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Ashe County
comprises approximately 427.05 square miles of land area. Mean
temperatures reach 32 degrees F in January and 69 degrees F in
July. Resting high in the Blue Ridge Mountains at 2,900 feet
above sea level, the annual rainfall measures around 48 inches.
The 2000 census shows the population to be 24,384, resulting in
a 10.2 percent growth over the past ten years. When population
and land area are examined together, the County’s population
density is 58.22 people per square mile.
Feeding off of its strong heritage and unity, Ashe County is
growing to meet the demands of a more modern economy
by providing a wide range of balanced, stable
employment. Residential growth
in the County is rising as the value of our aesthetic beauty and
recreational possibilities appeal to a widening band of people
from around the globe. An increase in the importance of the
construction sector of the workforce (ten percent of labor
force) is evidence of this trend. Growing commensurate to the
construction market, service and retail opportunities,
accounting for 15 and 17 percent of the workforce respectively
show a shift towards a more visitor-friendly Ashe County for the
future. A strong local government presence, totaling 13 percent
of County workers, provides quality services and administration
for all citizens, while a diverse manufacturing field
contributes an impressive 35 percent of local jobs. Although
Ashe County’s history is steeped in farming, agriculture
currently accounts for only 2.4 percent of the active workforce.
The influences and characteristics of a traditional community
remain, however, ingrained in the values and work ethic of the
citizens, and the truly “hometown” feel of the community.
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While struggling with many growth-related issues common to more
rural areas, Ashe County continues to improve in many fields,
including education. At a steady rate, levels of
high school enrollment and graduation increase locally, as do
the statistics of those enrolling and completing collegiate
careers. Local policy makers continue to allocate resources to
insuring the highest quality education possible, building
cutting edge school facilities for all ages of students, in
order to offer the very best curriculum and social development
for the County’s future leaders. As recent as 1999, a new
consolidated high school began operation, offering myriad
possibilities for scholastic and extracurricular activities as
well, including increased internet accessibility and
technological capacity. Groundwork is also being conducted at
this time for a new, multi-million dollar elementary school to
be completed around 2004. The recognition of the importance of
early education, and a spirit of cooperation with the Ashe
Campus of the
Wilkes Community College and
nearby
Appalachian State University
are constantly bettering the opportunities and assets of Ashe
residents.
As a result of such labors and intensive efforts at improvement,
the
economic conditions within the County steadily
improve. Current median family income is $35,000. Even with
recent increases, the local tax rate is only $0.58 on the
hundred, showing an incredible commitment to keep taxation
reasonable, while providing the very best services possible.
The ability to communicate and exchange information
at high speeds is of extreme value in today’s fast-paced
marketplace. In order to remain current and on the leading edge
of information accessibility, Ashe County is partnering with the
NC Rural Center and the
Rural Internet Access Authority,
in order to further our network of broadband Internet access.
The RIAA is working to provide affordable access to even the
most remote areas in North Carolina and is proving to be an
invaluable asset to Ashe’s expansion and preparation for more
high-tech industry. Fiber optic cable and increased
telecommunications coverage are also among the elements of
information infrastructure, which are being installed to better
connect Ashe County to other growing areas.
Businesses of all sizes and nature reside in Ashe
County, and make use of the favorable environment to prosper.
Ashe is home to retail and service establishments ranging from
two or three employees, as well as
manufacturing firms
employing as many as 600. Recent businesses to locate in
Ashe are Wal Mart Super Center, Oldham Saw Company and Tigra
USA, a cutting tools manufacturer based in Germany. While many
large
manufacturers and firms
have found a productive home in Ashe County, there is an
understanding among the leaders of the community that small
business seem to be the heart of Ashe’s economic sector. Local
decision makers strive constantly to provide optimum location
opportunities, training assistance programs through the local
community college, and other viable incentives to establish and
maintain a high-quality environment for the location of small
businesses. Each employer, whether large or small, depends
largely upon the skill and dedication offered by the County’s
workers.
Thanks to continuing partnerships with the NC Department of
Transportation, access to Ashe County has never
been better. Local leaders are continually meeting with DOT
officials to prioritize and schedule improvements to the County
road network. In addition, the Board of County Commissioners and
Airport Advisory Board are currently working to improve the
capability and usage of the
Ashe County Airport. This
facility, under the supervision of the County, is intended to
provide access to general aviation flights, both for business
and recreational use. Recognizing its potential and importance
as a selling point and valuable tool for local businesses, Ashe
is currently evaluating an airport expansion project with the
NCDOT Division of Aviation, which will provide additional runway
length, and corporate hangar spaces. The runway is currently
jet-accessible and many pilots currently utilize the recently
added Jet A fuel system.
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Many related factors combine to provide the County with its
unmatched quality of life. For years, tourists have
traveled from far and wide to view the seasonal changing of leaves
in the autumn, or to canoe the wild and scenic New River; designated
as a National Heritage River in 2000, by President Clinton. The
surrounding Appalachian Mountains offer numerous hiking and outdoor
possibilities, and the federally established Blue Ridge Parkway
bisects the County, offering recreational opportunities as well as
tourism gateways to Ashe and surrounding areas. Other recreational
areas include Mt. Jefferson State Park, New River State Parks, and
the parks and recreation facilities offered through Ashe County
Parks programs. Local resort communities include Mountain Aire golf
course and the beautiful Jefferson Landing on the New River; both
offering wonderful golfing, housing and recreational opportunities.
Municipalities within Ashe County are local centers of
residential and commercial growth. Major infrastructure improvements
are underway in all towns and many active annexation projects are
expanding accessible water and sewer lines into unincorporated areas
of the County. Such aggressive growth and preparation are providing
for the orderly provision of services through many high-density
areas, while County/town partnerships are addressing corridor issues
and the effective preservation of Ashe’s numerous assets.
Ashe County is a beautiful, safe, productive place to live, work and
play. Outstanding quality of life and increasing levels of services
and opportunities are sure to aid Ashe County in being on of
America’s best places to live. For those seeking a relaxing place to
call home for retirement, for parents searching for a place to raise
a family, or for a business needing a prosperous area to base
corporate operations, Ashe provides innumerable opportunities, and
welcomes newcomers with a hearty handshake and a smile. |
