HENDERSONVILLE, NC
Hendersonville is the county seat of Henderson County and is located in Western North Carolina in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Hendersonville was named after Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Judge Leonard Henderson and was incorporated in 1847. Before the area was discovered by William Mills in the 1780's, Hendersonville was a Cherokee hunting ground. Settlers in Hendersonville grew rye, wheat, corn, cabbage and potatoes and the area's main revenue source was agriculture. William Mills and his neighbors planted hundreds of fruit trees as well and Henderson County currently leads the state in the production of apples. Hendersonville is almost completely surrounded by mountains, and due to it's beautiful scenery, rich history and mild climate, Hendersonville soon became a major tourist destination. Currently, Hendersonville's main industries are manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture.
Hendersonville's elevation is 2,200 feet above sea level. The city has a mild climate and four distinct season. The city's average summer temperature is 74 degrees and it's average winter temperature is 36 degrees. Hendersonville's average yearly precipitation is 56.4 inches.
Hendersonville is known for it's traditional southern charm and the historic richness of it's downtown area. Downtown Hendersonville was was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It has become a vital part of the community's economic and cultural growth. On Main Street, visitors can find a wide variety of thriving businesses including antique stores, quaint restaurants and specialty shops. Kilwin's offers delicious old-time confections such as fudge, various brittles and caramel-dipped apples. Dad C.A.T.'s specializes in die-cast collectibles and toys. Honeysuckle Hollow is a unique antique and gift shop, and Wickwire Art Gallery offers fine and folk art. These are just a few of the treats that await any visitor to downtown Hendersonville.
Downtown hosts countless events and festivals, including the North Carolina Apple Festival. The Apple Festival is held during Labor Day Weekend and 2006 will mark it's 60th consecutive year. The festival is held to recognize the significance of the apple and its industry in the county of Henderson and North Carolina. Entertainment during the festival includes dancing, musical events, a beauty pageant, street vendors and apples prepared in every way you can think of. The Apple Festival is held on Main Street and covers more than eight blocks. The Mountain Bank King Apple Parade is the main event of the festival. Downtown Hendersonville also hosts the Garden Jubilee, art shows, parades, street dances, and Music on Main Street.
For nature lovers, there's no shortage of outdoor attractions and activities. Nearby DuPont State Forest is open to the public and offers horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. Visitors can also see waterfalls, and fishing and hunting is also allowed subject to certain licensure and rules. Holmes Educational State Forest is open from Tuesday through Sunday from mid-March to the end of November. It has marked trails for hiking and biking, and is a managed forest with displays accenting its features and ecology. Picnic sites and a shelter with grills are also available. The Blue Ridge Parkway is located near Hendersonville and offers gorgeous scenery and breathtaking views.
Henderson County's Mineral and Lapidary Museum houses exhibits including Indian artifacts, replicas of famous diamonds, faceted minerals, gems, English minerals, fossils, fluorescent minerals and a dinosaur egg nest. Thomas Wolfe fans and history buffs won't want to miss a visit to Oakdale Cemetery. Thomas Wolfe's father, W.O. Wolfe, sold an angel statue carved out of marble to "the Johnson Family", marking the family's plot in the Oakdale Cemetary. In the book "Look Homeward, Angel" written by Wolfe, several references are made to the angel statue. The statue is surrounded in protection by an iron fence, with the angel holding a flower in it's left hand, and it's right hand is turned up toward the sky.
For railroad fans, a trip to the Carolina Special will be a treat. "The Carolina Special" was the first steam engine that ran up the Saluda Grade to the Hendersonville Depot, in 1879. Running between Charleston, South Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio, the steam engine needed a push from a "help engine" that was hooked to the rear of the train, just for the extra 'umph' needed to push it up the Saluda Mountain Grade (which has been billed as the "steepest main-line standard gauge railroad in the United States"). In today's world, the Carolina Special is no longer in commission, but the paint has been restored to the original exterior color and a Southern Railway caboose can be located at the south end.
Crafters will enjoy a visit to The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design. The Center is a regional inter-institutional center of the University of North Carolina. It features ongoing exhibitions of professional artists and educational talks focusing on the craft heritage of Western North Carolina.
Located in downtown Hendersonville, The Arts Center is a non-profit organization that rotates exhibitions of art in the galleries, workshops, art camps, and classes with two artist studios. Past exhibits by the Arts Council include, but are not limited to Ansel Adams black and white photography, Salvador Dali lithographs, Picasso ceramics, and Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers.
The Henderson County Curb Market is a unique farmer's market which requires vendors to be residents of the county of Henderson. The market also requires that all items that are sold there must be either hand-made or locally grown. The market has been open since 1924, and the sellers there continue to be third and fourth generation vendors. There is an incredible offering of goods including plants, produce, crafts, flowers, jellies, toys and baked goods.
The Western North Carolina Air Museum was the first museum of air in the state of North Carolina, which is known as the "First in Flight" state. There visitors will find award-winning restored and replica antique and vintage airplanes. The museum holds many fun activities for all ages annually. Many wonderful pilots also hold shows at the museum.
Websites with Information about Hendersonville, NC
The following sites offer a wealth of information about Hendersonville, North Carolina, including
maps, driving directions, statistics, photos, natural attractions, activities,
local weather, area guides, accommodations, and visitor guides.
Official City of Hendersonville, NC Website
http://www.cityofhendersonville.org/
Henderson County, NC Chamber of Commerce
http://www.hendersonvillechamber.org/
Visitor's Information Center - Hendersonville, NC
http://www.historichendersonville.org/
Historic Downtown Hendersonville
http://www.dhinc.org/
Hendersonville.com
http://www.hendersonville.com/
Hendersonville, NC Newspapers
http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/ncnp/hende.htm
Hendersonville Times-News Online
http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
The Hendersonville Directory
http://www.hendersonvilledirectory.com/