 to 39, 13.8% from 40 to 49, 15.2% from 50 to 59, 14% from 60 to 69, 8.7% from 70 to 79, and 5.1% who were 80 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.39 males. The per capita income was $20,706 and the median household income was $34,056. 18.1% of the population was below the poverty level.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 24,384 people, 10,411 households, and 7,423 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 13,268 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was: * 97.16%

* 0.66%

* 0.32% Native American * 0.23% Asian * 0.01%

* 1.05% from other races * 0.56% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population was

or Latino of any race. There were 10,411 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.75. In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 19.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males. The

median The median of a set of numbers is the value separating the higher half from the lower half of a Sample (statistics), data sample, a statistical population, population, or a probability distribution. For a data set, it may be thought of as the “ ...

income for a household in the county was $28,824, and the median income for a family was $36,052. Males had a median income of $25,666 versus $19,983 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $16,429. About 10.10% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those ages 65 and over.

Government and politics

Like much of

Appalachia Appalachia ( ) is a geographic region located in the Appalachian Mountains#Regions, central and southern sections of the Appalachian Mountains in the east of North America. In the north, its boundaries stretch from the western Catskill Mountai ...

, Ashe County is a strongly Republican county. The last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Ashe County was

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

, and the last to reach forty percent of the county's vote was

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

. Recent elections have seen Ashe trend rapidly towards the Republican Party.

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...

and

Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...

won just 26 percent of the county vote in

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

and

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

, respectively. However,

Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, first African American, and ...

performed marginally better in

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

, winning 27 percent of the vote in Ashe. In 2024, Ashe County was one of 10 counties in western North Carolina that voted more Democratic than in 2020, shifting by nearly 2 points. Ashe County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners. In the

North Carolina Senate The North Carolina Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, which along with the North Carolina House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the state legislature of North Carolina. The Senate ...

, Ashe County lies in the 47th district and is represented by Republican Ralph Hise. In the

North Carolina House of Representatives The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, who holds powers si ...

, Ashe County lies in the 93rd district and is represented by Republican Ray Pickett. In the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, Ashe County lies in North Carolina's 5th congressional district and is represented by Republican

Virginia Foxx Virginia Ann Foxx ( Palmieri;Foxx, Virginia Ann
. ''Biographical Directory of ...

. Ashe County is a member of the regional High Country Council of Governments.

2024-2025 Ashe County Sheriff's Office controversy

Media

The ''Ashe Post and Times'' is the newspaper of record for Ashe County, serving readers with the latest news and events throughout the county. It is a weekly, paid circulation newspaper that is published every Wednesday with breaking news posted immediately on ashepostandtimes.com. The newspaper is owned by Adams Publishing Group, which also owns the Watauga Democrat.

Communities

Towns

* Jefferson (county seat and largest community) *

Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...

* West Jefferson

Townships

* Chestnut Hill * Clifton * Creston *

Elk The elk (: ''elk'' or ''elks''; ''Cervus canadensis'') or wapiti, is the second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. ...

* Grassy Creek * Helton * Horse Creek *

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its ...

* Jefferson *

Laurel Laurel may refer to: Plants * Lauraceae, the laurel family * Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel People * Laurel (given name), people with the given name * Laurel (surname), people with the surname * Laurel (mus ...

* North Fork * Obids * Old Fields * Peak Creek * Pine Swamp * Piney Creek * Pond Mountain * Walnut Hill * West Jefferson

Unincorporated communities

* Apple Grove * Ashland * Baldwin * Beaver Creek * Bina * Brandon * Brownwood * Chestnut Hill * Clifton *

Comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, a process called outgassing. This produces an extended, gravitationally unbound atmosphere or Coma (cometary), coma surrounding ...

* Creston * Crumpler * Fig *

Fleetwood Fleetwood is a coastal town in the Borough of Wyre in Lancashire, England, at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 25,939 at the 2011 United Kingdom census, 2011 census. Fleetwood acquired its modern character in the 1830 ...

* Glendale Springs * Grassy Creek * Grayson * Helton *

Husk Husk (or hull) in botany is the outer shell or coating of a seed. In the United States, the term husk often refers to the leafy outer covering of an Ear (botany), ear of maize (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes t ...

* Idlewild * Nathans Creek * Obids * Orion * Parker * Scottville (mostly in Alleghany County) * Shatley Springs * Smethport * Sturgills *

Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...

* Todd, North Carolina, Todd (partly in Watauga County) * Toliver, North Carolina, Toliver * Tuckerdale, North Carolina, Tuckerdale * Wagoner, North Carolina, Wagoner * Warrensville, North Carolina, Warrensville * Weavers Ford, North Carolina, Weavers Ford * Woodford, North Carolina, Woodford * Yates, North Carolina, Yates

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Ashe County. † = ''county seat''

Notable people

, American pioneer and frontiersman who resided in Ashe County for several years * G. B. Grayson, fiddler * Monte Weaver, Major League Baseball player who played as a pitcher from 1931 to 1939

Notable visits to Ashe County

* In 1998, President of the United States, President

and Vice President of the United States, Vice President Al Gore, held a ceremony on the banks of the scenic New River to designate it as an American Heritage River. After the ceremony, both men had lunch at the historic Glendale Springs Inn, also located in Ashe County. * Helen Keller, visited an Ashe County native, Marvin Osborne, in 1944 when he was wounded in France in World War II * Loretta Lynn, sang at the Central Food Market (now a locally-owned restaurant) in West Jefferson in the late 1960s * Roni Stoneman, visitor to Ashe Park in the 1980s

References

External links

* *
New River Notes
{{Authority control Ashe County, North Carolina, 1799 establishments in North Carolina Populated places established in 1799 History of the America (South) Province of the Moravian Church Western North Carolina State of Franklin