North Carolina

Buncombe

269,452
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Buncombe

Buncombe, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 5,812. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 269,452.

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

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Pisgah Phase Violence – Western Carolina, Oliver Phase Warren Wilson Conflict, Stoneman's Raid — Swannanoa Gap Defense, and 127 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020269,452
2010238,318
2000206,330
1990174,821
1980160,934
1970145,056
1960130,074
1950124,403
1940108,755
193097,937
192064,148
191049,798
190044,288
189035,266
188021,909
187015,412
186012,654
185013,425
184010,084
183016,281
182010,542
18109,277
18005,812
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Buncombe

Military engagements that took place in Buncombe, North Carolina.

Pisgah Phase Violence – Western Carolina
1300
Oliver Phase Warren Wilson Conflict
1450
Stoneman's Raid — Swannanoa Gap Defense
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Black Mountain NC
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Asheville NC Approaches
1865

Historic places in Buncombe

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

Chestnut Hill Historic District
Asheville
Conabeer Chrysler Building
Asheville
Lanning, John A., House
Fairview
Blue Ridge Assembly Historic District
Black Mountain
Buncombe County Courthouse
Asheville
Downtown Asheville Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Asheville
First Baptist Church
Asheville
Downtown Asheville Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Asheville
All Souls Episcopal Church and Parish House
Asheville
Raoul, Thomas Wadley, House
Asheville
Montford Area Historic District
Asheville
Camp, William Nelson, Jr., House
Fairview
Battery Park Hotel
Asheville
Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church
Black Mountain
Biltmore Estate
Asheville
Monte Vista Hotel
Black Mountain
Asheville City Hall
Asheville
Alexander, Mrs. Minnie, Cottage
Asheville
Asheville High School
Asheville
Asheville School
Asheville
Bryan, William Jennings, House
Asheville
Church of the Redeemer
Asheville
Carter-Swain House
Democrat
St. Matthias Episcopal Church
Asheville
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Buncombe County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Buncombe 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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Explore North Carolina records

North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Buncombe

When does Buncombe first appear in the US census?
Buncombe, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 5,812.
What is the population of Buncombe?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Buncombe had a recorded population of 269,452.
Were any battles fought in Buncombe?
5 documented military engagements took place in Buncombe, including Pisgah Phase Violence – Western Carolina, Oliver Phase Warren Wilson Conflict, Stoneman's Raid — Swannanoa Gap Defense.
How many historic places are in Buncombe?
127 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Buncombe, North Carolina.
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