Henderson County continues growth as population inches closer to 120,000 mark

Just three years before the turn of the century, the population in Henderson County was 84,088, and in the past 26 years, it has experienced a population explosion that now stands at 118,106, according to the US Census Bureau's 2022 report.

That's an increase of 40.4% as the county edges closer and closer to the 120,000 mark. Henderson County Business and Community Development Director Chris Todd said it mostly boils down to three key factors.

"When you happen to live in the most beautiful part of the state with a strong economy and access to a high quality of life, people are going to want to be here," he told the Times-News on Sept. 15.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 1997-2022, Henderson County's population grew every year except one: 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Todd said prior to 2020, the county saw a substantial increase in its population for 20 years.

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"Henderson County experienced significant growth during the 2000-2020 period. Population in the county as a whole increased by 27,106 or 30%. This rate is higher than the state as a whole from the time period," he said. "This growth can be linked to many factors, but summarized by Henderson County is a great place to live and do business.

"Over the last 20 years the county has experienced economic growth and diversification, thanks to the investment of the private sector, along with the clear support of the local governments. Residentially, the county continues to offer a diverse geography and a high quality of life which resonates with many people. This has resulted in a strong residential growth."

This is a breakdown of the population by cities in the county, according to WorldPopulationReview.com, which projects that the 2023 population for Henderson County will be 119,143:

• Hendersonville: 15,145

• Fletcher: 8,085

• Mills River: 7,190

• Flat Rock: 3,520

• Laurel Park: 2,241

Growth despite rising home costs

Henderson County continued to attract people to the area, despite high home costs. The US Census Bureau reports the annual median household income from 2017-21 in the county is $59,928, and there are currently 57,879 housing units. The median value of these housing units is $251,800.

According to the Housing Needs Assessment's Bowen Report, of the current 227 housing units on the market in Henderson County, no home is $100,000 or below. In the state, Henderson is one of just three counties with no homes in the less-than-$100,000 range, with the other two being Polk and Swain.

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More than half (54.6%) of the homes currently on the market in Henderson County (124) are priced at $400,000 or above. Steve Dozier of Steve Dozier Group, Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks, Realtors, told the Times-News on Sept. 27 that a majority of those are $1 million or more.

"Two are coming on the market later this week. There are 55 active listings available for sale. Sixteen are currently under contract and 96 (homes $1 million or more) have sold in the last 365-day period," he said.

While multi-million dollar homes are being sold, many county families are struggling. According to the latest North Carolina Housing Coalition report released earlier this year, 26% of families in Henderson County are considered "cost-burdened," meaning families that spend more than 30% of their income on their mortgage. For renters, 5,138 households (46%) were considered cost-burdened, and for home owners, the number was 7,082 households (20%).

Major projects in the works

With a rise in the population, there is a rise in tax dollars being pumped into the local economy. One major project about to begin is the Ecusta Trail, which is on an abandoned railroad that will be a link to Hendersonville and Brevard in Transylvania County.

It is just one of several Henderson County projects in the works, according to Todd. The total cost of the Henderson County portion of the trail is estimated at $10.13 million, with an expected completion being in the fall of next year.

Below is a look at the county's current multi-million dollar projects:

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development also reported that the 2022-23 fiscal year was one of its best ever, as it assisted in ushering in over $147 million in new capital investments and the creation of 198 new jobs. The Partnership reported Henderson County companies that announced expansions last fiscal year were Elkamet, Lassond and Meritor. In addition, international companies Emtelle and Tageos announced Henderson County locations during the year.

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For the city, one of the major projects is Fairmont Heritage Place - The Cedars, Hendersonville — a luxury residential development that is said to be the first of its kind in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina. The residences are set to debut in early 2025.

According to past Times-News reporting, it will feature 127 luxury condo units in two new six-story, mid-rise buildings connected to the restored original building by a glass atrium. The condos will consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom units and penthouses with prices ranging from $400,000 to $3.8 million. The historic building will contain a lobby lounge, bar, signature restaurant, specialty café and front desk.

A list of all the current housing developments by the city can be found by going to https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/community-development and scrolling down to the Housing Dashboard button near the bottom of the page.

Agribusiness impacted by housing boom

Although more new homes means more people and more money for the local economy, it also has an adverse effect to local farmers. According to Kenny Barnwell, the chairman of both Agribusiness Henderson County and the Henderson County Ag Advisory Board, it means less land for local farmers.

"Local agriculture is trying to grow, but the biggest restraint right now is the price of land," he told the Times-News on Sept. 27. "We're losing agricultural land to the housing industry."

Barnwell said agriculture pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into the county's economy.

"Mark Williams, the executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County, is a driving force behind it. He's been a part of one project after another," Barnwell said. "For example, when Bold Rock was trying to find a location, Mark found one for them, and now they are a thriving business. He's hooked up many vegetable growers with buyers who've not been around here before. The list goes on and on."

Barnwell said with more and more new housing projects popping up in the county, farmers are losing land.

"The price of land becomes too high, and we just can't compete with the big corporations buying it for housing," he said.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Still growing: County's population inches closer to 120,000 mark