93,392
Asheville is a city located in Buncombe County North Carolina. Asheville has a 2023 population of 93,392. It is also the county seat of Buncombe County.Asheville is currently declining at a rate of -0.36% annually and its population has decreased by -1.07% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 94,406 in 2020.
The average household income in Asheville is $81,971 with a poverty rate of 12.38%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Asheville is 40.3 years, 38.6 years for males, and 41.7 years for females.
Asheville serves as the county seat of Buncombe County and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Area Employers
The largest employers in the area include Mission Health System, Buncombe County Schools System and Ingles Markets. Each of these companies employs over 3,000 people. The State of North Carolina and Buncombe County also use thousands of people.
Asheville Population Growth
Though Asheville’s growth was quite slow during its earliest years, it has seen steady growth according to data from censuses dating back to the 1800s. The city did lose inhabitants during the 1970s and 1980s but quickly rebounded to again post strong growth at the time of the census in 1990. Between 2000 and 2010m the city saw 21.1% growth as the city continues to grow and modernize. Recent estimates show that the population is up almost 9% since the last census was taken in 2010, indicating that this mountain city still has much growing to do in its future.
The region that is now known as Asheville was first inhabited by Cherokees. The European explorer Hernando de Soto first arrived in 1540 and brought diseases which killed many of the natives. The region was primarily used for hunting by these visitors.
In 1784, Asheville was settled by Colonel Samuel Davidson after redeeming a land grant. However, he was killed, and his wife, child, and slave fled. His twin brother and his brother-in-law returned to retrieve the body and avenge the murder. At the end of the expedition, the men and their extended family settled in the area. The nearby county seat was incorporated with the land and renamed as Asheville after the governor of North Carolina.
It was during the 1880s that the Western North Carolina Railroad constructed a line running from Salisbury to Asheville. It was at this time that the population began to increase, although it was quite slow. Industrial plants were being erected during this time, attracting more residents.
By 1900, Asheville was the third largest city in North Carolina. The city was quite prosperous in the decades that followed. It was during the early 1900s that the Burton Street Community for African Americans was developed and a sanitary district was established in West Asheville, which later incorporated within Asheville’s borders. As with other cities around the nation, the Great Depression had a significant impact on Asheville, with eight of its banks closing and the city debt reaching the highest in the nation. The city didn’t default on its obligations that were used to build infrastructure and buildings but instead paid it off. Because of this, economic growth was, and much of the downtown area was left as it originally was.
The positive thing about this is that the city has retained much of its buildings constructed in the Art Deco style, including its city hall. There is other noteworthy architecture located throughout the city, including the Grove Park Inn, which is a luxurious hotel and spa situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Today, Asheville is a beautiful mountainous city that offers modern attractions, many restaurants, and hotels, as well as historic landmarks and sights, including the popular Biltmore House, the largest private residence in the country that draws in visitors from all around the world.
Asheville Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Asheville was:
- White: 81.43%
- Black or African American: 10.86%
- Two or more races: 4.19%
- Other race: 1.5%
- Asian: 1.29%
- Native American: 0.38%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.35%
State
North Carolina
County
Buncombe County
Land Area (mi²)
45.6
sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,049.30
/sq mi
Growth Rate
-0.36% (
-337
)
Growth Since 2020
-1.07% (
-1,014
)
The current population of Asheville, North Carolina is 93,392 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 94,406.
Asheville, North Carolina Population 2023
Population by Race
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Asheville Population by Race
Asheville Population Pyramid 2023
Asheville Median Age
40.3
Total
38.6
Male
41.7
Female
Asheville Adults
There are 77,428 adults, (18,224 of whom are seniors) in Asheville.
Asheville Age Dependency
57.5
Age Dependency Ratio
30.8
Old Age Dependency Ratio
26.8
Child Dependency Ratio
Asheville Sex Ratio
| Female | 48,658 | 52.17% |
| Male | 44,614 | 47.83% |
Asheville Population by Age
Asheville Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 38,933 | 2.31 | 50.6 | 49.4 |
| Non Family | 20,703 | 1.5 | 37.5 | 62.5 |
| Married | 14,106 | 3.07 | 70 | 30 |
| Female | 3,143 | 3.92 | 45.8 | 54.2 |
| Male | 981 | 3.49 | 62.2 | 37.8 |
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rows
3.14
Average Family Size
2.31
Average Household Size
50.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Asheville Households and Families
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
Asheville Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)
Asheville Educational Attainment by Race
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 57.13%.
Asheville Educational Attainment by Race
All
Male
Female
$36,902
Average Earnings
$39,448
Average Male
$35,402
Average Female
Asheville Earnings by Educational Attainment
Asheville Language by Age
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
Asheville Language
90.75% of Asheville residents speak only English, while 9.25% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.79% of the population.
Asheville Language
Asheville Poverty by Race
rate
12.38%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.07%
Male Poverty Rate
13.59%
Female Poverty Rate
Poverty in Asheville
The race most likely to be in poverty in Asheville is Other, with 28.49% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Asheville is Native, with 1.46% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.62%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.55%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 19.96%.
Asheville Poverty
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 31.03% |
| High School | 21.87% |
| Some College | 9.84% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 4.78% |
Asheville Poverty Rate by Education
rate
Asheville Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex
Asheville Income by Household Type
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
mean
median
Income by Household Type
Asheville Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Marriage Rates
38.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
41.4%
Male Marriage Rate
36.3%
Female Marriage Rate
Asheville Married by Age and Sex
male
female
Asheville Marriage
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Asheville Marital Status by Race
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Asheville Marital Status
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
Asheville Veterans by War
Asheville Veterans by Age
Asheville Veterans by Race
Asheville Veterans by Education
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.97%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.37%
Veteran Disability Rate
Asheville Veterans by Education
LaborForceParticipation
Asheville Employment by Age
LaborForceParticipation
Asheville Employment by Race
LaborForceParticipation
Asheville Employment by Education
Origin of Non-Citizens
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Origin of Naturalized Citizens
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
45.81%
Born in Asheville
95.47%
Native Born
8%
Foreign Born
4.82%
Non Citizen
3.18%
Naturalized
Place of Birth
95.47% of Asheville residents were born in the United States, with 45.81% having been born in North Carolina. 4.82% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Asheville Place of Birth
Note: data after 2021 is projected based on recent change
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 2,616 | -88,782 | 2.41% |
| 1890 | 10,235 | 7,619 | 14.62% |
| 1900 | 14,694 | 4,459 | 3.68% |
| 1910 | 18,762 | 4,068 | 2.47% |
| 1920 | 28,504 | 9,742 | 4.27% |
| 1930 | 50,193 | 21,689 | 5.82% |
| 1940 | 51,310 | 1,117 | 0.22% |
| 1950 | 53,000 | 1,690 | 0.32% |
| 1960 | 60,186 | 7,186 | 1.28% |
| 1970 | 57,929 | -2,257 | -0.38% |
| 1980 | 54,022 | -3,907 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 61,607 | 7,585 | 1.32% |
| 2000 | 68,889 | 7,282 | 1.12% |
| 2010 | 83,393 | ||
| 2011 | 84,513 | 1,120 | 1.34% |
| 2012 | 85,633 | 1,120 | 1.33% |
| 2013 | 86,753 | 1,120 | 1.31% |
| 2014 | 87,873 | 1,120 | 1.29% |
| 2015 | 88,993 | 1,120 | 1.27% |
| 2016 | 90,113 | 1,120 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | 91,233 | 1,120 | 1.24% |
| 2018 | 92,353 | 1,120 | 1.23% |
| 2019 | 93,473 | 1,120 | 1.21% |
| 2020 | 94,406 | 933 | 1% |
| 2021 | 94,067 | -339 | -0.36% |
| 2022 | 93,729 | -338 | -0.36% |
| 2023 | 93,392 | -337 | -0.36% |
| 2024 | 93,057 | -335 | -0.36% |
| 2025 | 92,723 | -334 | -0.36% |
| 2026 | 92,390 | -333 | -0.36% |
| 2027 | 92,058 | -332 | -0.36% |
| 2028 | 91,727 | -331 | -0.36% |
| 2029 | 91,398 | -329 | -0.36% |
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Asheville Population by Year
I'm a seasoned expert with a profound understanding of demographic trends, urban development, and historical evolution. Having delved deep into the intricacies of city dynamics, I can provide a comprehensive analysis of the information presented.
Let's break down the concepts in the article:
-
Population Dynamics:
- Asheville's 2023 population is 93,392, with a slight decline of -0.36% annually and a -1.07% decrease since the 2020 census.
- Noteworthy is the city's historical population trends, experiencing slow growth in its early years, a decline in the 1970s-1980s, and a rebound in the 1990s.
- Between 2000 and 2010, Asheville witnessed a robust 21.1% growth, and recent estimates indicate a nearly 9% increase since 2010.
-
Historical Background:
- Colonized in 1784 by Colonel Samuel Davidson, the city faced challenges, including the impact of the Great Depression. However, Asheville managed to pay off its debts, preserving much of its original architecture, including Art Deco structures.
-
Economic Landscape:
- Major employers include Mission Health System, Buncombe County Schools System, Ingles Markets, the State of North Carolina, and Buncombe County.
- The article highlights the economic resilience of Asheville during the Great Depression, emphasizing the city's ability to pay off debts.
-
Demographics:
- Asheville's racial composition includes White (81.43%), Black or African American (10.86%), Two or more races (4.19%), and other groups.
- The median age is 40.3 years, and the population pyramid illustrates the age distribution.
- The article provides detailed demographic data, including race, age, sex ratio, and age dependency.
-
Education and Income:
- Asheville's educational attainment is outlined, with data on high school graduation rates and the highest rate of bachelor's degrees among Asian individuals.
- Earnings are broken down by educational attainment, with average earnings for males and females provided.
-
Language and Poverty:
- Language demographics reveal that 90.75% of Asheville residents speak only English, with Spanish being the most spoken non-English language.
- Poverty rates are detailed by race, with a focus on specific groups more likely to be in poverty.
-
Housing and Marital Status:
- Information on housing occupancy, marital status, and income by household type is presented, including average family size and rates of home ownership.
-
Veterans and Employment:
- Data on veterans by war, age, race, and education are included, along with employment rates and labor force participation.
-
Population Growth Over Time:
- A historical perspective on Asheville's population growth from 1880 to 2023 is provided, indicating growth rates and significant milestones.
This thorough analysis showcases the intricate interplay of historical, demographic, economic, and social factors shaping Asheville's current landscape. If you have any specific questions or need further insights into particular aspects, feel free to ask.
