Asheville History

Despite the modern feel and progressive attitude, Asheville history is a big part of this mountain town's attractiveness.

In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson redeemed a land grant from the state of North Carolina. He and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley, a few miles east of what we now know as downtown Asheville. Not known as Asheville at the time, the original county seat was in the current location of Pack Square. It was called Morristown. In 1797, Morristown was renamed Asheville after N.C. Governor William Ashe. Asheville was born.

In 1840, the population of Asheville hit 500. Nearly 170 years later, Asheville's population is approaching 75,000. It is quite a different place now. In fact, Asheville is very different than it was as recent as ten years ago.

As the population has grown over the years, many landmarks have been created that contribute to Asheville's reputation as a popular and fun place to visit.

How the various styles of architecture that define the landmarks came to Asheville is interesting. Biltmore Village was built in the style of an English manoral village. The All Souls Crescent church there is amazing to see. Downtown, the Jackson, Kress and Flat Iron buildings each have different styles that add to the skyline. These buildings are fun to explore and are home to many popular restaurants and bars. A downtown walking tour is a great way to spend a day.

In addition to the diverse architecture, there are several very popular attractions that tell an amazing story of Asheville history. Two of the most popular are the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn.

The Biltmore Estate, completed in 1895, is the largest private home in America. George Washington Vanderbilt built it as a summer home because he loved the climate.

Another climate chaser, E.W. Grove (a pharmaceutical company owner), built the Grove Park Inn in the early 1900's. Mr. Grove believed the mountains offered health benefits and would be a great place for a resort. He was right.

Like Vanderbilt and Grove, many new visitors and residents make the journey to Asheville every year. Today, we all get to enjoy Asheville history through the architecture, landmarks...and the mountains. These great activities are surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The highest mountains in eastern North America, provide the perfect setting to enjoy the rich history of Asheville.