Trying to understand Asheville (without having been there) (Charlotte, Greenville: home, university)

[Tiger Beer]

I'm trying to understand ASHEVILLE without having been there. Sounds like a small college town with mostly college students with liberal ideas (typical of any college town)....with a great mountain countryside all around it? Is that the basic assessment?

What makes Asheville seem to stand out well beyond other college towns? Is that people tend to stay there after university?

I also looked up the politics, and couldn't get it for the city, only the county. The county of Buncombe voted for Bush the last two times into office. So either Asheville is not really all that liberal, or the county it is in is super conservative and outweighs the college town/city altogether?

I also looked up University of North Carolina at Asheville. The enrollment is 2,759. That is somewhat kind of small. What kind of presense do the college students have on the city?

The city is also somewhat small as well at around 75,000 people. Do you that live in Asheville feel you have everything you need right in Asheville? Or do you find you occassionally feel the need to go to other cities for whatever reasons due to something lacking in Asheville? If you do go somewhere, where do you usually go?

Last question related to RAGWEED ALLERGY. It is a problem in many cities, it is always in the AUTUMN...around September...allergies to ragweed pollen. Do people in Asheville seem much effected by it? I'm wondering if Asheville being higher population, maybe it is somehow less than other N.C. cities, etc.

[The Mule]

I'll answer what I can. While the college has a presence here, Asheville is not a college town. With 75,000 residents and a college of 3,000 students, it really couldn't be. I think our definition of small is different - eons ago I went to a college of about 7,000 students in a town of roughly 16,000 residents.

I wouldn't compare Asheville to other college towns. People come here because of a number of things, including the mountains and less extreme seasons.

The vocal part of the city is very liberal. In my observation, the average (factoring in those who don't broadcast their political beliefs at every opportunity) is still on the liberal side but not as far left. The county as a whole is less liberal, but still more than the rest of the state.

College students have a presence, but probably only about as much as you would expect in the ration of 3,000 to 75,000.

By in large, we find everything we need here. We've been here a couple of years after spending most of our lives in very large places (I lived for 9 years in the Va. suburbs of Washington, DC, 8 more in the Oakland/San Francisco/San Jose area). One of the reasons we liked Asheville was it was large enough to be pretty self contained. For grins we might head down to Greenville/Spartanburg or Charlotte. If my wife wants to go to a "real" mall, she heads to Charlotte.

I can't speak much to the allergies since neither my wife or I have them. Hopefully someone else can help you there.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by The Mule

College students have a presence, but probably only about as much as you would expect in the ration of 3,000 to 75,000.

More realistic numbers are 2,000 in a municipal area of about 200,000 population. One third of UNCA students are commuter students, living at home and not really part of the college lifestyle.

[LLN]

Here is my perspective from a lifelong Tar Heel, BUT NOT A RESIDENT of Asheville.

Asheville is the largest city in the mountains. The attraction is that it can provide ALL the services one needs, but you still can live in or very near beautiful country.

I think UNC Asheville has adopted the culture of Asheville, rather than the other way around. Many people feel Asheville is a "hippie city".

I think the deal is that many attracted to the mountains, put that attraction first, rather than economic or other issues. Since Asheville is in the mountains, and has, speaking relatively, many people, you end up with many people focused on the mountains and the mountain culture and to a degree, way of life.

I have been to and through Asheville many times (I fish for trout) and I have yet to see UNC-A. In other words, I don't think it is a significant factor.

Great town - great culture, but you are right, you need to understand what you are getting into. BUT..you certainly do not have to be a hippie to live there!!!!!

lln

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by LLN

...you need to understand what you are getting into. BUT..you certainly do not have to be a hippie to live there!!!!!

lln

If you live in or around Asheville it helps if you are: poor to middle class, very tolerant of uneducated people, acceptance that a high percentage of the people receive government handouts (entitlements), are very liberal, expect government assistance, aware of the drug problems, panhandlers, homeless, and city leaders that openly promote wanting to increase the already very high gay population.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Kooter

If you live in or around Asheville it helps if you are: poor to middle class, very tolerant of uneducated people, acceptance that a high percentage of the people receive government handouts (entitlements), are very liberal, expect government assistance, aware of the drug problems, panhandlers, homeless, and city leaders that openly promote wanting to increase the already very high gay population.

May I suggest you hang out with the wrong people, or in the wrong places when you are in Asheville.

[lovesroses]

When we visited Asheville, the only things I found lacking after living in large cities are a variety of good ethnic restaurants(Chinese, Mexican, Thai) and ethnic markets selling things like hummus, feta cheese, etc. I would also miss the Macys department store, which I like to frequent a couple times a yr.

As for politics, Asheville must not be the only liberal city in the state because the traditionally republican state is now in a dead heat with McCain behind Obama by .5pt.

.

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

May I suggest you hang out with the wrong people, or in the wrong places when you are in Asheville.

No, I definitely don't hang out with the wrong people or go to the wrong places, I just see way too many people like I described when I'm in Asheville. You can't avoid them - they're everywhere!

[histo320]

Originally Posted by Kooter

No, I definitely don't hang out with the wrong people or go to the wrong places, I just see way too many people like I described when I'm in Asheville. You can't avoid them - they're everywhere!

You my friend, have not seen the real Asheville. That is all part of that culture downtown but where I live, I do not see any of that.

Asheville is very unique. I've always heard how liberal it was and moved from very conservative farming community in the midwest, but find that there is a good mix of conservative and liberal. You do meet people who are as far right as you can get and as far left but a majority are right in the middle. Especially in the surrounding Buncombe area.

In my experience, you can never get bored in Asheville. There are always unique places to go whether it be hiking, art galleries, or tourist attraction. Also, you see a lot of unique people from all over the world and that experience in priceless.

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by histo320

You my friend, have not seen the real Asheville. That is all part of that culture downtown but where I live, I do not see any of that.

Asheville is very unique. I've always heard how liberal it was and moved from very conservative farming community in the midwest, but find that there is a good mix of conservative and liberal. You do meet people who are as far right as you can get and as far left but a majority are right in the middle. Especially in the surrounding Buncombe area.

In my experience, you can never get bored in Asheville. There are always unique places to go whether it be hiking, art galleries, or tourist attraction. Also, you see a lot of unique people from all over the world and that experience in priceless.

Yes, I've seen the real Asheville! Lived over 50 years in NC and have hundreds of relatives (on my wife's side) that live in, and around Asheville, as well as all over WNC and ETN. Yes, I've seen the real Asheville...