As one of the crown jewels of the Carolinas, Asheville is a booming tourist destination that attracts nearly 12 million visitors annually. Located in Western North Carolina, the city provides the perfect blend of tourist attractions with the outdoor lifestyle, residing a short drive from multiple national forests, and attracting adventurous guests who want to experience the best of both the outdoors and culture while staying. The city is now known for its booming craft brewery economy, vibrant award-winning restaurant scene, eclectic artist studios, and beautiful mountain ranges.
The city was first widely known as the home of The Biltmore Estate, an 8,000-acre mansion built at the end of the 19th century, still the largest privately owned residence in the United States. The Biltmore is one of the largest tourism attractions in the Southeast with 1.4 million visitors each year, a major portion of Asheville’s 11 million annual visitors. Over time, both Downtown Asheville and the River Arts District have gained national attention as equally alluring to visitors. The Asheville MSA has 468,520 residents, a 9% increase since 2010. The city’s evolution as the residential hub of Western North Carolina is evidenced by the 29% median income and 20% job growth since 2010. The Asheville Central Business District is home to 90,000 daytime workers.
