Editing Henderson County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Henderson, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county     = Henderson County
 | state        = North Carolina
 | seal                 = Henderson County Seal.png
 | founded              = 1838
 | named for            = [[Leonard Henderson]]
 | seat wl      = Hendersonville
 | largest city wl      = Hendersonville
 | city type         = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 375.09
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 372.95
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.14
 | area percentage      = 0.57
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 116281
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 119230 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.34|-82.48|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | web                  = www.hendersoncountync.gov
 | ex image             = Henderson courthouse 9239.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Henderson County Courthouse
 | district             = 11th
 | flag                 = Henderson County Flag.gif
 | logo                 = Henderson County Logo.webp }}

'''Henderson County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 116,281.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Henderson County is part of the [[Asheville metropolitan area|Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:Henderson County, NC 1905 Courthouse.jpg|thumb|right|Former [[Henderson County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Henderson County Courthouse]], now used as the Henderson County Heritage Museum]]
The county was formed in 1838 from the southern part of [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]]. It was named for [[Leonard Henderson]], [[Chief Justice]] of the [[North Carolina Supreme Court]] from 1829 to 1833.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n153 154]}}</ref> There is no evidence Henderson ever passed through the area.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6KEaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NSQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5250%2C5292855 | title=Tuxedo: It's not formal wear | work=The Times-News | date=February 22, 1987 | access-date=May 23, 2015 | author=Kramp, Penn | pages=27}}</ref>

In 1855 parts of Henderson County and [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]] were combined to form [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County]], and in 1861 parts of Henderson County and [[Jackson County, North Carolina|Jackson County]] were combined to form [[Transylvania County, North Carolina|Transylvania County]].

Henderson County, which in 1861 encompassed present-day Transylvania County as well, contributed 1,296 soldiers to the [[Confederate States]] Army out of its approximately 10,000 population, as well as 130 [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] troops. (Figures from Terrell T. Garren's "Mountain Myth: Unionism in Western North Carolina, published 2006).

Henderson County government was centered around Hendersonville in the [[Henderson County Courthouse (North Carolina)|1905 county courthouse]] on Main Street, until this structure was replaced by the new Courthouse (c. 1995) on Grove Street in Hendersonville.

The first rail line reached Hendersonville in 1879, ushering in a new era of access to the outside world. However, parts of the county had long been known as retreats, including the "Little Charleston" of [[Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina|Flat Rock]] in which [[South Carolina]]'s Low Country planter families had maintained second homes since the early 19th century.

A major land boom ensued in the 1920s, culminating in the crash of 1929, which severely deflated prices and left structures such as the Fleetwood Hotel atop Jumpoff Mountain incomplete. Population growth in the county has been rapid since the 1960s as a result of an influx from other states, with many new housing developments changing the face of previously rural areas of the county.

Other notable historic sites in Henderson County include: the Woodfield Inn (1852), [[Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site|Connemara]]—final home of [[Carl Sandburg]] (originally known as Rock Hill, the home of CSA Secretary of the Treasury [[Christopher Memminger]]) &ndash; and the St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church. Today, Flat Rock is the site of the main campus of [[Blue Ridge Community College (North Carolina)|Blue Ridge Community College]] and is home to the [[Flat Rock Playhouse]], the state theatre of North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-30 |title=Flat Rock Playhouse, State Theatre of North Carolina - Welcome To Hendersonville, NC |url=https://visithendersonvillenc.org/businesses/flat-rock-playhouse-state-theatre-of-north-carolina |access-date=2024-07-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q511747|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Henderson County}}
[[File:henderson nc elevation.png|thumb|300px|Henderson County Elevation]]
Henderson County is located in the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] of southwestern North Carolina, on the border with South Carolina. The Eastern Continental Divide, which lies along the crest of the Blue Ridge, passes through the county. The northwestern slope of the Divide is known as the Blue Ridge Plateau and the southeastern slope as the Blue Ridge Escarpment. These two physiographic features have unique characteristics that account for wide variations in the county's climate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|375|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|373|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|2.2|mi2|km2}} (0.6%) is water. The county's largest body of water is Lake Summit, a reservoir impounded by the Duke Power Company for hydroelectric generation. The county's major streams are the [[French Broad River]] (whose conjunction with the [[Holston River]] forms the [[Tennessee River]], flowing into the Ohio River, the Mississippi River, and eventually the Gulf of Mexico), [[Mills River]], [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]], Little River, Mud Creek, Clear Creek, Cane Creek, [[Hungry River]], and the headwaters of the [[Broad River (Carolinas)|Broad River]] (which flows into the [[Congaree River]] of South Carolina and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean). The lowest point in the county is found along the Broad River at approximately 1,394 feet at the boundary between Henderson and Rutherford Counties in North Carolina. The high point is located on Little Pisgah Mountain at approximately 5,278 feet along the Henderson-Haywood County boundary in North Carolina (Note that a second Little Pisgah Mountain at 4,412 feet is located at the boundary between Henderson and Buncombe counties in North Carolina). According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|375.09|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|372.95|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.14|sqmi}} (0.57%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Landscape and climate===
Due to its geographic setting along the Eastern Continental Divide and its extreme topographic variation, Henderson County presents a wide variation in temperature and precipitation conditions. The highest elevations occur along the northwest and northern boundaries of the county and within the Blue Ridge Escarpment, a rugged area of peaks and narrow valleys that rise from the Piedmont to the continental divide and the Blue Ridge Plateau. The lowest elevations occur within the valleys of the escarpment and in the broader valleys of the Blue Ridge Plateau. The mean annual temperature of the county is {{convert|55.1|°F}}, with a range from {{convert|50.3|to|57.9|°F}} depending on the elevation, with higher temperatures occurring at lower elevations and lower temperatures in the higher mountains. The month of July is the hottest in the county, with a mean temperature of {{convert|72.6|°F}} and a mean range of {{convert|66.6|to|75.8|°F}}. The coolest month is January with a mean temperature of {{convert|36.9|°F}} and a mean range of {{convert|33.3|to|39.5|°F}}. Precipitation is also correlated to elevation, with higher precipitation normally occurring at higher elevations and lower precipitation in the valleys. The mean annual precipitation of Henderson County is {{convert|56.2|in|}}, with a mean range of {{convert|45.04|to|78.03|in}}. March has the highest mean precipitation of {{convert|5.1|in|}}, with a mean range of {{convert|3.9|to|6.7|in}}. The lowest precipitation occurs in October, with a mean value of {{convert|3.9|in|}} and a mean range of {{convert|2.8|to|5.8|in}}.

===Agriculture===
Henderson County's topographic and climatic diversity make it ideal for a great variety of commercial crops and agricultural products. Parts of the county between the Pisgah National Forest on the northwest and the boundary with Polk County on the southeast are often referred to locally as the Crest of the Blue Ridge Agricultural Area in recognition of the region's unique growing conditions. At the present time the fruit and berry types being raised include apples, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, grapes, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries and watermelons.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Mitsy |title=Agriculture's Changing Face in Henderson County - Henderson County Chamber |url=https://www.hendersoncountychamber.org/blog/504-agriculture-s-changing-face-in-henderson-county.html |access-date=July 31, 2022 |website=www.hendersoncountychamber.org |date=June 22, 2015 |language=en-gb}}</ref>

A special word should be said for Henderson County's apple production. Since World War II, apples have been the most important agricultural crop in the county;<ref name=":0" /> they require extensive winter chilling, and do not tolerate summer heat and humidity well, so Henderson County, with its cooler climate due to its elevation represents an ideal environment for orchards. Henderson County represents, in fact, the southern limit for large-scale commercial apple production in the eastern United States.<ref name=":0" /> The tradition of honoring the local apple industry persists in the county's annual North Carolina Apple Festival, held each year around Labor Day, and culminating in the "King Apple Parade" attended by tens of thousands of spectators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Events|url=http://www.ncapplefestival.org/pages/events.php|publisher=North Carolina Apple Festival|access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> In addition to fruits and berries, a number of commercial vegetable crops are raised in Henderson County, including asparagus, green beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, corn, cucumbers, egg plants, greens, herbs, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, peas, peppers (bell and hot), potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash (winter and summer varieties), tomatoes, turnips, and zucchini. Meat, eggs, and dairy products are also important, with beef, fish, goat meat, mountain trout, pork, poultry, sweet and hard cider, wine and cheese being produced in commercial quantities.

===National protected areas===
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] (part)
* [[Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site]]
* [[Pisgah National Forest]] (part)

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Chimney Rock State Park]] (part)
* [[Dupont State Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[DuPont State Recreational Forest]] (part)
* [[Florence Nature Preserve]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florence Nature Preserve |url=https://conservingcarolina.org/florence-nature-preserve/ |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Conserving Carolina |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Green River Game Lands]] (part)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green River Game Lands - Rutherford Outdoor Coalition {{!}} NC |url=https://rutherfordoutdoor.org/trails/green-river-game-lands |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Rutherford Outdoor Coalition |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Holmes Educational State Forest]] (part)
* [[Pisgah National Forest Game Land]] (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Broad River (Carolinas)|Broad River]]
* [[French Broad River]]
* [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]]
* [[Hungry River]]
* [[Lake Summit, North Carolina|Lake Summit]]
* [[Hungry River|Little Hungry River]]
* [[North Pacolet River]]
* [[Hoopers Creek, North Carolina|South Fork Hoopers Creek]]
* [[Mills River (North Carolina)|South Fork Mills River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]] – north
* [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]] – northeast
* [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County]] – east
* [[Greenville County, South Carolina]] – south
* [[Transylvania County, North Carolina|Transylvania County]] – west
* [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]] – northwest

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I|26}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|25}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Truck|64|dab1=Franklin–Hendersonville}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|74}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|74A}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|176}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|9}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|191}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|225}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|280}}
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 5129
|1850= 6853
|1860= 10448
|1870= 7706
|1880= 10281
|1890= 12589
|1900= 14104
|1910= 16262
|1920= 18248
|1930= 23404
|1940= 26049
|1950= 30921
|1960= 36163
|1970= 42804
|1980= 58580
|1990= 69285
|2000= 89173
|2010= 106740
|2020= 116281
|estyear=2023
|estimate=119230
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37089.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607000050/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37089.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hendersoncountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Henderson County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Henderson County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37089&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 19, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 91,747
| 78.9%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,299
| 2.84%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 284
| 0.24%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 1,296
| 1.11%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 241
| 0.21%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 4,415
| 3.8%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 14,999
| 12.9%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 116,281 people, 51,115 households, and 33,992 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 106,740 people, 45,180 households, and 28,613 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|275.83|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 42,996 housing units at an average density of {{convert|115|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.5% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], and .9% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. The county has seen a marked increase in its Hispanic population segment and Hispanic culture in recent decades, and has also shared in the higher immigration from the countries of the former USSR experienced by neighboring Buncombe County.

There were 42,205 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 54.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 persons and the average family size was 2.78 persons.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males. Henderson County is characterized by an exceptionally large retiree population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Study Shows More People Likely on Way to the Mountains |url=https://henderson.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/10/study-shows-more-people-likely-on-way-to-the-mountains/ |access-date=July 31, 2022 |website=henderson.ces.ncsu.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The median income for a household in the county was $43,013 and the median income for a family was $44,974. Males had a median income of $31,845 versus $23,978 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $33,500. About 6.80% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

Henderson County was historically part of the [[Cherokee Nation]] before their removal in the [[Trail of Tears]] in 1837–38.

===Ancestry===
As of 2015, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Henderson County were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US37089|title=American FactFinder – Results|website=factfinder.census.gov|language=en|access-date=March 15, 2018|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035352/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US37089|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Ancestry !! Percent<br/><small>(2015)</small>
|-
| [[English Americans|English]] {{flagicon|England}} || 15.4%
|-
| [[American ancestry|American]] {{flagicon|United States}} || 13.9%
|-
| [[German Americans|German]] {{flagicon|Germany}} || 13.4%
|-
| [[Irish Americans|Irish]] {{flagicon|Ireland}} || 12.2%
|-
| [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scotch-Irish]] {{flagicon|Ulster}} || 4.7%
|-
| [[Scottish Americans|Scottish]] {{flagicon|Scotland}} || 4.0%
|-
| [[Italian Americans|Italian]] {{flagicon|Italy}} || 3.5%
|-
| [[French Americans|French]] (except [[Basques|Basque]]) {{flagicon|France}} || 2.1%
|-
| [[Polish American|Polish]] {{flagicon|Poland}} || 1.8%
|-
| [[Dutch American|Dutch]] {{flagicon|Netherlands}} || 1.5%
|}

===Religion===
As of 2018, the largest religious groups in Henderson County were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/county/religion/Henderson-County-NC.html|title=Religions in Henderson County, NC|website=www.city-data.com|language=en|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Religion !! Percent<br/><small>(2018)</small>
|-
| [[Irreligion in the United States|Unaffiliated]] || 44%
|-
| [[Baptists in the United States|Baptist]] || 23%
|-
| Other || 15%
|-
| [[Methodism|Methodist]] || 13.4%
|-
| [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholic]] || 4.0%
|-
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]] || 3.0%
|-
| [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] || 2.0%
|-
| [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] || 2.0%
|-
| [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] || 1.0%
|-
| [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] || 1.0%
|}

==Law and government==
Henderson County is a member of the [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Land-of-Sky Regional Council]] of governments. It is governed by the five-member Henderson County Board of Commissioners. All commissioners are members of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]:
# Rebecca McCall (chairman)
# J. Michael Edney (vice-chairman)
# Daniel Andreotta
# William Lapsley
# David Hill
The [[County manager (United States)|County Manager]] is John Mitchell. The Henderson County Planning Department publishes statistical information about the county every October.<ref>{{cite web|title=Henderson County Annual Profile of Statistical Information|url=http://ww2.hendersoncountync.org/planning/hcstats/index.html|publisher=County of Henderson|access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref>

In April 2021, the district attorney for Henderson County, Gregory A. Newman, was removed from office for willful misconduct and perjury, notably in a 2015 child rape case.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Judge Orders GOP District Attorney Removed for Making 'False Representations' After Crime Victims Said He Ignored Their Cases |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-orders-gop-district-attorney-removed-for-making-false-representations-after-crime-victims-said-he-ignored-their-cases/ |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref>

==Politics==
Henderson County is located in [[North Carolina's 11th congressional district]]. The present representative for the county is [[Chuck Edwards]], serving since 2023. Both the Henderson County Republican Party and the [[Henderson County Democratic Party North Carolina|Henderson County Democratic Party]] are active, and have their offices in the county seat, Hendersonville.

Henderson County is a massive outlier in North Carolina. Since 1880, it has been carried by a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] just five times–[[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1912 and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in each of his four elections.<ref>Menendez, Albert J.; ''The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004'', pp. 265-271 {{ISBN|0786422173}}</ref> Since Roosevelt carried the county in 1944, only [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1964, [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, and [[Kamala Harris]] in 2024 have managed to win more than 40 percent of the vote. [[Barack Obama]] came close to that mark in 2008 as part of the Democratic surge in the area, and [[Joseph Biden]] came closer still in 2020, winning 39.8%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Henderson County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/presidentialball00burn/|title=Presidential ballots, 1836-1892|first=Walter Dean|last=Burnham|website=archive.org|access-date=January 16, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->{{PresRow|2024|Republican|39,497|29,361|1,116|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|40,032|27,211|1,128|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|35,809|19,827|2,540|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|32,994|18,642|756|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|30,930|20,082|602|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|28,025|15,003|206|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|25,688|12,562|357|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|19,182|10,626|2,868|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|17,010|10,747|5,315|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|19,711|9,338|76|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|19,369|7,222|106|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|13,573|7,578|1,030|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|10,830|8,155|162|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|12,134|2,701|300|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|9,334|3,053|3,861|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|8,780|6,066|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,835|4,611|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,243|4,003|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,768|3,803|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,971|3,311|1,350|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,613|5,679|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,712|6,336|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,099|5,747|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,172|5,255|63|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,210|3,149|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,548|3,007|48|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,337|2,496|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,795|1,166|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|801|1,092|382|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,602|917|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,341|887|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,482|973|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,459|1,022|12|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,197|835|105|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|1,297|915|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|995|775|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|836|674|0|North Carolina}}

Political news and civic affairs are covered by the county's daily newspaper, the [[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)|''Times-News'']] of Hendersonville.

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Henderson County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Henderson County with municipal and township labels]]

===Cities===
* [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]] (county seat and largest community)
* [[Saluda, North Carolina|Saluda]]

===Towns===
* [[Fletcher, North Carolina|Fletcher]]
* [[Laurel Park, North Carolina|Laurel Park]]
* [[Mills River, North Carolina|Mills River]]

===Village===
* [[Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina|Flat Rock]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Balfour, North Carolina|Balfour]]
* [[Barker Heights, North Carolina|Barker Heights]]
* [[Dana, North Carolina|Dana]]
* [[East Flat Rock, North Carolina|East Flat Rock]]
* [[Edneyville, North Carolina|Edneyville]]
* [[Etowah, North Carolina|Etowah]]
* [[Fruitland, Henderson County, North Carolina|Fruitland]]
* [[Gerton, North Carolina|Gerton]]
* [[Hoopers Creek, North Carolina|Hoopers Creek]]
* [[Horse Shoe, North Carolina|Horse Shoe]]
* [[Mountain Home, North Carolina|Mountain Home]]
* [[Valley Hill, North Carolina|Valley Hill]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Bat Cave, North Carolina|Bat Cave]]
* [[Bearwallow, North Carolina|Bearwallow]]
* [[Chestnut Hill, Henderson County, North Carolina|Chestnut Hill]]
* [[Mountain Page, North Carolina|Mountain Page]]
* [[Naples, North Carolina|Naples]]
* [[Tuxedo, North Carolina|Tuxedo]]
* [[Zirconia, North Carolina|Zirconia]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=}}
* Blue Ridge
* Clear Creek
* Crab Creek
* Edneyville
* Green River
* Hendersonville
* Hoopers Creek
* Mills River
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Henderson County, North Carolina]]
* [[Asheville Regional Airport]], regional airport directly located north in Buncombe County

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Jody Barber and Louise Howe Bailey, ''Hendersonville and Henderson County: A Pictorial History.'' Norfolk, VA: Donning Co., 1988.
* James T. Fain, ''Henderson County — The Past 137 Years: A Chronicle of the History of Hendersonville and Henderson County Featuring Original Photographs Depicting our Area and its People.'' Hendersonville, NC: Times-News Co., 1976.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528709}}
* {{Official website|http://www.hendersoncountync.org/}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19991127231607/http://historichendersonville.org/ Henderson County Visitors Center]}}
* [http://www.strategiclocation.com/ Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Henderson County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]]
|Northeast = [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]]
|East      = [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Greenville County, South Carolina]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Transylvania County, North Carolina|Transylvania County]]
|Northwest = [[Haywood County, North Carolina|Haywood County]]
}}
{{Henderson County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Henderson County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Asheville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]