Asheville North Carolina History

Established in 1797 as the trading center and seat of the newly created Buncombe County, Asheville grew steadily through the 19th century. The arrival of the railroad in 1880 caused Asheville to draw interest as a tourist destination due to the natural setting, health facilities, and its exclusive resorts.

The commercial buildings in Downtown Asheville Historic District are from the end of the 19th century to the 1940s. Numerous churches and government buildings are from the 1920s and 1940s. The structures are a variety of one-story buildings and modest skyscrapers, and can be appreciated as visual images of popular architectural styles that include: Romanesque Revival, late Victorian, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Georgian, Classical Revival and Art Deco.