Asheville, North Carolina Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
The current estimated population of Asheville, North Carolina, is 94,067, with approximately 48% male and 52% female. The population has grown steadily due to Asheville’s status as a cultural and tourist destination in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
City Facts
- Year Founded: 1797
- County Affiliated: Buncombe County
- Land Area: 45.3 square miles
- Population Density: 2,076 people per square mile
- Area Code: 828
- Zip Codes: 28801, 28803, 28804, 28805, 28806
Geography and Location
Asheville, North Carolina, is located in the western part of the state, within Buncombe County, and is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts scene, and historic architecture. Asheville enjoys a humid subtropical climate, with four distinct seasons, including mild winters and warm summers. The surrounding geography includes mountain ranges, rivers, and forests, offering numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, and biking. Asheville’s downtown area is known for its unique blend of historic buildings, art galleries, local restaurants, and breweries, making it a cultural hub for the region. The nearby Blue Ridge Parkway and the Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned home in the U.S., attract tourists year-round. Asheville’s economy is driven by tourism, healthcare, education, and small businesses, contributing to its reputation as one of the most desirable places to live and visit in the southeastern U.S.
Demographics
Median resident age: 39.2 years
Median household income: $32,772
Median house value: $109,100
Population by Race
Races in Asheville:
- White Non-Hispanic (76.0%)
- Black (17.6%)
- Hispanic (3.8%)
- Two or more races (1.6%)
- Other race (1.5%)
- American Indian (0.8%)
Ancestries: English (13.7%), German (11.5%), Irish (10.7%), United States (9.9%), Scotch-Irish (5.6%), Scottish (3.8%).
Elevation: 2134 feet
Land area: 40.9 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in Asheville
- High school or higher: 82.3%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.4%
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8%
- Unemployed: 6.1%
- Mean travel time to work: 17.8 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Asheville city
- Never married: 29.1%
- Now married: 46.8%
- Separated: 2.7%
- Widowed: 9.4%
- Divorced: 11.9%
5.2% Foreign born (2.3% Latin America, 1.7% Europe, 0.9% Asia).
Population change in the 1990s: +2,461 (+3.7%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers in Asheville:
- MEMORIAL MISSION HOSPITAL (509 BILTMORE AVE)
- THOMS REHABILITATION HOSP (68 SWEETEN CREEK RD)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Asheville:
- PARK RIDGE HOSPITAL (about 11 miles; FLETCHER, NC)
- JULIAN F KEITH ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE TX (about 17 miles; BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC)
- MARGARET R PARDEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; HENDERSONVILLE, NC)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Asheville:
- ASHEVILLE REGIONAL (about 11 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: AVL)
- GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG INTL (about 54 miles; GREER, SC; Abbreviation: GSP)
- DONALDSON CENTER (about 59 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Abbreviation: GYH)
Other public-use airports nearest to Asheville:
- MEYERS (about 14 miles; CANDLER, NC; Abbreviation: N39)
- HENDERSONVILLE (about 22 miles; HENDERSONVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: 0A7)
- TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY (about 23 miles; BREVARD, NC; Abbreviation: 22W)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/Universities in Asheville:
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE (Full-time enrollment: 2,759; Location: ONE UNIVERSITY HTS; Public; Website: www.unca.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
- ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,728; Location: 340 VICTORIA RD; Public; Website: www.asheville.cc.nc.us)
- CECILS JUNIOR COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 96; Location: 1567 PATTON AVE; Private, for-profit)
- ALPHA BEAUTY SCHOOL-ASHEVILLE (Location: 85 TUNNEL RD INNSBRUCK MALL; Private, for-profit)
Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Asheville:
- SPARTANBURG TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 45 miles; SPARTANBURG, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,086)
- FURMAN UNIVERSITY (about 46 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,915)
- WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY (about 47 miles; CULLOWHEE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 5,843)
- BOB JONES UNIVERSITY (about 51 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 3,577)
- EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 52 miles; JOHNSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 9,498)
- CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (about 52 miles; CLEMSON, SC; Full-time enrollment: 15,962)
- GREENVILLE TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 54 miles; GREENVILLE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 6,157)
Schools
Public high schools in Asheville:
- A C REYNOLDS HIGH (Students: 1,440; Location: 1 ROCKET DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)
- T C ROBERSON HIGH (Students: 1,437; Location: 250 OVERLOOK ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
- ASHEVILLE HIGH (Students: 1,225; Location: 419 MCDOWELL STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)
- CLYDE A ERWIN HIGH (Students: 1,128; Location: 60 LEES CREEK ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
- BUNCOMBE COUNTY MIDDLE COLLEGE (Students: 75; Location: 340 VICTORIA ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
- CAREER EDUCATION CENTER (Location: 175 BINGHAM ROAD; Grades: 11 – 12)
Private high schools in Asheville:
- CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL (Students: 543; Location: 1345 HENDERSONVILLE RD; Grades: PK – 12)
- ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 445; Location: PO BOX 9038; Grades: PK – 12)
- TEMPLE BAPTIST SCHOOL (Students: 222; Location: 985 1/2 PATTON ANE; Grades: KG – 12)
- MERRIMON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLOL (Students: 222; Location: 10 BEN LIPPEN SCHOOL RD; Grades: PK – 12)
- HAPPY VALLEY CHR ACADEMY (Students: 39; Location: P O BOX 17415; Grades: 1 – 12)
Biggest public primary/middle schools in Asheville:
- CLYDE A ERWIN MIDDLE (Students: 1,074; Location: 20 ERWIN HILLS ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
- WILLIAM W ESTES ELEMENTARY (Students: 905; Location: 275 OVERLOOK ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- ASHEVILLE MIDDLE (Students: 748; Location: 197 S FRENCH BROAD AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
- SAND HILL-VENABLE ELEM (Students: 731; Location: 154 SAND HILL SCHOOL ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- WEST BUNCOMBE ELEMENTARY (Students: 682; Location: 175 ERWIN HILLS ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- A C REYNOLDS MIDDLE (Students: 679; Location: 2 ROCKET DRIVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
- OAKLEY ELEMENTARY (Students: 471; Location: 753 FAIRVIEW ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- EMMA ELEMENTARY (Students: 464; Location: 37 BRICKYARD ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- HAW CREEK ELEMENTARY (Students: 446; Location: 21 TRINITY CHAPEL ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
- CLAXTON ELEMENTARY (Students: 394; Location: 241 MERRIMON AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)
Private primary/middle schools in Asheville:
- ASHEVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 257; Location: 12 CULVERN ST; Grades: PK – 8)
- EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 156; Location: 51 WILBURN PLACE; Grades: PK – 5)
- NAZARENE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 139; Location: 385 HAZEL MILL ROAD; Grades: PK – 5)
- RAINBOW MTN CHILDRENS SCHOOL (Students: 99; Location: 574 HAYWOOD RD; Grades: PK – 8)
- RHEMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 62; Location: 826 HAYWOOD RD; Grades: KG – 8)
- BELL’S SCHOOL (Students: 38; Location: 43 N LIBERTY STREET; Grades: PK – KG)
- HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 14; Location: 215 BULL CREEK ROAD; Grades: UG – UG)
- ASHEVILLE MONTESSORI (Students: 3; Location: 15 JULIA ST; Grades: UG – UG)
Libraries
Library in Asheville:
- ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $3,700,624; Location: 67 HAYWOOD STREET; 466,844 books; 27,838 audio materials; 9,540 video materials; 820 serial subscriptions)