The city of Asheville has been known by many names. Initially, it was dubbed "Eden Land" by Scottish-Irish immigrants from Northern Ireland after the Revolutionary war.

In 1794, it was also called Morristown. The last of its monikers came in tribute to the Governor of North Carolina in 1797 Samuel Ashe; hence Asheville with an “e”.

Soon Asheville became a commerce hub as roads and railways developed. The climate of the region also helped the city to gain notoriety as a health resort. In fact, one of the most important occurrences in the history of this city happened as a result of that notoriety.

In 1888, George Vanderbilt and his mother visited Asheville to enjoy the healthful mountain climate and that coupled with the awesome beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains were instrumental in the choosing of Asheville for his grand country estate now known as The Biltmore Estate.

Mr. Vanderbilt purchased 125,000 acres over a period of time and in 1889, under his direction, hundreds of artisans worked more than six years to construct what is now Asheville’s most important attraction, The Biltmore Estate. This home is modeled after three 16th century French Renaissance chateaux in the Loire Valley. It is currently visited by 900,00 visitors annually from all over the world.

Asheville experienced its greatest boon during the 1920’s with residential development and new Art Deco style buildings such as The Jackson Building, City Building, Buncombe Courthouse, Grove Arcade, Battery Park Hotel (later converted to Senior resident living facilities) and Flat Iron Building. In fact, Asheville has preserved more art deco architecture than any other city in the Southeast except Miami Beach, Florida.

In the 1930’s, two great national attractions were developed - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and The Blue Ridge
Parkway, once again assuring Asheville of a steady stream of visitors. In fact the Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park in the United States.

Asheville, North Carolina's unique natural and architectural beauty, healthy and moderate climate and excellent health facilities continue to place it in enviable ranking of cities in the United States. It is consistently ranked by many national publications as among the best places in our country to live, work and retire. There are countless activities, events and cultural opportunities to participate in, as well, making Asheville an exciting and unique center for tourism.

Located here, all in one place, are fabulous ideas for maximizing your experience during your trip to Asheville.

Demographics

Population of Asheville: 68,889
Elevation: 2,134 feet
Area: 35 miles
Number of Malls: 2
Airport: 1
Climate: 4 seasons but moderate