Serving the NC High Country

Alleghany County

Alleghany is the northernmost of the High Country counties — about 11,000 residents, predominantly year-round, with a strong agricultural and Christmas-tree-farming base.

Ashe County

Ashe is roughly 28,000 residents — year-round farming families, a growing arts community around West Jefferson, and a steady but smaller second-home contingent than the resort counties to the south.

Avery County

Avery is the heart of NC ski-country — Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Linville support a dense seasonal-second-home population that more than doubles the county's 17,000 year-round residents.

Mitchell County

Mitchell is about 14,000 residents — predominantly year-round, with deep mining and craft-school heritage (Penland School of Craft, the gem and mineral economy around Spruce Pine).

Watauga County

Watauga is the population center of the High Country — roughly 55,000 residents driven by Appalachian State University in Boone, plus a heavy second-home presence in Blowing Rock, Foscoe, and the surrounding ridges.

Wilkes County

Wilkes sits at the lower-elevation edge of the High Country — about 65,000 residents, the most populous of the seven counties.

Yancey County

Yancey is the smallest county by population in our service area — about 18,000 residents, predominantly year-round with strong Appalachian heritage, growing artist community around Burnsville, and a smaller but loyal second-home contingent.