Buncombe County North Carolina
“Land of the Sky”
Buncombe county was nicknames”Land of the sky”, due to its rugged mountain views and beauty, and located in Western North Carolina. It was named for Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary War colonel. Its earliest residents were the Cherokee Indians, who were later joined by Scottish, German, and English settlers, who came to populate the region. Tourism is one of Buncombe County’s principal economic industries. Buncombe county’s agricultural products include milk and dairy products, burley tobacco, swine, honey, and many berries, fruits, and nuts. Minerals mined in Buncombe County include garnet, corundum, kyanite, and moonstone, and manufacturers produce hosiery, glass products, textiles and apparel, baby foods, and electronics.
The University of North Carolina at Asheville adds to the cultural life of Buncombe County, as do Warren Wilson College, Montreat College, as well as Black Mountain College was one of the Southeast’s most influential artistic centers from 1933 to 1956.
Highlights of Buncombe County NC
- Biltmore Estate
- Thomas Wolf House Memorial
- Folk Art Center
- The Grove Park Inn
- Smith McDowell House
- Basilica of Saint Lawrence
- North Carolina Arboretum
- Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
- Sourwood Festival
- Poetry Festival
- Swannanoa Music Festival