North Carolina

Avery

17,806
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Avery

Avery, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 10,335. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,806.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,806
201017,797
200017,167
199014,867
198014,409
197012,655
196012,009
195013,352
194013,561
193011,803
192010,335
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Avery

National Register of Historic Places listings in Avery, North Carolina.

Crossnore School Historic District
Crossnore
Linville Historic District
Linville
Elk Park School
Elk Park
Banner Elk Hotel
Banner Elk
Weaving Room of Crossnore School
Crossnore
Wiseman, Ray, House
Altamont
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

WaltonWarrenWashingtonWataugaWayneWilkesWilsonYadkinYanceyAlamanceAlexanderAlleghanyAnsonAsheBeaufortBertieBladenBrunswickBuncombeBurke
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Everything a full report reveals about Avery County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Avery County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Avery

When does Avery first appear in the US census?
Avery, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 10,335.
What is the population of Avery?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Avery had a recorded population of 17,806.
How many historic places are in Avery?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Avery, North Carolina.
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