North Carolina

Yancey

18,470
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Yancey

Yancey, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 5,962. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 18,470.

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

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Burnsville NC, and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202018,470
201017,818
200017,774
199015,419
198014,934
197012,629
196014,008
195016,306
194017,202
193014,486
192015,093
191012,072
190011,464
18909,490
18807,694
18705,909
18608,655
18508,205
18405,962
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Yancey

Military engagements that took place in Yancey, North Carolina.

Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Burnsville NC
1864

Historic places in Yancey

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

Yancey Collegiate Institute Historic District
Burnsville
Chase-Coletta House
Burnsville
McElroy, John Wesley, House
Burnsville
Buck, David M., House
Bald Mountain
Yancey County Courthouse
Burnsville
Bald Creek Historic District
Burnsville
Nu-Wray Inn
Burnsville
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

BrunswickBuncombeBurkeCabarrusCaldwellCamdenCarteretCaswellCatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayClevelandColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidson
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Everything a full report reveals about Yancey County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Yancey 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 Yancey

When does Yancey first appear in the US census?
Yancey, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 5,962.
What is the population of Yancey?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Yancey had a recorded population of 18,470.
Were any battles fought in Yancey?
1 documented military engagement took place in Yancey, including Kirk-Stoneman Raid — Burnsville NC.
How many historic places are in Yancey?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Yancey, North Carolina.
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