Buncombe County Genealogy
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Buncombe County Genealogy – History, Creation and Facts
The county was formed in 1791 from parts of Burke County and Rutherford County. It was named for Edward Buncombe, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War, who was captured at the Battle of Germantown.
In 1808 the western part of Buncombe County became Haywood County. In 1833 parts of Burke County and Buncombe County were combined to form Yancey County, and in 1838 the southern part of what was left of Buncombe County became Henderson County. Finally, in 1851 parts of Buncombe County and Yancey County were combined to form Madison County.
Buncombe County has contributed a word to the English language. In the Sixteenth Congress, after lengthy debate on the Missouri Compromise, members of the House called for an immediate vote on that important question. Instead, Felix Walker, whose district included Buncombe County, rose to address his colleagues, insisting that his constituents expected him to make a speech “for Buncombe.” It was later remarked that Walker’s untimely and irrelevant oration was not just for Buncombe–it “was Buncombe.” Thus, “buncombe,” afterwards spelled “bunkum” and then shortened to “bunk,” became a term for empty, nonsensical talk. Source Wikipedia
Buncombe county is the father (mother?) of all of the western counties. Originally, it’s dimensions were so vast, it was referred to as the “state” of Buncombe. The County seat of Buncombe County is Asheville. The county currently is split into the following townships: Asheville, Avery Creek, Black Mountain, Broad River, Fairview, Flat Creek, French Broad, Ivy, Leicester, Limestone, Lower Hominy, Reems Creek, Sandy Mush, Swannanoa, and Upper Hominy.
Among the notable locations in Buncombe County: The Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn, Thomas Wolfe House, Vance Birthplace, the Folk Art Center (located on the Blue Ridge Parkway), Pisgah National Forest, and the Grove Arcade, Basilica of St. Lawrence. Asheville has a great Urban Trail with markers in a self guided tour.
The Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2122
Asheville, NC 28802
covers the counties that Buncombe originally entailed which is most of current Western North Carolina. (covers present day Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain, and Transylvania Counties)
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Buncombe County Courthouse
60 Courthouse Plaza
Asheville, NC 28801
Probably the best public library for research in the county. (Some other libraries in the Asheville Buncombe system have specific content to the town, such as the Weaverville library.)
Pack Memorial Library
67 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC. 28801
Search the Pack Library Special Collections online
Asheville-Buncombe Library System
If you’re interested in Weaverville history and visiting. There is the Dry Ridge Museum which is in the basement of the Library in Weaverville on Main Street. Neat collection of photos, books, etc.
Weaverville Branch of Asheville-Buncombe Library System
41 N. Main Street
Weaverville, NC 28787
The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints has a reading room at their Church building on Sweeten Creek Rd. in the Arden area.
Buncombe County Genealogy – Records
Census
1810 Federal Census index online text
1850 Federal Census index online text Directory opens to listing of text files by starting page number.
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries of Buncombe County
Buncombe County Genealogy – Other Resources
Query Forums
Buncombe County, NC Query Forum
Latest North Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Buncombe County from the Forum:
Buncombe County, NC at Genforum
Cities and towns in Buncombe County:
Alexander
Arden
Asheville (County Seat)
Barnardsville
Biltmore
Black Mountain
Candler
Enka
Enka Village
Fairview
Grace
Leicester
Montreat
Oak Park
Oteen
Ridgecrest
Royal Pines
Skyland
Swannanoa
Weaverville
West Asheville
West Haven
News related to Buncombe County, NC
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