Buncombe County, County in western North Carolina, United States
Description
Buncombe County is an administrative district in western North Carolina in the United States, extending across forested mountain ranges, river valleys and high plateaus. The landscape belongs to the Blue Ridge Mountain chain and includes several towns as well as wide rural areas.
History
The area was established in 1791 and named after an officer from the Revolutionary War who was wounded in the Battle of Germantown. During the 19th century the region grew through farming and later through tourism, which drew visitors to the mountains.
Culture
The name traces back to Colonel Edward Buncombe, an officer in the Revolutionary War whose surname later became an English word for empty talk. Travelers today see forested slopes and river valleys that have been settled for centuries and where local craft traditions continue.
Practical
Two major highways cross here and connect the area with cities in the southeastern United States, making access easy from different directions. Hiking trails and viewpoints lie at varying elevations, so visitors should be prepared for changing weather conditions.
Did you know?
A congressman delivered such a long and pointless speech here in 1820 that his name became the English term for empty talk. This linguistic curiosity connects a place in the Appalachians with an everyday word in the English language.
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Biltmore Estate
8 km
Mount Mitchell
29.5 km
Black Mountain College
15.6 km
The Omni Grove Park Inn
1.6 km
Chimney Rock State Park
32.1 kmAsheville School
9.9 km
Mount Craig
30.6 km
Asheville High School
4.7 km
Thomas Wolfe House
2.3 km
Catawba Falls
25.8 km
Mount Pisgah
29 km
North Carolina Arboretum
14.4 km
The Orange Peel
2.8 km
Overlook Castle
421 m
Andrews Geyser
26.6 km
Hickory Nut Falls
31.4 kmAsheville-Weaverville Speedway
14.7 km
Mitchell Falls
28.8 km
Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace
10.6 km
Botanical Gardens at Asheville
3.4 km
Folk Art Center
4.8 km
Downtown Asheville Historic District
2.7 km
Jackson Building
2.5 km
Western North Carolina Nature Center
4.7 km
Battery Park Hotel
1.6 km
Zealandia
1.7 km
Glassmine Falls
22.8 km
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