Mills River, North Carolina

Mills River is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,802 at the 2010 census,[4] and was estimated to be 7,406 in 2019.[6] The town took its name from the nearby confluence of the Mills River and French Broad River.[7] It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was incorporated into a town in June 2003. Sierra Nevada opened a brewery in Mills River in 2014.

Mills River, North Carolina
Town
Town Complex entrance
Mills River
Mills River
Coordinates: 35°23′18″N 82°34′0″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyHenderson
Incorporated2003[1]
Named forMills River[1]
Area
 • Total22.49 sq mi (58.24 km2)
 • Land22.31 sq mi (57.79 km2)
 • Water0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)
Elevation
2,080 ft (630 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,679
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
7,406
 • Density331.91/sq mi (128.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
28732, 28759
Area code(s)828
FIPS code37-43260[4]
GNIS feature ID1021475[5]
Websitewww.millsriver.org

History

Mills River is among the oldest communities in Henderson County, with its first landholder receiving a deed from the state of North Carolina in 1787. It was once a thriving agricultural community, often called the "fertile crescent".

The Mills River Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[8]

Geography

Mills River lies in the northwestern part of Henderson County, extending northeast to the Buncombe County border and southwest to the Transylvania County border. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Asheville and the town of Fletcher, and to the south by the unincorporated communities of Horse Shoe and Etowah.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.5 square miles (58.4 km2), of which 22.4 square miles (58.0 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.74%, are water. The French Broad River, one of the primary tributaries of the Tennessee River, flows through the northeastern part of the town. The Mills River, a tributary of the French Broad, flows from west to east through the center of the town, and the southern part of the town is in the valley of Boylston Creek, a small tributary of the French Broad.

The town lies within minutes of Pisgah National Forest, Interstate 26, and Asheville Regional Airport. Highways 280 and 191 serve as the major arteries and provide access to the nearby cities of Asheville, 17 miles (27 km) to the north; Hendersonville, 8 miles (13 km) to the southeast; and Brevard, 14 miles (23 km) to the southwest.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
20106,802—
2019 (est.)7,406[3]8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

Government

The current mayor is Chae Davis, who took office in December 2017, elected by her fellow town council members. The current town council members are Randy Austin, Brian Caskey, Brian Kimball, and Roger Snyder.

Mills River is home to four schools: Mills River Elementary, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary, Rugby Middle School, and West Henderson High School.

The Town Hall and Library are located at 124 Town Center Drive. Surrounding the Town Hall is Mills River Park, whose master plan includes ball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, multi-use trails, a dog park, shelters and support facilities. The Mills River runs along the northern boundary of the property. The plan also proposes fishing piers with handicapped access and a boat launch for non-motorized vessels, along with picnic areas to enjoy the river.

References
  1. "North Carolina Gazetteer". Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Mills River town, North Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mills River, North Carolina
  6. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/millsrivertownnorthcarolina/PST045218
  7. Kramp, Penn (Feb 22, 1987). "Tuxedo: It's not formal wear". The Times-News. p. 27. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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