Whether your ideal Asheville visit takes you gallery hopping on Broadway, antique shopping in Biltmore Village, trekking along the Appalachian Trail, or to a downtown show at a rock club named one of the top five in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, the Asheville area has something guaranteed to delight every visitor. Don’t just take our word for it…experience it for yourself. 
Ask almost any Chamber member why they are a member and they’ll tell you—in Asheville, it’s the most important way to meet people and grow your business. As North Carolina’s third largest Chamber, the Asheville Chamber includes more than 2,000 businesses, organizations and coalitions. Members know the value a membership provides. Find out how members find value with the Asheville Chamber. 
Look at snapshots from Chamber events and view videos of Chamber programming and events. 
Meet and connect with the leadership team that sets goals and leads the activities of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. 
Do you have questions about the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce? Are you wondering where we are located, what we do, or how to find photos of the Asheville area? We’ve listed answers to our most frequently asked questions here. 
The Asheville region has expertise in several dynamic talent driven industries. Local businesses, educational programs, and community leaders are working in collaboration to nurture and grow these targeted sectors. 
Many businesses are thriving in Asheville and yours could be next. Here are a few of the local businesses making headlines recently. 
Consider the Economic Development staff your one-stop resource for connecting to the Asheville community. Find a complete list of staff available to help you plan the next phase of your business. 
Asheville’s economy and industry is constantly evolving. Keep up to date on the latest industry announcements and plans here. Contact the EDC staff if your company has exciting news to share with the community. 
Education Reports
Educational Attainment
| Area | Total Population Age 25+ | Grade K - 8 | Grade 9 - 12 | High School Graduate | Associates Degree | Bachelor's Degree | Graduate Degree | Some College, No Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe | 164,071 | 4.4% | 7.9% | 26.2% | 8.0% | 20.6% | 11.9% | 21.1% |
| Haywood | 41,338 | 4.8% | 12.0% | 30.8% | 11.4% | 13.1% | 6.0% | 22.0% |
| Henderson | 75,413 | 5.5% | 6.7% | 28.3% | 10.6% | 16.8% | 10.4% | 21.8% |
| Madison | 14,438 | 9.2% | 11.0% | 34.4% | 5.1% | 16.7% | 5.4% | 18.2% |
| NC | 6,319,388 | 6.1% | 10.3% | 29.0% | 8.4% | 17.4% | 8.7% | 20.2% |
| US | 204,363,850 | 6.2% | 8.6% | 29.7% | 7.6% | 17.6% | 10.3% | 19.9% |
Colleges & Universities
| Colleges & Universities | Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Western Carolina University | 9,050 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical | 6,408 |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | 3,629 |
| Haywood Community College | 2,305 |
| Mars Hill College | 1,245 |
| Montreat College | 1,113 |
| Warren Wilson College | 1,002 |
| South College | 180 |
SAT Scores
| Math | Critical Reading | Sub-total | Writing | Grand Total | Percent Tested | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville City | 517 | 530 | 1047 | 509 | 1556 | 74.2% |
| Buncombe County Schools | 540 | 515 | 1055 | 496 | 1551 | 52.2% |
| Haywood County Schools | 533 | 502 | 1035 | 489 | 1524 | 50.8% |
| Henderson County Schools | 533 | 517 | 1050 | 494 | 1544 | 52.2% |
| Madison County Schools | 534 | 499 | 1033 | 470 | 1503 | 50.7% |
| North Carolina | 511 | 495 | 1006 | 480 | 1486 | 63.0% |
| United States | 515 | 501 | 1016 | 493 | 1509 | 46.0% |
Public Schools
| Elementary Schools | Secondary Schools | Combined | Student Enrollment (2007-2008 final) | Projected Number of High School Graduates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville City | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3,849 | 223 |
| Buncombe County | 30 | 9 | 1 | 26,417 | 1,550 |
| Haywood County | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8,219 | 510 |
| Henderson County | 17 | 4 | 1 | 13,458 | 752 |
| Madison County | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2,728 | 138 |
Non-Public Schools
| Independent | Religious | Total | Total Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe | 14 | 17 | 31 | 3,161 |
| Haywood | 1 | 3 | 4 | 189 |
| Henderson | 4 | 7 | 11 | 930 |
| Madison | 0 | 2 | 2 | 45 |
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