Life In Asheville
Asheville rests on a high, fertile plateau framed by the
Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains of Western North
Carolina. It offers a unique quality of life, maintaining
the intimacy and charm of a small city, while offering the
cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities of a
large one. Asheville’s population is 75,000 with the
population of Buncombe County nearing 222,174 (2006
Census estimate). The medical referral population of the
western region is greater than 750,000.
At an average elevation of 2,340 feet above sea level,
Asheville enjoys four distinct seasons. The average spring
temperature is 62.3 degrees, and April 12 is the average
last date of temperatures falling below freezing. Summers
are cool, with average high temperature of 82 degrees and
average low of 61 degrees. Fall brings brilliant foliage,
painting area peaks and an average temperature of 48
degrees. Winter’s average temperature is 42
degrees. Snowfall is heavy in the higher elevations,
but the past 20-year average in Asheville is 12 inches per
year.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is located in Asheville
and other nearby advanced educational
institutions include Western Carolina University, Warren Wilson
College, Mars Hill College, Montreat College, and Brevard
College. WCU and UNCA have expanding graduate programs.
Life in Hendersonville
Surrounded by majestic mountains, Hendersonville is known
as the City of Four Seasons. Today, with an economic base consisting of a
balanced mix of industry, agriculture, tourism and retirement, Hendersonville
has attracted hundreds of families looking for a gentle climate, beautiful
scenery, ample recreational activities and friendly people. Hendersonville is
nestled atop a 2,200- foot scenic mountain plateau between the Great Smokies
and Blue Ridge Mountains, and is just a short distance down the Blue Ridge
Parkway from Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Major
metropolitan areas are but a short, pleasant drive from Hendersonville.
Hendersonville’s four distinct yet moderate seasons offer beauty, variety and
year-round golf. With a mean temperature of 71 degrees in the summer and 41
degrees in the winter, the climate is conducive to year-round activity. There
is an average of less than 21 inches of snow during the winter, and spring and
autumn are postcard-perfect. This almost perfect climate, combined with
excellent healthcare services, a wide variety of housing options, and numerous
recreational, cultural and educational opportunities, has earned Hendersonville
national recognition as one of the best places to live and retire.
Hendersonville also boasts a picturesque and thriving downtown district. It is
a testimony of how business and community leaders work together to preserve our
heritage yet keep the city prosperous and developing in positive ways.