Buncombe 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 = Buncombe County | state = North Carolina | seal = BuncombeCountyNCseal.png | seal size = 90px | logo = Buncombe County Logo.png | logo size = | flag = Buncombe County Flag.gif | flag size = 97px | founded = 1792 | named for = Edward Buncombe | seat wl = Asheville | largest city wl = Asheville | city type = city | area_total_sq_mi = 659.95 | area_land_sq_mi = 656.50 | area_water_sq_mi = 3.45 | area percentage = 0.52 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 269452 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 277417 {{gain}} | population_density_sq_mi = 410.37 | coordinates = {{coord|35.61|-82.53|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}} | ex image = Buncombe County Courthouse, Asheville, NC (46019891424).jpg | ex image size = 260px | ex image cap = Buncombe County Courthouse in Asheville | district = 11th | time zone = Eastern | motto = "People To Match Our Mountains" | website = {{URL|https://www.buncombenc.gov/|buncombenc.gov}} | mapframe = yes }}

'''Buncombe County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ʌ|ŋ|k|ə|m}} {{respell|BUNK|um}})<ref>{{cite web|title=NC Pronunciation Guide|url=https://www.wral.com/lifestyles/travel/blogpost/10331495/|publisher=WRAL|accessdate=August 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name="North Carolina Collection">[https://library.unc.edu/wilson/ncc/talk-like-a-tar-heel/ Talk Like a Tarheel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622041633/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html |date=June 22, 2013 }}, from the North Carolina Collection website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved August 16, 2023.</ref> is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is classified within Western North Carolina. The 2020 census reported the population was 269,452, making it the 7th-most populous county in North Carolina.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Asheville.<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Buncombe County is part of the Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

==History== The area of modern-day Buncombe County and its environs was originally populated by the Anigiduwagi, better known as the Cherokee people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=As Long As the Grass Shall Grow: Cherokee Land Acknowledgement Website |url=https://www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=19645 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=Buncombe County Center |language=en}}</ref> Europeans, primarily of German, Scottish and English descent, began to live in Buncombe in the early 18th century.<ref name="BuncombeCountyNCHP">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |title=Buncombe County (1791) |url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/buncombe-county-1791/ |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=North Carolina History Project |publisher=John Locke Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> Some of the earliest permanent European settlers in Buncombe arrived in 1784.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holland |first=Ron |year=1995 |title=Settlement of the Mountains, 1775-1838 |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/history/1776-1860/mountain-settlement |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=NCpedia |publisher=Tar Heel Junior Historian Association}}</ref> These European settlers frequently broke their treaties with the Cherokee, gradually dispelling them from their land in Buncombe County by force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lacey |first=Derek |title=Tough story to tell: Chronicles of Cherokee land cessions, broken treaties in Buncombe County |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2021/11/22/cherokee-nation-eastern-band-land-buncombe-county-wnc-history/6296680001/ |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=The Asheville Citizen Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1791, Colonel William Davidson and David Vance petitioned the North Carolina House of Commons to create a new county in the western part of the state from parts of Burke and Rutherford counties.<ref name="Allen Turner Davidson">{{cite web |date=November 17, 2014 |title=William Davidson Confusion Continues |url=https://ashevilleandbuncombecounty.blogspot.com/2014/11/william-davidson-confusion-continues.html |access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> The proposal named the county as "Union County". In January 1792, the proposed new county was officially created and named after Edward Buncombe, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War .<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |title=The Heritage of Old Buncombe County |last2=Cline |last3=Biddix |publisher=Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society, Hunter Pub. Co. |year=1981 |location=WorldCat |pages=18}}</ref> Locals referred to this area as “the state of Buncombe” due to it being so large. The original county would be split into eleven counties total. The first meeting of the county government took place in April 1792 in Colonel Davidson's barn (located on the present-day Biltmore Estate).<ref>{{cite news |last=Neufeld |first=Rob |date=August 18, 2019 |title=Visiting Our Past: Roads, orphans, speculation and missing ears occupied first settlers |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/08/18/visiting-our-past-missing-ears-other-topics-occupied-first-settlers/2035274001/ |access-date=August 18, 2019 |work=Asheville Citizen-Times}}</ref>

In December 1792 and April 1793, the county seat of Buncombe came under dispute. Commissioner John Dillard assisted with the resolution. The original documentation for the creation of Buncombe County proposed a committee of five persons to select the county seat. A dispute arose between two factions of Buncombe County residents on opposite sides of the Swannanoa River, one faction pressing for the county seat to be north of Swannanoa, which is now the center of Asheville, and the other faction demanding it to be at a place south of Swannanoa River, which later became known as the "Steam Saw Mill Place", and is now the southern part of the city of Asheville.

In December 1792, seven men met to select a courthouse location for the county. The desire was to have a courthouse closer to the community than Morganton, the closest place to record deeds at the time, due to the travel to Morganton being so laborious. The first courthouse was built at the present-day Pack Square site in Asheville.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/08/11/visiting-our-past-alcohol-drinking-helped-asheville-planners-1792/1926426001/ |title=Visiting Our Past: Alcohol drinking helped Asheville planners in 1792 |last=Neufeld |first=Rob |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=August 11, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>

As the population of Buncombe County increased, parts of the county were reallocated to new counties. In 1808, the western part of Buncombe County became Haywood County. In 1833, parts of Burke and Buncombe counties were combined to form Yancey County. In 1838, the southern part of what was left of Buncombe County became Henderson County. In 1851, parts of Buncombe and Yancey counties were combined to form Madison County. Finally, in 1925 the Broad River township of McDowell County was transferred to Buncombe County.<ref name="GR6" />

In 1820, a U.S. Congressman whose district included Buncombe County, unintentionally contributed a word to the English language. In the Sixteenth Congress, after lengthy debate on the Missouri Compromise, members of the House called for an immediate vote on that important question. Felix Walker rose to address his colleagues, insisting that his constituents expected him to make a speech "for Buncombe." It was later remarked that Walker's untimely and irrelevant oration was not just ''for'' Buncombe—it "''was'' Buncombe." ''Buncombe,'' afterwards spelled ''bunkum'' and later shortened to ''bunk,'' became a term for empty, nonsensical talk.<ref name="ahd">[http://www.bartleby.com/61/46/D0064600.html debunk – The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406173424/http://www.bartleby.com/61/46/D0064600.html |date=April 6, 2008 }}, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, accessed January 11, 2009</ref> That, in turn, is the etymology of the verb ''debunk''.

On June 16, 2020, Buncombe County Commissioners decided to remove several Confederate monuments including the Vance Monument<ref>{{cite news |last1=Penter |first1=Caitlyn |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/confederate-monuments-to-be-moved-from-downtown-asheville |title=Confederate monuments to be moved from downtown Asheville |access-date=July 15, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020}}</ref> which is named after North Carolina governor Zeb Vance, a slave owner who used convict labor to build the railroad to Western North Carolina.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ready |first=Milton |url=https://mountainx.com/opinion/when-past-is-present-zeb-vance-and-his-monument/ |title=When past is present: Zeb Vance and his monument |date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=July 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eu.citizen-times.com/story/news/2020/06/17/buncombe-county-board-commissioners-votes-remove-confederate-monuments/3201563001/ |title=Monumental decision: Buncombe County approves removal of Confederate statues |date=June 17, 2020 |first=Rebecca |last=Walter}}</ref>

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic, record-breaking flooding throughout Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. 47 deaths were recorded in Buncombe County as a result of the storm, the most of any county in the US. Prior to the storm, the county was classified by FEMA as being at low risk of deadly hurricanes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fortin |first=Jacey |last2=Nostrant |first2=Rachel |last3=Taft |first3=Isabelle |last4=Underwood |first4=Nick |date=2025-02-04 |title=The Way Hurricanes Kill Is Changing. Helene Shows How. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/us/hurricane-helene-deaths.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Buncombe county has a total area of {{convert|659.95|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|656.50|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.45|sqmi}} (0.52%) 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 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The French Broad River enters the county at its border with Henderson County to the south and flows north into Madison County. The source of the Swannanoa River, which joins the French Broad River in Asheville, is in northeast Buncombe County near Mount Mitchell, a part of the Black Mountains range. Mt. Mitchell is the highest point in the eastern United States at 6,684 ft.<ref>http://www.ncparks.gov › mount-mitchell-state-park</ref> Its summit lies in adjacent Yancey County; the highest point in Buncombe County is Potato Knob, at 6400+ feet, which lies a short distance south of Mount Mitchell.

A milestone was achieved in 2003 when Interstate 26, still called Future I-26 in northern Buncombe County, was extended from Mars Hill (north of Asheville) to Johnson City, Tennessee. This completed a 20-year, half-billion dollar construction project through the Blue Ridge Mountains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Years, $230 Million Later, I-26 Crosses Finish Line : CEG |url=https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/ten-years-230-million-later-i-26-crosses-finish-line/3549 |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.constructionequipmentguide.com |language=en}}</ref>

===National protected areas=== * Blue Ridge Parkway (part) * Craggy Gardens * Pisgah National Forest (part) * Mount Pisgah (part) * Nantahala National Forest (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites=== * Asheville Watershed<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2020 |title=Asheville Watershed |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/asheville-watershed.htm |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref> * Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary * Big Ivy Historical Park * Biltmore Estate * Chimney Rock State Park (part) * Collier Cove Nature Preserve * The North Carolina Arboretum * Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> * Pisgah View State Park (part) * Sandy Mush Game Land (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/> * Thomas Wolfe House * Vance Birthplace * Western North Carolina Nature Center * Young Forest

===Major water bodies=== * Beaver Lake * Beaverdam Creek * Bent Creek * Broad River * Burnett Reservoir * Cane Creek * Flat Creek * French Broad River * Lake Ashnoca * Lake Julian<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Julian Park: Picnicking, Canoeing, Family Fun, Boat Rentals, Boat Storage, Walking Trails, Festival of Lights - Buncombe County Recreation Services {{!}} Asheville |url=https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/parks/facilities/parks/lake-julian.aspx |access-date=December 20, 2021 |website=www.buncombecounty.org}}</ref> * Lake Kenilworth * Lake Craig * Lake Powhatan * Lake Louise * Left Fork Swannanoa River * Little Pole Creek * Long Valley Lake * Newfound Creek * North Fork Reservoir<ref name=":0"/> * North Fork Swannanoa River * Pole Creek * Reems Creek * Right Fork Swannanoa River * Swannanoa River * Tom Creek * Turkey Creek

===Adjacent counties=== * Madison County – north * Yancey County – northeast * McDowell County – east * Rutherford County – southeast * Henderson County – south * Transylvania County – southwest * Haywood County – west

===Major highways=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * {{Jct|state=NC|I|26|I-Future|26|nolink2=yes}} (small section undesignated) * {{Jct|state=NC|I|40}} * {{Jct|state=NC|I|240}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|19}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|23}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|23|dab1=Asheville}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|23|dab1=Waynesville}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|25}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|25A}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US-Truck|64|dab1=Franklin–Hendersonville}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|74}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|74A}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|9}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|63}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|81}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|112}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|146}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|151}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|191}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|197}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|251}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|280}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|694}} * {{jct|state=NC|BRP}} {{div col end}}

===Major infrastructure=== * Asheville Regional Airport

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1800 = 5812 | 1810 = 9277 | 1820 = 10542 | 1830 = 16281 | 1840 = 10084 | 1850 = 13425 | 1860 = 12654 | 1870 = 15412 | 1880 = 21909 | 1890 = 35266 | 1900 = 44288 | 1910 = 49798 | 1920 = 64148 | 1930 = 97937 | 1940 = 108755 | 1950 = 124403 | 1960 = 130074 | 1970 = 145056 | 1980 = 160934 | 1990 = 174821 | 2000 = 206330 | 2010 = 238318 | 2020 = 269452 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 277417 | 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 12, 2015}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 12, 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 12, 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 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37021.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713075155/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37021.html|archive-date=July 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/buncombecountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Buncombe County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }}

Since 1970, the county has had a steady rise in population, attracting retirees, second-home buyers and others from outside the region. thumb|2020 population density of Buncombe 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=2026-04-13 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Buncombe 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|pages=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=|pages=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 – Buncombe County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US37021&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) – Buncombe County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37021&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) – Buncombe County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37021&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |145,243 |158,117 |180,721 |201,241 |style='background: #ffffe6; |214,862 |90.25% |90.45% |87.59% |84.44% |style='background: #ffffe6; |79.74% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |13,852 |14,279 |15,310 |14,979 |style='background: #ffffe6; |15,017 |8.61% |8.17% |7.42% |6.29% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.57% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |299 |479 |748 |778 |style='background: #ffffe6; |727 |0.19% |0.27% |0.36% |0.33% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27% |- |Asian alone (NH) |335 |745 |1,354 |2,388 |style='background: #ffffe6; |3,274 |0.21% |0.43% |0.66% |1.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.22% |- |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> |77 |271 |style='background: #ffffe6; |467 |x |x |0.04% |0.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17% |- |Other race alone (NH) |169 |28 |221 |335 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,382 |0.11% |0.02% |0.11% |0.14% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51% |- |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> |2,169 |4,072 |style='background: #ffffe6; |11,801 |x |x |1.05% |1.71% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.38% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,036 |1,173 |5,730 |14,254 |style='background: #ffffe6; |21,922 |0.64% |0.67% |2.78% |5.98% |style='background: #ffffe6; |8.14% |- |'''Total''' |'''160,934''' |'''174,821''' |'''206,330''' |'''238,318''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''269,452 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

As of the 2020 census, there were 269,452 people, 116,237 households, and 63,675 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%3A021&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref> From 2010 to 2020, Buncombe County added 31,104 people or 13.0% population growth,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Joel |date=August 16, 2021 |title=Census: Asheville grows; its Black population shrinks |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2021/08/16/census-asheville-nc-black-population-shrinking-2020-white-grows/118179948/ |website=Asheville Citizen-Times}}</ref> making it the fastest growing county in Western North Carolina during the decade.

The median age was 42.1 years; 18.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.5 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The racial makeup of the county was 81.2% White, 5.7% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.2% from some other race, and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.1% of the population.<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%3A021&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

77.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 22.3% 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%3A021&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 116,237 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.0% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 129,141 housing units, of which 10.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.9% were owner-occupied and 37.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.<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 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|314|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of {{convert|143|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 89.06% White, 7.48% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 85,776 households, out of which 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. Of all households 28.90% were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,666, and the median income for a family was $45,011. Males had a median income of $30,705 versus $23,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,384. About 7.80% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Law, government, and politics== ===Local government=== Buncombe County is a member of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council of governments. Buncombe County has a commission-manager form of government. Commissioners are selected via partisan elections to serve four-year terms representing one of three districts. In addition to a chair, each district has two representatives on the commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buncombe County |url=https://faircountiesnc.org/counties/buncombe-county/ |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=Fair Counties NC |language=en-US}}</ref> Current commissioners are Amanda Edwards (chair), Al Whitesides (District 1), Jennifer Horton (District 1), Terri Wells (District 2), Martin Moore (District 2), Parker Sloan (District 3), and Drew Ball (District 3).<ref>{{cite web |title=County Commissioners |url=https://www.buncombenc.gov/705/County-Commissioners |website=Buncombe County Government |access-date=March 24, 2026}}</ref> Avril Pinder is the County Manager.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Managers {{!}} Buncombe County, NC |url=https://www.buncombenc.gov/167/County-Managers |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=www.buncombenc.gov}}</ref>

Buncombe County Public Libraries has 11 branch locations, with a central location at Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library/branch-locations/default.aspx|title=Libraries - Branch Locations|website=buncombecounty.org|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>

There are two public school systems within Buncombe County, including Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools as well as many private schools and charter schools. There are four colleges in Buncombe County, including Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Montreat College, and Warren Wilson College.

====Sheriff's Office and policing==== The Buncombe County Sheriff provides court protection and jail administration for the entire county and provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff's Office is organized into six divisions: Enforcement, Detention, Animal Control, Support Operations, School Resources, Civil Process.<ref>[https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/sheriff/ Sheriff's Office - Buncombe County | Asheville]</ref> The current Sheriff is Quentin Miller who was elected in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeGrave |first=Sam |title=Miller makes history with resounding victory in sheriff election |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/11/07/miller-makes-history-resounding-victory-sheriff-election/1921285002/ |access-date=August 31, 2022 |website=The Asheville Citizen Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Asheville has a municipal police department. As of 2026, Jackie Stepp is serving as the interim police chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=avladmin |title=Police |url=https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/police/office-of-the-chief/ |access-date=August 31, 2022 |website=The City of Asheville |language=en-US}}</ref> The municipalities of Black Mountain, Biltmore Forest, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin also have municipal police departments, and UNC Asheville and Montreat College have campus police departments. The NC State Highway Patrol Troop G regional headquarters is located in east Asheville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police Departments - Buncombe County, NC (Arrest Records & Police Logs) |url=https://www.countyoffice.org/nc-buncombe-county-police-department/ |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=www.countyoffice.org |language=en}}</ref>

===State politics=== As of 2023, in the North Carolina Senate, Julie Mayfield (D–49th) and Warren Daniel (R–46th) both represent parts of Buncombe County. Mayfield represents most of the county including Asheville and the west side. Daniel represents a portion of the east side of the county as well as McDowell and Burke counties.

In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Eric Ager (D–114th), Lindsey Prather (D–115th), and Caleb Rudow (D–116th) each represent part of the county.

===Federal politics=== Buncombe had long been a bellwether county in presidential elections. It voted for the winning candidate in all but one election from 1928 until 2012, with the exception being 1960.

Since 2008, the county has trended strongly toward the Democratic Party. It swung from a 0.6 point win for George W. Bush to a 14-point win for Barack Obama in 2008, and has gone Democratic by double-digit margins at every election since then. When Donald Trump won the electoral college (and the election) after losing the popular vote, the county lost its bellwether status. In 2024, Kamala Harris achieved the strongest performance by a Democrat in the county since Franklin Roosevelt's 1944 landslide. Despite losing North Carolina overall, she pushed the county two points further to the left.

North Carolina is represented in the United States Senate by Republicans Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, from Advance and Huntersville, respectively. All of the county is located in North Carolina's 11th congressional district, which is currently held by Republican Chuck Edwards.

{{PresHead|place=Buncombe County, North Carolina|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1880|Democratic|1,591|1,995|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1884|Democratic|2,007|2,649|26|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,873|2,956|121|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,125|3,588|360|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,611|4,098|24|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,140|3,724|35|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,591|3,181|24|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,572|3,506|62|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|426|3,716|2,386|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,830|4,229|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|8,017|10,167|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|6,285|10,098|467|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|16,590|12,405|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|8,745|18,241|367|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|9,470|23,646|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|8,723|24,878|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|9,398|20,878|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|11,460|17,072|2,319|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|24,444|22,425|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|22,655|19,044|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|28,040|23,303|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|19,372|31,623|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|21,031|14,624|11,889|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|32,091|12,626|877|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|22,461|26,633|285|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|26,124|24,837|2,569|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|37,698|23,337|148|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|36,828|26,964|200|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|30,892|32,955|11,645|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|30,518|31,658|6,891|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|46,101|38,545|830|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|52,491|51,868|654|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|52,494|69,716|1,585|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|54,701|70,625|2,370|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|55,716|75,452|7,779|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|62,412|96,515|2,642|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|59,016|98,662|2,832|North Carolina}} {{PresFoot}}

==Economy== The North Carolina Department of Commerce reported that in September 2024 Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate of all of North Carolina's counties at a rate of 2.5 percent. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene's impacts on the region, in October the department reported that Buncombe had the highest rate of unemployment in the state at 8.8 percent.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wral.com/story/unemployment-buncombe-county-goes-from-1-in-the-state-to-dead-last-after-helene/21743920/| title = Helene impact: Buncombe County drops from lowest unemployment rate in NC to highest| date = November 27, 2024| website = WRAL-TV| publisher = Capitol Broadcasting Company| access-date = November 27, 2024}}</ref>

==Communities== thumb|right|300px|Map of Buncombe County with municipal and township labels

===City=== * Asheville (county seat and largest municipality)

===Towns=== * Biltmore Forest * Black Mountain * Montreat * Weaverville * Woodfin

===Townships=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Asheville * Avery Creek * Black Mountain * Broad River * Fairview * Flat Creek * French Broad * Hazel<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2014 |title=Buncombe County Townships |url=https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/tax/buncombe-townships-map.pdf |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=www.buncombecounty.org}}</ref> * Ivy * Leicester * Limestone * Lower Hominy * Reems Creek * Sandy Mush * Swannanoa * Weaverville * Woodfin * Upper Hominy {{div col end}}

===Census-designated places=== * Avery Creek * Barnardsville * Bent Creek * Emma * Fairview * Royal Pines * Swannanoa

===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Alexander * Arden * Beaverdam * Candler * Coburn * Enka * Flat Creek * Forks of Ivy * Jupiter * Leicester * Oak Park * Ridgecrest * Sandymush * Skyland * Stocksville * Wilson {{div col end}}

==Religion== Many of the early settlers were Baptists. In 1807 the pastors of six churches, including the revivalist Sion Blythe, formed the French Broad Association of Baptist churches in the area.<ref>{{cite web |author=David Benedict |year=1813 |title=NORTH-CAROLINA |url=http://www.fbinstitute.com/baptist-in-america/benedict29.htm |access-date=August 29, 2010 |work=A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN AMERICA, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD |publisher=Lincoln & Edmands}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * {{citation |title=Branson's North Carolina Business Directory...1867-68 |publisher=Branson & Jones |location=Raleigh, NC |chapter-url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101065143529&seq=54&view=2up |page= 17 |chapter= Buncombe County |via= hathitrust.org }} * {{citation |title=Branson's North Carolina Business Directory, 1896 |publisher=Levi Branson |location=Raleigh, NC |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/bransonsnorthcar1896bran/page/n113/mode/2up |page= 117 |chapter= Buncombe County |via= archive.org }} * {{citation |chapter-url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nc01.ark:/13960/t2r49km5g&seq=130&view=2up |chapter= Buncombe County |title=North Carolina Year Book and Business Directory, 1916 |publisher=News and Observer Publishing Company |location= Raleigh, N.C. |via= hathitrust.org }} * ''Buncombe Origins: The Making of Asheville and Buncombe County,'' Emily Cadmus and Katherine Cutshal, editors, 2024 - via archive.org

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{OSM relation|2528678}} * {{Official website|http://www.buncombecounty.org}} * [https://www.ncgenweb.us/buncombe/ NCGenWeb Buncombe County], genealogy resources for the county * [https://www.obcgs.com/ Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society]

{{Geographic location |Centre = Buncombe County, North Carolina |North = Madison County |Northeast = Yancey County |East = McDowell County |Southeast = Rutherford County |South = Henderson County |Southwest = |West = Haywood County |Northwest = }} {{Buncombe County, North Carolina}} {{North_Carolina}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Buncombe County, North Carolina Category:1791 establishments in North Carolina Category:Asheville metropolitan area Category:Western North Carolina Category:Populated places established in 1791