Avery County, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Avery County

Avery County Courthouse

Flag	Seal
Logo

Motto(s):

"Together... We Are Avery County."

Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina

North Carolina's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

North Carolina

Founded

1911

Waightstill Avery

Largest community

Area

• Total

247.51 sq mi (641.0 km²)

• Land

247.34 sq mi (640.6 km²)

• Water

0.17 sq mi (0.4 km²) 0.06%

Population

(2020)

• Total

17,806

• Estimate

(2023)

17,561

• Density

72.04/sq mi (27.81/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

5th

Avery County is a special area called a county in the state of North Carolina. In 2020, about 17,806 people lived here. The main town, where the county government is, is Newland.

Avery County was started in 1911. It is the newest of all 100 counties in North Carolina. The county government building was first in a town called Elk Park. But it moved to Newland in 1912 when the new courthouse was ready.

History of Avery County

Avery County is the newest of the 100 counties in North Carolina. It was created in 1911. Parts of Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County were used to form it.

The county is named after Waightstill Avery. He was a colonel in the American Revolutionary War. He was also the first Attorney General of North Carolina. This means he was the state's top lawyer from 1777 to 1779.

Avery County is famous for growing many Christmas trees. The first county government office was in Elk Park. This was the biggest town in the county at the time. It was located near the Tennessee border.

In 1912, the county courthouse was finished. The county office then moved to Newland. Newland was a central spot. It was named after William Newland, who helped the county get started.

There's a fun story about moving the county books. The people in Elk Park were not happy about the move. They didn't want to give up the county books. The sheriff at the time was worried about facing them. So, his wife baked cookies. Their pastor delivered the cookies as a peace offering. The citizens then happily gave over the books. The books were taken to the new offices in Newland.

Geography of Avery County

Linville River, between Linville and Pineola

Avery County covers about 247.51 square miles. Most of this area, 247.34 square miles, is land. Only a small part, 0.17 square miles, is water.

Avery County is very rural and has many mountains. All of its land is in the Appalachian Mountains. It is the second-highest county east of the Mississippi River. Its average height is about 3,510 feet (1,070 meters).

The highest point in the county is Grassy Ridge Bald. It is 6,165 feet (1,879 meters) above sea level. Most of Grandfather Mountain is also in Avery County. Its highest point, Calloway Peak, is 5,946 feet (1,812 meters) tall. Beech Mountain is also very high, at 5,526 feet (1,684 meters). It is the highest town in the Eastern United States. Newland, the county seat, is also very high at 3,606 feet (1,099 meters).

National protected areas

Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
Pisgah National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas

Bear Paw State Natural Area
Gill State Forest (part)
Grandfather Mountain State Park (part)
Pineola Bog State Natural Area
Pisgah National Forest Game Land (part)
Pisgah (WRC) Game Land (part)
Sugar Mountain Bog State Natural Area
Yellow Mountain State Natural Area (part)

Major water bodies

Buckeye Creek
Cranberry Creek
Little Horse Creek
Linville River
Mill Creek
North Harper Creek
North Toe River
Watauga River

Adjacent counties

People in Avery County (Demographics)

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	10,335	—
1930	11,803	14.2%
1940	13,561	14.9%
1950	13,352	−1.5%
1960	12,009	−10.1%
1970	12,655	5.4%
1980	14,409	13.9%
1990	14,867	3.2%
2000	17,167	15.5%
2010	17,797	3.7%
2020	17,806	0.1%
2023 (est.)	17,561	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

The 2020 census counted 17,806 people living in Avery County. There were 6,551 households and 4,319 families.

Avery County's Population Mix (2020)

Avery County racial composition
Group	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	15,549	87.32%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	649	3.64%
Native American	58	0.33%
Asian	56	0.31%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	506	2.84%
Hispanic or Latino	987	5.54%

Economy and Jobs

An unusual quartz crystal found in Avery County. This area is known for its quartz.

Avery County has many fun places that bring in visitors. These include Grandfather Mountain, Linville Falls, and parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In October, the "Wooly Worm" festival happens in Banner Elk. People come from all over to watch caterpillar races! Locals believe the caterpillars can predict how harsh winter will be.

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are held each July. This is one of the biggest Scottish gatherings outside of Scotland. You can see bagpipes, Scottish food, music, and games. These games include tossing logs and using dogs to herd sheep.

Also in October, "Oz Days" takes place at the old Land of Oz theme park. It's on Beech Mountain. Fans of "The Wizard of Oz" movie love to visit. Oktoberfest events on Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain also draw big crowds.

In winter, ski resorts are very popular. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and Ski Beech Resort offer skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. Hawks Nest Tubing Resort has snow tubing.

Many people also visit for the beautiful fall colors. Outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, and camping are popular. People also enjoy looking for unique rocks and minerals.

Major Employers

The State of North Carolina is the biggest employer in the county. It runs a forestry center and other state offices. It also has two prisons.

Other important employers include:

Avery County School System
Mayland Community College
Cannon Memorial Hospital
Lees-McRae College
Avery County government
Local stores like Lowes Foods
Ski resorts like Beech and Sugar Mountain
The YMCA of Avery County
Large tree farms and mining companies

The Avery Fairgrounds hosts the annual Avery County Agricultural and Horticultural Fair. This event in early September brings many people for rides and displays.

Avery County is part of the Appalachian Region. This area gets help from the US government to improve jobs and living conditions.

Agriculture

A big part of the county's farming is growing Fraser Fir Christmas Trees. Tree farms grow trees all year. They are cut in mid-October and sold to stores or directly to visitors.

Other important farm products include shrubs, landscaping plants, and beef cattle.

Growing grapes and making wine are also becoming popular. There are three vineyards in the county.

Getting Around (Transportation)

Major highways

US 19E
US 221
US 321
NC 105
NC 181
NC 184
NC 194

Aviation

Avery County Airport (7A8) is a small public airport. It is mainly used by private planes. You can also take flying lessons there. It does not have regular passenger flights. The airport is shared by Avery and Mitchell Counties. It has a runway that is 3,000 feet long.

A smaller private airport is in Banner Elk. It is for people who live at the Elk River Club resort.

Avery County Transportation (ACT) offers public van rides for a fee. You can call them to get rides to places in the county. They also offer rides for medical appointments outside the county.

Major Infrastructure

Avery County/Morrison Airport
Linville Ridge Heliport

Schools and Learning (Education)

Avery County schools

Avery County Schools has eight schools on seven campuses. They serve students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. There are five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.

Avery High School is near Newland and has about 700 students. It is getting big updates by 2023. Students at Avery High can also earn college credits while still in high school. This is through a program with Mayland Community College.

The two middle schools are Avery Middle and Cranberry Middle. Elementary schools are in Newland, Crossnore, Riverside, and Banner Elk.

Many smaller local high schools closed in 1969. This happened when the central Avery County High School opened. Some old schools, like Cranberry High School, are now community centers. The last K-8 school, Beech Mountain school, closed in 2008.

Charter schools

Two special charter schools operate in Avery County:

Crossnore Academy (used to be an orphanage)
Grandfather Academy (used to be Grandfather Home Orphanage)

Colleges and universities

Lees-McRae College (LMC) is a private four-year college in Banner Elk. It is connected to the Presbyterian Church.
Mayland Community College (MCC) is a public college. It offers two-year degrees. You can also take classes there to prepare for a four-year university.

News and Media

The Avery Post and Avery Journal-Times newspapers cover news for all of Avery County. The Avery Journal-Times is owned by a larger company. The Post is owned locally.

The WECR radio station (1130 AM) plays local programs and religious music. It also shares local news, events, and weather.

Television news mainly comes from Charlotte. But because Avery County is close, some stations from the Tri-Cities area also cover the region. These stations are available on local cable.

Healthcare (Medical)

The county's public hospital is Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville. It is part of the Appalachian Healthcare System. This hospital opened in 2000. It replaced older hospitals in Banner Elk and Crossnore.

The hospital has a 24-hour emergency room. It also offers imaging, lab work, and surgery. For very serious injuries, patients are often sent to larger hospitals in Charlotte, Asheville, or Johnson City, Tennessee.

Appalachian Regional Behavioral Health Hospital (ARBH) is a hospital for mental health. It opened in late 2021. It has 27 beds and a place where patients can get help right away.

Blue Ridge Hospital is in nearby Mitchell County. It also helps people in the lower part of Avery County.

Avery County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provides emergency medical care. They have paramedics and ambulances ready at all times. Local fire departments and rescue squads also help.