Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 381 square miles (990 km2), of which 379 square miles (980 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.

There are over 250 waterfalls in the county. Receiving over 90 inches of rain annually, Transylvania County is the wettest county in the state. This is contrasted with Buncombe County, which is thirty miles northeast of Transylvania County receiving the lowest precipitation. The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses through parts of the county, affording spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains, which reach over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) elevation in the county. The highest point, Chestnut Knob, 6,025 feet (1,836 m), lies northwest of the county seat Brevard.

  • Population per square mile, 2010: 87.4
  • Land area in square miles, 2010: 378.53


Population

  • Estimates, July 1, 2015 : 33,211
  • Estimates base, April 1, 2010: 33,090
  • Population, percent change - April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2015: 0.4%
  • Census, April 1, 2010: 33,090


Age and Sex

  • Persons under 5 years, percent, July 1, 2015: 4.0%
  • Persons under 5 years, percent, April 1, 2010: 4.6%
  • Persons under 18 years, percent, July 1, 2015: 16.4%
  • Persons under 18 years, percent, April 1, 2010: 17.6%
  • Persons 65 years and over, percent, July 1, 2015: 28.9%
  • Persons 65 years and over, percent, April 1, 2010: 25.8%
  • Female persons, percent, July 1, 2015: 51.6%
  • Female persons, percent, April 1, 2010: 51.7%


Race and Hispanic Origin

  • White alone, percent, July 1, 2015: 93.2%
  • White alone, percent, April 1, 2010: 92.4%
  • Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2015: 4.1%
  • Black or African American alone, percent, April 1, 2010: 3.9%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2015: 0.4%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, April 1, 2010: 0.3%
  • Asian alone, percent, July 1, 2015: 0.6%
  • Asian alone, percent, April 1, 2010: 0.4%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, July 1, 2015: Z*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, April 1, 2010: Z*
  • Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2015: 1.7%
  • Two or More Races, percent, April 1, 2010: 1.7%
  • Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2015: 3.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino, percent, April 1, 2010: 2.9%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2015: 90.1%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, April 1, 2010: 90.8%


Population Characteristics

  • Veterans, 2010-2014: 3,671
  • Foreign born persons, percent, 2010-2014: 3.2%


Housing

  • Housing units, July 1, 2015: 19,372
  • Housing units, April 1, 2010: 19,163
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2010-2014: 77.5%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2010-2014: $181,300
  • Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2010-2014: $1,105
  • Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2010-2014: $321
  • Median gross rent, 2010-2014:$647
  • Building permits, 2015: 82


Families and Living Arrangements

  • Households, 2010-2014: 13,735
  • Persons per household, 2010-2014: 2.31
  • Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2010-2014: 87.9%
  • Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2010-2014: 4.1%


Education

  • High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2010-2014: 88.8%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2010-2014: 29.0%


Health

  • With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2010-2014: 10.7%
  • Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent: 16.4%


Economy

  • In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2010-2014: 52.0%
  • In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2010-2014: 47.8%
  • Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000): 68,533
  • Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000): 148,670
  • Total manufacturers shipments, 2012 ($1,000): 61,066
  • Total merchant wholesaler sales, 2012 ($1,000): D*
  • Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000): 311,288
  • Total retail sales per capita, 2012: $9,476


Transportation

  • Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2010-2014: 24.4


Income and Poverty

  • Median household income (in 2014 dollars), 2010-2014: $43,959
  • Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2014 dollars), 2010-2014: $24,551
  • Persons in poverty, percent: 16.2%


Businesses

  • Total employer establishments, 2014: 790
  • Total employment, 2014: 7,108
  • Total annual payroll, 2014: 211,391
  • Total employment, percent change, 2013-2014: 0.8%
  • Total nonemployer establishments, 2014: 3,075
  • All firms, 2012: 3,488
  • Men-owned firms, 2012: 1,908
  • Women-owned firms, 2012: 1,153
  • Minority-owned firms, 2012: 215
  • Nonminority-owned firms, 2012: 3,172
  • Veteran-owned firms, 2012: 257
  • Nonveteran-owned firms, 2012: 3,018

 

Z, indicates a value greater than zero but less than half unit of measure shown 

D, indicates that the data was suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information

Statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. For more information, visit http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/37175