Brevard, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau
was 6,643. It is the county seat
of Transylvania County
.
Brevard is located at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest
and has become a noted tourism, retirement and cultural center in western North Carolina. A moderate climate, environmental beauty and cultural activities attract relocators to the area.
Brevard is the home of Brevard College
a four-year liberal arts institution with nationally recognized programs in music and environmental studies. The town also is home to Brevard Music Center
, one of the nation's preeminent summer music teaching and performance institutions. Brevard also has an extensive local music and arts community.
The area's many waterfalls have earned it the nickname,"The Land of Waterfalls." Some notable examples include Looking Glass Falls
, Connestee Falls, and Sliding Rock
.
The Mayor of Brevard is Jimmy Harris. To date he is the youngest Brevard Mayor to have been elected (age 37). He is currently serving his 5th term.
Brevard is home to the Brevard White Squirrel Festival http://whitesquirrelfestival.com Approximately 25% of Brevard's squirrels are white squirrels, according to an annual survey conducted by the White Squirrel Institute. http://whitesquirrelinstitute.com
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.5 km². 0.1 km² of it is land and 0.21% is water.
of 2000, there were 6,789 people, 2,826 households, and 1,698 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,412.6 people per square mile (545.0/km²). There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 636.3 per square mile (245.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.81% White, 11.53% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 2,826 households, out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12, and the average family size was 2.73.
The population was distributed broadly among different age groups, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,497, and the median income for a family was $44,489. Males had a median income of $26,929 versus $21,348 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,256. About 7.61% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
is a major event in Brevard. The celebrations include an annual fireworks display and a car judging competition. Streets downtown are blocked off for a festival including games, arts and crafts, and food vendors.
Other annual celebrations are Halloweenfest and the White Squirrel Festival. The white variant of the eastern gray squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis) is often seen around Brevard.
Christmas: Early in the morning runners come out for the Reindeer Run 5K Run. Street vendors appear in the afternoon after downtown is closed to traffic. The Christmas Parade proceeds down South Broad Street around noon, starting at Brevard High School and ending at Brevard College
. There is a display of Christmas trees at Silvermont Mansion. After nightfall, a thousand luminaries are lit by some of the students from the High School as part of the Twilight Tour.
Clubs: Glen Cannon Country Club is located just outside Brevard, offering golf, tennis, and pools. Brevard Health and Racquet offers tennis and swimming, in addition to a full gym with free weights, yoga, and kickboxing. The Fitness Factory and Brevard Rock Gym are located just down S. Broad St. from downtown, both are indoor all-season gyms.
Pickup sports: Brevard Ultimate Club plays weekly on Sundays at 4:15PM on the Recreation Fields behind the Elementary school on Ecusta Rd. Co-ed rec volleyball and softball are also popular.
Downtown businesses include: O.P. Taylor's (toy store), D.D. Bullwinkles (gift shop), The White Squirrel Shoppe (gift shop), Main Street Limited (gift shop), Ace Hardware, Co-Ed Cinema, Theophilus (gifts + clothes), Pets Plus, and WSQL AM 1240.
Restaurants downtown include: Kiwi Gelato (Dessert Shop), Rocky's (1950s-styled soda fountain), Jordan Street Cafe, The Square Root Restaurant and Bar, Mayberry's (sandwiches and soup), Cielito Lindo (Mexican), El Ranchero (Mexican), Pescados (Mexican), Pad Thai, Dugan's Pub (Restaurant and bar), Marco's Trattoria (Italian), Hobnob (restaurant), Falls Landing (restaurant), and Quotations Coffee Cafe.
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
was 6,643. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Transylvania County
Transylvania County, North Carolina
Transylvania County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,090. Its county seat is Brevard.- History :The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County...
.
Brevard is located at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
and has become a noted tourism, retirement and cultural center in western North Carolina. A moderate climate, environmental beauty and cultural activities attract relocators to the area.
Brevard is the home of Brevard College
Brevard College
Brevard College is a small, private, United Methodist, liberal arts college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college currently grants the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree...
a four-year liberal arts institution with nationally recognized programs in music and environmental studies. The town also is home to Brevard Music Center
Brevard Music Center
The Brevard Music Center is a summer institute and festival located in Brevard, North Carolina. It enrolls about four hundred students, age fourteen and older, who participate in orchestra and other large ensembles, an opera program, play chamber music, study composition, and take private lessons....
, one of the nation's preeminent summer music teaching and performance institutions. Brevard also has an extensive local music and arts community.
The area's many waterfalls have earned it the nickname,"The Land of Waterfalls." Some notable examples include Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass Falls is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard.-Natural history:The name comes from Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror of sunlight, as water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.-Geology:The waterway is Looking Glass Creek, which flows...
, Connestee Falls, and Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock is a waterfall in Western North Carolina, located near Brevard, so named because visitors can slide all the way down the waterfall into the plunge pool below.-Geology:...
.
The Mayor of Brevard is Jimmy Harris. To date he is the youngest Brevard Mayor to have been elected (age 37). He is currently serving his 5th term.
Brevard is home to the Brevard White Squirrel Festival http://whitesquirrelfestival.com Approximately 25% of Brevard's squirrels are white squirrels, according to an annual survey conducted by the White Squirrel Institute. http://whitesquirrelinstitute.com
Geography
Brevard is located at 35°14′30"N 82°43′43"W (35.241625, -82.728701).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.5 km². 0.1 km² of it is land and 0.21% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,789 people, 2,826 households, and 1,698 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,412.6 people per square mile (545.0/km²). There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 636.3 per square mile (245.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.81% White, 11.53% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 2,826 households, out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12, and the average family size was 2.73.
The population was distributed broadly among different age groups, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,497, and the median income for a family was $44,489. Males had a median income of $26,929 versus $21,348 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,256. About 7.61% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Celebrations
Independence DayIndependence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
is a major event in Brevard. The celebrations include an annual fireworks display and a car judging competition. Streets downtown are blocked off for a festival including games, arts and crafts, and food vendors.
Other annual celebrations are Halloweenfest and the White Squirrel Festival. The white variant of the eastern gray squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
(Sciurus carolinensis) is often seen around Brevard.
Christmas: Early in the morning runners come out for the Reindeer Run 5K Run. Street vendors appear in the afternoon after downtown is closed to traffic. The Christmas Parade proceeds down South Broad Street around noon, starting at Brevard High School and ending at Brevard College
Brevard College
Brevard College is a small, private, United Methodist, liberal arts college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college currently grants the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree...
. There is a display of Christmas trees at Silvermont Mansion. After nightfall, a thousand luminaries are lit by some of the students from the High School as part of the Twilight Tour.
Sports and Leisure
Races: In addition to the Reindeer Run, Brevard also has the Flight of the Vampire 5K Run and 10K run on October 30, the White Squirrel 5K and 10K run, and the Firecracker 5K and 10k run.Clubs: Glen Cannon Country Club is located just outside Brevard, offering golf, tennis, and pools. Brevard Health and Racquet offers tennis and swimming, in addition to a full gym with free weights, yoga, and kickboxing. The Fitness Factory and Brevard Rock Gym are located just down S. Broad St. from downtown, both are indoor all-season gyms.
Pickup sports: Brevard Ultimate Club plays weekly on Sundays at 4:15PM on the Recreation Fields behind the Elementary school on Ecusta Rd. Co-ed rec volleyball and softball are also popular.
Shops and Restaurants
Downtown Brevard's two main roads are Main St. and South Broad St.Downtown businesses include: O.P. Taylor's (toy store), D.D. Bullwinkles (gift shop), The White Squirrel Shoppe (gift shop), Main Street Limited (gift shop), Ace Hardware, Co-Ed Cinema, Theophilus (gifts + clothes), Pets Plus, and WSQL AM 1240.
Restaurants downtown include: Kiwi Gelato (Dessert Shop), Rocky's (1950s-styled soda fountain), Jordan Street Cafe, The Square Root Restaurant and Bar, Mayberry's (sandwiches and soup), Cielito Lindo (Mexican), El Ranchero (Mexican), Pescados (Mexican), Pad Thai, Dugan's Pub (Restaurant and bar), Marco's Trattoria (Italian), Hobnob (restaurant), Falls Landing (restaurant), and Quotations Coffee Cafe.
Notable people
- Joseph R. BrysonJoseph R. BrysonJoseph Raleigh Bryson was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.Born in Brevard, North Carolina, Bryson moved, with his parents, to Greenville, South Carolina, in 1900.He attended the public schools....
(1893–1953), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives - Gil CoanGil CoanGilbert Fitzgerald Coan is a former outfielder in Major League, playing mainly as a left fielder for four different teams between the and seasons...
(1922- ), former Major League outfielder - Spencer FisherSpencer FisherSpencer William Fisher is an American mixed martial artist from Brevard, North Carolina. He currently fights in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion. He holds notable victories over Thiago Alves, Matt Wiman, Sam Stout, Jeremy Stephens, and Caol Uno...
(1976- ), mixed martial artist - Courtney W. HamlinCourtney W. HamlinCourtney Walker Hamlin was a U.S. representative from Missouri and cousin of William Edward Barton.-Early life:...
(1858–1950), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives - James A. HefnerJames A. HefnerJames A. Hefner was president of Tennessee State University from 1991 to 2005. Before serving as the president of Tennessee State University he served as president of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi...
, president of Tennessee State University - Clifford B. HicksClifford B. HicksClifford B. Hicks was an American writer and magazine editor, best known for his children's books chronicling the adventures of Alvin Fernald.-Biography:...
(1920–2010), author - Allen HuntAllen HuntAllen R. Hunt is an American radio personality. He is the host of the nationally syndicated talk radio program, The Allen Hunt Show...
(1964- ), radio personality - Randy JohnsonRandy Johnson (American football)Randolph Klaus "Randy" Johnson was an American football player. He was the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in their inaugural season of 1966. In 1974 he played with The Hawaiians of the World Football League.Johnson graduated from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, Texas in 1962...
(1944–2009), American football player - Moms MableyMoms MableyJackie "Moms" Mabley, born Loretta Mary Aiken , was an American standup comedian and a pioneer of the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit" of African-American vaudeville.-Early years:...
(1894–1975), stand-up comedian - Mickey MarvinMickey MarvinMickey Marvin is a former professional American football player. After attending the University of Tennessee, Marvin played in the National Football League for 11 seasons, from 1977 to 1987, as an offensive guard with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders...
(1955- ), American football player Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders - Cliff MeltonCliff MeltonClifford George Melton was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of eight seasons with the New York Giants. For his career, he compiled an 86-80 record in 272 appearances, with an 3.42 earned run average and 660 strikeouts...
(1912–1986), professional baseball player - Lauren MyracleLauren MyracleLauren Myracle is an American author of young adult books. She is the oldest of three sisters and has three older brothers. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Trinity School and The Westminster Schools...
(1969- ), author - Charles H. TaylorCharles H. TaylorCharles Hart Taylor is an American politician; a Republican, he represented North Carolina's 11th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He began serving in 1991 and continued through January 3, 2007....
, (1941- ), former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
External links
- Heart of Brevard website
- Brevard Chamber of Commerce
- Brevard/Transylvania Tourism Development Authority
- Historic Images of Brevard, from the Transylvania County Public Library
- Through the Woods to Brevard by Terry Ruscin, for HendersonvilleHendersonville, North CarolinaHendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
News, October 8, 2006 - White Squirrel Institute
- Waterfalls in Transylvania County, Near Brevard