Relocation Guide Magazines
Your total resource for relocation information in the Asheville NC areas - Western North Carolina area of North Carolina.

“Having such large businesses in Henderson County helps boost the local economy in many different ways,” he added. “For instance, they help generate more than $290 million in annual payroll, and they keep our tax base very low. They employ an average of 7,000 people, and this positively contributes to our low unemployment rate, which is at 3.8 percent. Plus, they’re really good corporate citizens by participating in such drives as the United Way on an annual basis.”

The jobs at the manufacturing companies tend to be in demand because of the pay, he said.

“The businesses offer good, quality jobs for people in this area,” Hamilton added. “Overall employees can make about $558 per week, on average; however, an employee can earn about $832 per week at a manufacturing job.”

Cutting-edge healthcare

More businesses that are thriving in the region are the local hospitals. As you may know, moving to a new area can be quite daunting, especially if you or a loved one needs medical assistance at a moment’s notice. The good news is that these counties offer many qualified, skilled, and caring professionals with a wide range of specialties.

Buncombe County is largely served by Mission Hospitals, which is licensed for more than 800 beds and bassinets. This sprawling hospital consists of a Level II Trauma Center, two pediatric intensive care units, five adult care units, and a freestanding outpatient surgery center.

At Mission Hospitals, there are more than 600 physicians, who provide world-class healthcare in a variety of specialties including cancer/oncology, cardiac/heart care, children’s services, maternity services, neurosciences, orthopaedics, trauma services, women’s health, and wound therapy. In addition, Mission Hospitals has a spine center, a low vision center, and a sleep disorder center.

And it’s not just the residents who are taking notice of the top-notch care that Mission Hospitals brings to the county. The facility was selected as one of America’s Top 100 hospital in 2004 and 2005 by Solucient, which independently analyzed data from more than 6,000 acute care general hospitals in the nation, according to Mission Hospitals’ Web site.

In addition, Solucient named the Owen Heart Center as one of the Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the nation in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Transylvania Community Hospital, which is a 94-bed facility in Downtown Brevard, consists of more than 40 active physicians and 80 courtesy and consulting physicians who specialize in a variety of disciplines, such as acute care, diabetes education, critical/intensive care, rehabilitation therapy, outpatient services, and home health care, according to its Web site. It also offers a full range of quality health services and wellness programs including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, a 24-hour emergency department, and a birthing center.

Henderson County is served by two facilities, Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher and Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville.

Park Ridge is a 103-bed facility that provides cardiology services, a chest pain center, obstetrics and gynecology services, full diagnostic imaging, oncology, orthopaedics, sports medicine, surgery, and urgent care.

Pardee Hospital is’ licensed for 222 acute care beds. It also has a 130-bed nursing facility, an adult day care center, a women’s health center, and a sports therapy complex.

Pardee Hospital’s medical staff consists of about 250 skilled physicians and dentists, who specialize in 28 different areas. The facility offers the center for joint replacement, nutrition services, psychiatric services, radiology, urgent care, and cardiology services.

Quality of life

The Orange Peel is a live music hall and concert venue, which has featured well-known recording acts, such a Bob Dylan, Blondie, and Ben Harper.

Downtown Asheville is also home to many art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.

“Our downtown is also a very walkable area,” Norris added. “You can hit seven or eight places that you’ve never seen before. We only have locally owned, independent shops,” she said. “We don’t have any large franchises in downtown; all of the larger chain-type stores are at the malls.”

Asheville is also home to the Biltmore Estate, which is a sprawling 250-room French Renaissance chateau that was built in the 1880s by George W. Vanderbilt. Housed on 8,000 acres, this magnificent estate, which is the largest privately owned home in the nation, features the spectacular home, as well as gardens, winery, a historic horse barn, restaurants, and an inn.

The city also boasts of an active museum, garden, and art scene with the Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum, the Thomas Wolfe Museum, YMI Cultural Center, the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, and the Asheville Art Museum.

Located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Folk Art Center, which has many exhibits on display and is actually the headquarters of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.

Another draw for residents is Chimney Rock, which features spectacular 75-mile views, hiking trails for all ages, a 404-foot waterfall, a nature center, and a native plant nursery.

“And some people don’t know it, but about 80 percent of the movie, The Last of the Mohicans, was filmed there,” she added.

And speaking movies, you can see the actual mountain peak from the Blue Ridge Parkway that was the inspiration for the successful book, Cold Mountain.

“When it comes to outdoor adventure, we have so much in Asheville,” she said. “Whether you’re into hiking, biking, fishing, birding, canoeing, white-water rafting, or skiing, Asheville has it all. Plus, we have the highest peaks. For instance, Mount Mitchell is 6,680 feet above sea level. We get one of the longest fall color seasons because of our elevation. You can still see the beautiful leaves throughout November.”

While many would think that the mountainous landscape would provide significant difficulties for golf course designers, Asheville boasts of several top-notch courses, she said.

And the surrounding areas also have a lot to offer newcomers.

Just south of Hendersonville in Flat Rock is the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, a 240-acre farm where the biographer and poet spent his last 20 years, said Karen Baker, communication specialist for Henderson County Travel & Tourism.

“We also have the Flat Rock Playhouse Theatre, which presents many productions from mid-April to mid-December,” said Baker. “We also have a historic downtown district with plenty of unique shops and boutiques.”

For those who prefer the outdoors, the Pisgah National Forest features spectacular waterfalls, fishing, camping, picnic sites, and hiking trails, as well as many attractions including Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and a center for wildlife education.

The area also has the Western North Carolina Air Museum, which houses award-winning restored and replica antique and vintage airplanes; and DuPont State Forest, which encompasses more than 10,000 acres in Henderson and Transylvania counties and features hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, she added.

For people of all ages who like winter activities, there’s the Moonshine Mountain Snow Tubing and Indian Mining Adventure Park, which consists of three separate lanes, a natural run, and tunnel tubing. Plus, visitors can learn about Indian culture and history, which was very prevalent in the western state, Baker said.

Haywood County, which consists of Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville, is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Waynesville is known for its thriving arts community that ranges from gourmet bakeries and coffee shops to spectacular galleries filled with paintings, sculptures, and jewelry. It’s because of the great quality of life that led to Waynesville being named as the Best Main Street Town, Best Small Town, and Best Mountain Town by Where to Retire magazine’s 100 Best Places to Retire (third edition).

In Canton, two of the world’s largest sapphires were found in the Old Pressley Sapphire Mine, which is now open to visitors. Clyde’s 1795 Shook House was home of Bishop Francis Asbury, the first Methodist Bishop to be consecrated in America. Plus, Raymond Fairchild, who is a five-time World Banjo Champion, regularly performs at the Maggie Valley Opry House.