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Hot Springs, North Carolina
Town
Town of Hot Springs
Hot Springs and the French Broad River, as seen from the Appalachian Trail
Hot Springs and the French Broad River, as seen from the Appalachian Trail
Location of Hot Springs, North Carolina
Location of Hot Springs, North Carolina
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Madison
Discovered 1778
Founded 1800
Incorporated 1889
Named for Thermal springs in area
Area
 • Total 3.13 sq mi (8.12 km2)
 • Land 2.87 sq mi (7.43 km2)
 • Water 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2)
Elevation
1,378 ft (420 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 520
 • Density 181.37/sq mi (70.03/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28743
Area code(s) 828
FIPS code 37-32840
GNIS feature ID 2405868
Website hotspringsnc.org

Hot Springs is a small town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 520 people lived there. It's part of the larger Asheville metropolitan area. The town sits right on the famous Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River. It is very close to the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Hot Springs is well-known for its amazing hiking trails, natural hot springs, and its friendly mountain town feel.

History of Hot Springs

Hot Springs is located where the French Broad River meets Spring Creek. This spot has a special natural thermal spring. It's the only known hot spring in North Carolina and one of the few in the southeastern United States. Because of this, people have visited this area for a very long time, hoping the warm waters would help them feel better.

Early Discoveries and Settlements

Native Americans were the first to find and use these 108°F (42°C) mineral waters. European settlers arrived over 200 years ago. Records show that people were already visiting the springs by 1778 for their healing properties.

A man named Jasper Dagy is thought to have been the first owner of the springs, which were then called Warm Springs. He sold them to William Neilson in 1791. Neilson built an inn, a type of hotel. Philip Hoodenpile also built a large estate and started a ferry service across the French Broad River. He also built a toll road called Jewel Hill Road. In 1828, a major road, the Buncombe Turnpike, was built through the town. This made it much easier for people to reach the area.

Growth and Grand Hotels

By 1831, James Patton from Asheville bought the springs. In 1837, he built a huge hotel called the Warm Springs Hotel. It had 350 rooms and 13 tall columns, representing the Thirteen Colonies. The dining room was so big it could seat 600 people!

The railroad reached the village in 1882, bringing even more visitors. Sadly, the Warm Springs Hotel burned down in 1884 after 46 years of use. Another grand hotel, called the Mountain Park, was built in 1886.

Changing the Name to Hot Springs

Around this time, an even hotter spring was discovered. This led to the town's name changing from Warm Springs to Hot Springs in 1886. The new resort had sixteen marble pools surrounded by beautiful gardens. There were also courts for croquet and tennis. It became known as one of the most luxurious resorts in the Southeast.

World War I and Later Fires

In May 1917, during World War I, the hotel and its grounds were rented by the U.S. Government. They used it as an internment camp for German and Austro-Hungarian non-military citizens. Many of these internees made friends with local people and stayed in the area after the war ended.

The Mountain Park hotel also burned down in 1920. Two more hotels were built after that, but they were not as large or fancy. Both of these later burned down as well.

Recent Flood Event

On September 27, 2024, Hot Springs and its historic area were badly damaged by flooding. This flood was caused by Hurricane Helene.

Geography of Hot Springs

Hot Springs covers a total area of about 3.5 square miles (9.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.2 square miles (8.3 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers), is water.

Climate in Hot Springs

Hot Springs has a varied climate with warm summers and mild winters.

  • Summers: July is usually the warmest month, with average high temperatures around 87°F (30.6°C).
  • Winters: January is typically the coldest month, with average low temperatures around 28.5°F (-1.9°C).
  • Rainfall: The town receives a good amount of rain throughout the year, with June often being the wettest month.
  • Snowfall: Snowfall is light, with January and February seeing the most snow, but usually less than 3 inches per month.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890 695 —
1900 445 −36.0%
1910 443 −0.4%
1920 495 11.7%
1930 637 28.7%
1940 773 21.4%
1950 721 −6.7%
1960 723 0.3%
1970 653 −9.7%
1980 678 3.8%
1990 478 −29.5%
2000 645 34.9%
2010 560 −13.2%
2020 520 −7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Who Lives in Hot Springs?

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 520 people living in Hot Springs. These people made up 223 households and 143 families.

Most of the people living in Hot Springs are White (non-Hispanic), making up about 88.46% of the population. Other groups include people of mixed races, and a small percentage of Native American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Economy and Fun Activities

Today, the natural hot mineral springs are owned by a spa and private lodging businesses. The warm water is piped into outdoor tubs located next to the river and Spring Creek, where visitors can relax.

Hot Springs is a popular place for tourists. Besides the springs, there are many outdoor activities to enjoy. The famous Appalachian Trail actually runs right through downtown Hot Springs on Bridge Street. From there, it climbs up the mountains on both sides of the river.

Rafting and kayaking are very popular on the French Broad River. There are also many other chances for hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and sightseeing in the nearby Pisgah National Forest.

Historic Places in Hot Springs

The Hot Springs Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This means it's a special area with important old buildings. Other historic places listed on the National Register include Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Henry Ottinger House, and Sunnybank.

Images for kids

  • CecilSharp HotSprings

    A sign outside of The Sunnybank Inn marks where Cecil Sharp collected ballads in 1916.

  • HotSpring ATsign

    Appalachian Trail sign

  • Hot Springs, NC

    View from Lover's Leap Trail

  • Appalachian Trail in downtown Hot Springs, NC

    Appalachian Trail marker embedded in sidewalk

  • Town of Hot Springs and Bridge Street

    View of downtown Hot Springs, NC

  • Hot Springs, NC in Winter

    View of Hot Springs and Lover's Leap Ridge

  • Bridge over the French Broad River

    French Broad River bridge

  • Sunnybank (The Inn at Hot Springs), Hot Springs, NC (31729996117)

    Historic Sunnybank

  • Lawson Street, Hot Springs, NC (45946946014)

    Historic Home on Lawson Street

  • Rutland (Mountain Magnolia Inn), Hot Springs, NC (45756553815)

    Mountain Magnolia Inn

  • Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs, NC (46619175092)

    Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church

  • Andrews Avenue, Hot Springs, NC (32796871858)

    Downtown Hot Springs

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