Saturday Night Lights at TIEC by photographer Erik Olsen
In the post bubble era, people looking to live or vacation somewhere beautiful, quiet and unspoiled are re-discovering the Tryon area in the Western North Carolina mountains. We’ve still got fresh air, open spaces and real quality of life. Located just to the south of Hendersonville, the Mayberry-like small towns of Saluda and Tryon have become the first peaceful country edge away from now “metropolitain” Asheville and Hendersonville. These smaller mountain towns have been a well kept secret for over 100 years, and are still quiet, affordable, charming, and green green green. Asheville now has traffic jams and big city real estate prices. A hip new condo on Main Street in Hendersonville costs $800,000!!!
In a 2015 NC State county to county comparison, the Polk County, NC (Tryon area) has a higher per capita Income, lower cost of living, and only one tenth of the population of Buncombe County NC (Asheville area).
Polk County also has a higher owner occupancy rate than Buncombe, lower cost of housing, lower rent rates. and a lower poverty rate.
Polk County’s population in 2015 was only 20,300 residents. The Polk County Community Foundation, a 41 year old local philanthropic institution, serves the area with an over $50 million endowment which funds educational, social, cultural arts and economic development initiatives in the area. This is why Polk County has been able to create and sustain such a high level of educational programs and cultural arts for a town its size. This past June, 10% of the Polk County High School graduating class was admitted to UNC – Chapel Hill. An amazing feat for a rural county.
Take note – Tryon is about to be a town people recognize as one of the best best places to move in the US.
