Yancey County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Yancey County | state = North Carolina | seal = Yancey County Seal.png | founded = 1833 | named for = Bartlett Yancey | seat wl = Burnsville | largest city wl = Burnsville | city type = community | area_total_sq_mi = 313.18 | area_land_sq_mi = 312.59 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.59 | area percentage = 0.19 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 18470 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 19084 {{gain}} | population_density_sq_mi = 59.09 | coordinates = {{coord|35.89|-82.30|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}} | web = www.yanceycountync.gov | district = 11th | time zone = Eastern | ex image = Yancey County Courthouse 2014-08-03.jpg | ex image cap = Yancey County Courthouse }}

'''Yancey County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,470.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Burnsville.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History== The area of Yancey County was inhabited by the Cherokee prior to European settlement, as was much of the southern Appalachian region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cherokee Nation |url=https://www.doi.gov/tribes/cherokee |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.landscapepartnership.org |language=en}}</ref>

Independent and sturdy Scottish, English, and Scotch-Irish and Irish settlers of the Carolina frontier had crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and settled the Toe River Valley by the mid-18th century. In the year 1796, one of the early land speculators, John Gray Blount, paid for {{convert|326,640|acre|km2}} of land, a portion of which later became Yancey County.

In December 1833, the General Assembly established a new western county, named Yancey, from sections of Burke and Buncombe counties. Yancey County was named in honor of Bartlett Yancey, of Caswell County. As a U.S. congressman (1813–1817) and as Speaker of the N.C. Senate (1817–1827), he was instrumental in many accomplishments that benefited the state, including the creation of an education fund that was the beginning of the N.C. Public School System. He was an advocate of correcting the inequality in representation in the General Assembly by the creation of new western counties; but he died on August 30, 1828, over five years before the General Assembly created a new county named in his honor. In Yancey's boundaries looms Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Eastern U.S., at {{convert|6,684|ft|m}} above sea level.

On March 6, 1834, "Yellow Jacket" John Bailey conveyed {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of land for the county seat. John was given the nickname for his famous temper as told in the books ''The Bailey Family of Yancey County, North Carolina'' and ''Heritage of the Toe River Valley'' by Lloyd Richard Bailey Sr. The town was named Burnsville in honor of Captain Otway Burns, who voted for the creation of the new western county when he was serving in the General Assembly. He was also a naval hero in the War of 1812. A statue of Captain Burns stands on a 40-ton, Mount Airy granite pedestal in the center of the town's public square, which was given the official name of "Bailey Square" by the Yancey County Board of Commissioners on September 1, 1930. The statue of Captain Burns was given to the county on July 5, 1909, by Walter Francis Burns, a grandson of the naval captain. The inscription reads:

<blockquote>Otway Burns - Born in Onslow County, North Carolina, 1777 - Died at Portsmouth, North Carolina, 1850. Sailor - Soldier - Statesman. North Carolina's Foremost Son in the War of 1812-1815 - For Him, This Town Is Named - He Guarded Well Our Seas, Let Our Mountains Honor Him. </blockquote>

===Natural disasters (21st century)===

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene affected Yancey County, producing heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding, road closures, power outages, and damage to public and private infrastructure. The storm caused disruptions to transportation, emergency services, and county operations as local and state agencies responded to the developing conditions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hurricane Helene impacts western North Carolina |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 2024}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Sheriff Shane Hilliard, the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office played a key role in emergency response efforts during and after the storm. Deputies assisted with evacuations, traffic control, welfare checks, and coordination with emergency management officials. The Sheriff’s Office worked alongside local fire departments, emergency medical services, and volunteer first responders to respond to hazardous conditions, conduct rescues, and support residents affected by flooding and storm-related damage. Firefighters and rescue personnel from multiple departments responded to incidents involving flooded roadways, stranded motorists, and structural damage while maintaining essential emergency services throughout the county.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yancey County emergency response following Hurricane Helene |publisher=Yancey County Government |date=2024}}</ref>

Hurricane Helene also created challenges for county operations later in 2024, including preparations for the November general election. Damage to infrastructure and ongoing recovery efforts required contingency planning by the Yancey County Board of Elections. Under the guidance of Elections Director Mary Beth Tipton, election officials worked to ensure continuity of election administration, including securing polling locations, safeguarding voting equipment, and communicating updates to voters as needed. These efforts were discussed in regional and national media coverage, including a public media interview addressing election preparedness following the storm.<ref>{{cite news |title=North Carolina election officials prepare for voting after Hurricane Helene |publisher=PBS NewsHour |date=October 2024}}</ref>

Recovery and repair efforts across Yancey County continued in the months following Hurricane Helene as local officials, emergency responders, and residents addressed long-term impacts to infrastructure and public services.<ref>{{cite news |title=Recovery continues in Yancey County months after Hurricane Helene |publisher=WSOC-TV |date=2025}}</ref>

==Geography== {{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502487|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Yancey County}} According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|313.18|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|312.59|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.59|sqmi}} (0.19%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Mount Mitchell at {{convert|6,684|ft|m}}, within Mount Mitchell State Park in Yancey County, is the highest point in the United States east of the Mississippi River.<ref name="Mt. Mitchell">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php|title=Mount Mitchell State Park|access-date=February 20, 2009|publisher=North Carolina State Parks|archive-date=January 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108162518/http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Black Mountains, of which Mt. Mitchell is a part, contains five of the 10 highest peaks east of the Mississippi, all over {{convert|6,400|ft|m|abbr=on}}. In descending order of height, they are: Mount Mitchell, Mount Craig, Balsam Cone, Mount Gibbes, and Potato Hill.<ref name="Five Highest">{{Cite web|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/10-tallest-mountains-east-mississippi-104158.html|title=The 10 Tallest Mountains East of the Mississippi|access-date=November 4, 2016|publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===National protected areas=== * Blue Ridge Parkway (part) * Crabtree Falls (part) * Pisgah National Forest (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites=== * Bare Dark Sky Observatory * Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area * John Wesley McElroy House * Mount Mitchell State Park * Nu-Wray Inn * Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> * Ray-Cort Recreation Park

===Major water bodies=== * Big Crabtree Creek * Big Creek * Bowlens Creek * Cane River * Left Prong South Toe River * Nolichucky River * Right Prong South Toe River * South Toe River * Still Fork Creek

===Adjacent counties=== * Mitchell County – northeast * McDowell County – southeast * Buncombe County – southwest * Madison County – west * Unicoi County, Tennessee – northwest

===Major highways=== * {{Jct|state=NC|US|19}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|19E}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|19W}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|80}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|128}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|197}} * {{jct|state=NC|BRP}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1840 = 5962 | 1850 = 8205 | 1860 = 8655 | 1870 = 5909 | 1880 = 7694 | 1890 = 9490 | 1900 = 11464 | 1910 = 12072 | 1920 = 15093 | 1930 = 14486 | 1940 = 17202 | 1950 = 16306 | 1960 = 14008 | 1970 = 12629 | 1980 = 14934 | 1990 = 15419 | 2000 = 17774 | 2010 = 17818 | 2020 = 18470 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 19084 | estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 20, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37199.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002542/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37199.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/yanceycountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Yancey County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }} thumb|2020 population density of Yancey County NC by census block<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles |url=https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php?year=2025&layergroup=Blocks+(2020) |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Yancey County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - North Carolina - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ncABC-02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=14-25|via= WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228195108/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ncABC-02.pdf| archive-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - North Carolina: Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-35.pdf|access-date=|page=15-64|via= WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320045449/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-35.pdf| archive-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Yancey County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US37199&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yancey County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37199&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yancey County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37199&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |14,632 |15,181 |17,033 |16,652 |style='background: #ffffe6; |16,625 |97.98% |98.46% |95.83% |93.46% |style='background: #ffffe6; |90.01% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |197 |151 |101 |128 |style='background: #ffffe6; |104 |1.32% |0.98% |0.57% |0.72% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |21 |27 |38 |42 |style='background: #ffffe6; |57 |0.14% |0.18% |0.21% |0.24% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31% |- |Asian alone (NH) |9 |11 |22 |34 |style='background: #ffffe6; |40 |0.06% |0.07% |0.12% |0.19% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |0 |2 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1 |x |x |0.00% |0.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01% |- |Other race alone (NH) |5 |0 |7 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |40 |0.03% |0.00% |0.04% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |95 |140 |style='background: #ffffe6; |587 |x |x |0.53% |0.79% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.18% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |70 |49 |478 |814 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,016 |0.47% |0.32% |2.69% |4.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.50% |- |'''Total''' |'''14,934''' |'''15,419''' |'''17,774''' |'''17,818''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''18,470 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 18,470 people and 5,081 families residing in the county.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A199&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A199&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The median age was 48.3 years, 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 26.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A199&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 8,120 households in the county, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 11,230 housing units, of which 27.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.5% were owner-occupied and 23.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census=== At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 17,774 people, 7,472 households, and 5,372 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 9,729 housing units at an average density of {{convert|31|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,472 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,674, and the median income for a family was $35,879. Males had a median income of $26,800 versus $20,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,335. About 10.90% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.10% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

===Ancestry=== As of 2015, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Yancey County were:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US37199 |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=April 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213040708/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US37199 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;" |- ! Largest ancestries (2015) !! Percent |- | English {{flagicon|England}}||16.4% |- | American {{flagicon|United States}} || 16.2% |- | German {{flagicon|Germany}} || 15.1% |- | Irish {{flagicon|Ireland}} || 12.8% |- | Scottish {{flagicon|Scotland}} || 5.8% |- | Scotch-Irish {{flagicon|Ulster}} || 4.8% |- | Welsh {{flagicon|Wales}} || 2.0% |- | Dutch {{flagicon|Netherlands}} || 1.5% |- | French (except Basque) {{flagicon|France}} || 1.1% |- | Swedish {{flagicon|Sweden}} || 0.9% |} ==Government and politics== Yancey County is a member of the High Country Council of Governments.

{{PresHead|place=Yancey County, North Carolina|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|60|1,112|1,036|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,082|1,273|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,596|2,280|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,156|2,592|21|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,712|2,476|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,396|3,412|9|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,691|3,603|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,516|3,489|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,402|3,301|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,282|3,481|69|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,953|3,693|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,808|2,964|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,284|3,310|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,004|3,714|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,448|2,215|752|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,106|2,278|56|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,688|3,932|29|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,363|4,010|173|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,296|3,651|14|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,160|3,803|37|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,994|4,285|929|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,973|3,956|755|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,970|3,714|80|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,940|4,434|57|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,045|4,486|186|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,278|3,981|192|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,385|3,196|379|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,516|3,688|148|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,509|3,635|139|North Carolina}} {{PresFoot}}

===Law enforcement=== The county has two law enforcement agencies. The Burnsville Police Department operates in the town limits, while the Yancey County Sheriff's Office has county-wide jurisdiction, aside from US Forest Service and State Park land, where law enforcement is provided by those respective agencies. State law enforcement agencies operating in the county, with offices in Burnsville, include the Highway Patrol (Troop G) and the Department of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice (Probation Officers and Juvenile Court Counselors). The State Bureau of Investigation assists the other agencies and investigates use of lethal force by law enforcement.

==Education== The Yancey County Schools system serves the K-12 public school students of the county. There are five members of the School Board, elected on even years to four year terms. Three seats are elected on presidential/gubernatorial election years, and two on midterm years. In 2017, the NC General Assembly passed a bill, sponsored by Rep. Michele Presnell, to change the YCS board elections from non-partisan to partisan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HOUSE BILL 265 |url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2017/Bills/House/PDF/H265v1.pdf |website=North Carolina General Assembly}}</ref> As of 2023, the partisan makeup of the board is four Republicans and one Democrat. Kathy Amos is the current superintendent.

In 2016, the YCS Board voted to consolidate three elementary schools in the west and north of the county (Bald Creek, Bee Log, and Clearmont) into one school, which was named Blue Ridge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Julie |date=September 2016|title=Yancey board votes to close three schools |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/09/19/yancey-board-votes-close-three-schools/90719196/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=The Asheville Citizen Times |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of its closure in 2018, Bee Log Elementary School was the smallest public school in the state with enrollment of 42.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Le |first=John |date=June 8, 2018 |title=Yancey Co. students and teachers say emotional farewell to the smallest school in NC |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/yancey-co-students-and-teachers-say-emotional-farewell-to-the-smallest-school-in-nc |access-date=July 24, 2023 |website=WLOS |language=en}}</ref> Bald Creek and Clearmont closed the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wynne |first=Karen |date=March 27, 2018 |title=Some parents upset about Yancey County elementary school's early closure |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/some-parents-upset-about-yancey-county-elementary-schools-early-closure |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=WLOS |language=en}}</ref> Yancey County schools currently consists of the following schools:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yancey County Schools - Schools |url=https://www.yanceync.net/ycs-schools |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=www.yanceync.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Elementary Schools (Grades K–5)=== * Blue Ridge Elementary School * Burnsville Elementary School * South Toe Elementary School * Micaville Elementary School (permanently closed due to Hurricane Helene)<ref>https://www.wfae.org/energy-environment/2025-09-27/one-year-later-four-districts-had-damaged-schools-after-helene-how-are-they-doing-now</ref>

===Middle Schools (Grades 6–8)=== * Cane River Middle School * East Yancey Middle School

===High School (Grades 9–12)=== * Mountain Heritage High School

High school students in Yancey County have the option to enroll in Mayland Early College High School, located on the main campus of Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. The program allows students to simultaneously complete their high school diploma and take college-level courses. While enrolled, students can earn college credits that count toward an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree, depending on their course selection. This enables students to potentially graduate from high school having completed up to two years of college-level coursework, giving them a head start on higher education or career pathways. The Early College program is designed to reduce the total time and cost required for a college degree, provide exposure to college-level academics, and offer opportunities to explore career and academic interests.

There are two private schools in the county: Arthur Morgan School in Celo and Yancey County Christian School in Burnsville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Schools located in Yancey County, NC |url=https://high-schools.com/directory/nc/counties/yancey-county/37199/ |website=High-Schools.com}}</ref>

===Higher Education=== Mayland Community College serves the Toe River Valley counties of Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey. The main campus is in Spruce Pine, on the Avery-Mitchell line, but the Yancey Learning Center, a satellite campus, is just outside of the Burnsville town limits on the west side.

==Library== Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library (AMY) served the county, with the Yancey County Public Library branch located in Burnsville in the Yancey Collegiate Institute Historic District.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yancey County Library |url=https://www.amyregionallibrary.org/locations/yancey-county-library/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=AMY Regional Library |language=en-US}}</ref> The AMY system officially began in 1961. As a result of a Pride display, Yancey County commissioners began the process of taking over the library in June 2023. The library is set to become a county library on July 1, 2025. Some residents are suing. One reason given for opposing the change is the need to recover from Helene.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Yancey County library takeover set for July 1 |last=Casey |first=Johnny | work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=June 16, 2025 |page=A3 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Communities== thumb|right|250px|Map of Yancey County with municipal and township labels

===Town=== * Burnsville (county seat and largest community)

===Townships=== {{div col}} * Brush Creek * Burnsville * Cane River * Crabtree * Egypt * Green Mountain * Jacks Creek * Pensacola * Price's Creek * Ramseytown * South Toe {{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Bald Creek * Bent Creek * Busick * Cane River * Celo * Day Book * Green Mountain * Hamrick * Micaville * Murchison * Newdale * Pensacola * Ramseytown * Sioux * Swiss * Windom {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{osmrelation|2528759}} * {{Official website|https://yanceycountync.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Yancey County, North Carolina |North = |Northeast = Mitchell County |East = |Southeast = McDowell County |South = |Southwest = Buncombe County |West = Madison County |Northwest = Unicoi County, Tennessee }} {{Yancey County, North Carolina}} {{North Carolina}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Yancey County, North Carolina Category:1833 establishments in North Carolina Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1833