Ashe County, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ashe County, North Carolina | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina | |
| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1799 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Jefferson |
| Area - Total - Land - Water | 1,105 km² (427 mi²) sq mi ( km²) 2 km² (1 mi²), 0.15% |
| Population - (2000) - Density | 24,384 22/km² |
| Website: www.ashecountygov.com | |
Ashe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 24,384. Its county seat is Jefferson6.
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[edit] History
Historical evidence shows that Ashe county was inhabited by Native Americans, which included the Cherokee, Creek, and Shawnee. Pieces of broken pottery, arrowheads, and other Native American artifacts have been found, indicating their presence. Most of these artifacts have been found in the Old Fields area of Ashe. Records show the earliest eastern European that set foot in Ashe was Bishop Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg - head of the Moravian church in America - and his associates, Timothy Horsefield, Joseph Mueller, Henry Antes, Johan Merck, and Herman Loesch. Bishop Spangenberg wrote about his journey in Ashe in a diary that has been preserved by the Moravian church. He was given 100,000 acres in Virginia as a place for his fellow Moravians to settle. The only one of Spangenberg's group to return and settle was Herman Loesch. Along with Herman were David Helton, William Walling, William McLain and Daniel Boone. These men settled here (excluding Boone)in 1771 and built the first homes in Ashe. One battle during the Revolutionary War was fought in Ashe, in the Old Fields area: the battle of the Big Glades. The battle was fought between a force of Americans, led by Captain Robert Love, and a force of 150 men on their way to Charlotte to join Lord Cornwallis in July of 1780. Captain Love prevailed. Ashe County was considered a colony in the 1770's and 80's. This colony was part of the state of Franklin during 1784 which consisted of three counties - Washington, Green, and Sullivan, Ashe was in the Washington District. It did not become part of North Carolina until 1785. In 1789, the land was split, concerning public laws, in 1799. Then, in 1799 Ashe was finally pronounced an official county of the United States and of North Carolina. Ashe was named after [[Samuel Ashe]], Governor of North Carolina from 1795 to 1798. From 1807 to 1913, Ashe whent through numerous boundary changes. Ashe county has a few famous people, and has had famous people visit. Albert Hash was one of those persons, an early musician from Ashe. Monte Weaver, a famous baseball player, he piched for the Washington Senators and pitched a World Series in 1933. Later, he piched for the Bosten Red Sox, then he was called to World War II that ended his baseball career. Weaver died in 1994. Helen Keller was in the county in 1944 to visit Marvin Osborne in the hospital after being wounded in WWII.
In 1849, the southwestern part of Ashe County was combined with parts of Caldwell County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County to form Watauga County. In 1859, the eastern part of the remainder of Ashe County became Alleghany County.
[edit] Law and Government
Ashe County is a member of the regional High Country Council of Governments.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,105 km² (427 mi²). 1,104 km² (426 mi²) of it is land and 2 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.15%) is water.
[edit] Townships
The County is divided into 22 townships: Survey townships - Chestnut Hill, Clifton, Creston, Crumpler, Elk, Grassy Creek, Helton, Horse Creek, Hurricane, Laurel Springs, North Fork, Obids, Old Fields, Peak Creek, Pine Swamp, Piney Creek, Pond Mountain, Todd, Walnut Hill, and Warrensville. Civil townships - Lansing, Jefferson, West Jefferson.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Grayson County, Virginia - north
- Alleghany County, North Carolina - east
- Wilkes County, North Carolina - southeast
- Watauga County, North Carolina - southwest
- Johnson County, Tennessee - west
[edit] Economy
- Agriculture:The county did have a good reputation for cattle and dairy farms. The county today is one of the state's leaders in the production of Fraser Fir Christmas Trees.
- Manufacturing: The county once had a thriving dairy industry with two cheese factories, one in West Jefferson, the other in and Lansing. Ashe County is now home of only one, but is the only wholesale/retail cheese plant in North Carolina and the west coast.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 24,384 people, 10,411 households, and 7,423 families residing in the county. The population density was 22/km² (57/mi²). There were 13,268 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (31/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.16% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,411 households out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the county, the population was spread out with 19.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,824, and the median income for a family was $36,052. Males had a median income of $25,666 versus $19,983 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,429. About 10.10% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those ages 65 and over.
