Banner Elk, North Carolina

Banner Elk is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2010 census.[4] Banner Elk is home to Lees–McRae College.

Banner Elk, North Carolina
Town
Official seal of Banner Elk, North Carolina
Seal
Location of Banner Elk, North Carolina
Location of Banner Elk, North Carolina
Coordinates: 36°09′31″N 81°52′03″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyAvery
Founded1848
Incorporated1911
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
Area
[1]
 • Total1.92 sq mi (4.97 km2)
 • Land1.92 sq mi (4.97 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
3,895 ft (1,187 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,049
 • Density546.35/sq mi (210.95/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
28604
Area code828
FIPS code37-03500[3]
GNIS feature ID2405208[2]
Websitewww.townofbannerelk.org

History

The area surrounding the Elk River was inhabited by the Cherokee before western settlement, although no evidence of a permanent Cherokee settlement has ever been found. It is likely the area was used for hunting and fishing. The first permanent settlement was established by Martin L. Banner in 1848. Although the Banner family originally came from Wales, Martin Banner moved from Forsyth County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Eventually, the Banner family grew to 55 members, and the area where they lived became known as Banner's Elk. This name was later shortened to Banner Elk when the town was incorporated in 1911.[5]

The Banner Elk Hotel and Robert Chester and Elsie H. Lowe House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6][7]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920264—
193034028.8%
1970754—
19801,08744.2%
1990933−14.2%
2000811−13.1%
20101,02826.8%
20201,0492.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2020 census
Banner Elk racial composition[9]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 883 84.18%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 47 4.48%
Native American 7 0.67%
Asian 6 0.57%
Other/Mixed 32 3.05%
Hispanic or Latino 74 7.05%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,049 people, 277 households, and 147 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 811 people, 215 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density was 679.8 inhabitants per square mile (262.5/km2). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 243.1 per square mile (93.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.26% White, 3.95% African American, 0.62% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.

Of the 215 households, 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 10.7% under the age of 18, 47.8% from 18 to 24, 16.8% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all land.[4]

Climate

Banner Elk is located in North America's humid continental climate zone due to its elevation, which gives it a climate more like that of Altoona, Pennsylvania, than Asheville, North Carolina, during the winter. During the summer the temperatures are much like a mountain lake town in New Hampshire. The town typically has cold, snowy winters and mild summers.

Climate data for Banner Elk, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)		 75
(24)		 82
(28)		 86
(30)		 89
(32)		 98
(37)		 95
(35)		 97
(36)		 93
(34)		 86
(30)		 76
(24)		 75
(24)		 98
(37)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 59.3
(15.2)		 62.5
(16.9)		 69.3
(20.7)		 76.0
(24.4)		 79.4
(26.3)		 82.2
(27.9)		 83.9
(28.8)		 82.6
(28.1)		 80.9
(27.2)		 75.6
(24.2)		 66.4
(19.1)		 61.5
(16.4)		 85.0
(29.4)
Average high °F (°C) 40.3
(4.6)		 43.5
(6.4)		 50.4
(10.2)		 60.4
(15.8)		 67.9
(19.9)		 74.0
(23.3)		 76.9
(24.9)		 76.3
(24.6)		 71.3
(21.8)		 62.0
(16.7)		 52.3
(11.3)		 43.9
(6.6)		 59.9
(15.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.2
(−0.4)		 33.9
(1.1)		 40.4
(4.7)		 49.5
(9.7)		 57.7
(14.3)		 64.8
(18.2)		 67.8
(19.9)		 66.8
(19.3)		 61.4
(16.3)		 51.1
(10.6)		 41.5
(5.3)		 34.7
(1.5)		 50.1
(10.1)
Average low °F (°C) 22.1
(−5.5)		 24.3
(−4.3)		 30.4
(−0.9)		 38.6
(3.7)		 47.4
(8.6)		 55.5
(13.1)		 58.7
(14.8)		 57.3
(14.1)		 51.5
(10.8)		 40.1
(4.5)		 30.8
(−0.7)		 25.5
(−3.6)		 40.2
(4.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 1.2
(−17.1)		 6.3
(−14.3)		 11.7
(−11.3)		 22.3
(−5.4)		 31.8
(−0.1)		 43.2
(6.2)		 48.9
(9.4)		 47.8
(8.8)		 37.4
(3.0)		 25.0
(−3.9)		 16.1
(−8.8)		 8.5
(−13.1)		 −1.7
(−18.7)
Record low °F (°C) −31
(−35)		 −13
(−25)		 −9
(−23)		 7
(−14)		 19
(−7)		 27
(−3)		 35
(2)		 31
(−1)		 24
(−4)		 8
(−13)		 −7
(−22)		 −21
(−29)		 −31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.62
(117)		 3.70
(94)		 4.87
(124)		 4.83
(123)		 5.13
(130)		 5.12
(130)		 5.68
(144)		 4.31
(109)		 4.55
(116)		 3.41
(87)		 3.30
(84)		 4.25
(108)		 53.77
(1,366)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.9
(18)		 11.4
(29)		 4.8
(12)		 0.8
(2.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)		 1.6
(4.1)		 5.8
(15)		 31.4
(80)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.9 11.3 13.1 12.3 13.8 14.3 15.3 14.1 11.5 9.3 9.8 13.2 151.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.7 4.2 2.9 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 4.4 19.3
Source: NOAA[10][11]

Attractions

During summertime there is hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and other activities. The largest lake in the area, Watauga Lake, is a favorite spot just 30 minutes away for boating, fishing and wake boarding. In the winter the main activities are skiing and snowboarding. There are two slopes in the area: Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain. There was formerly a third, but in the winter of 2008-2009, Hawks' Nest became an all-tubing park, the largest in the Eastern United States.

There are several restaurants in Banner Elk in addition to a post office, bank, and many lodging choices. The town has hosted the Woolly Worm festival over the third weekend of October since 1978.[12]

In the 1970s, Beech Mountain was home to a theme park based on The Wizard of Oz, called The Land of Oz, but it closed after 10 years. The attraction was never fully removed, and there have been various attempts to revive it.

Education

Lees–McRae College is a private four-year college in Banner Elk. Banner Elk has a K-5th school, run by the Avery County School system.

  • Mill Pond, where Shawneehaw Creek and the Elk River merge (2009-12-26)
    Mill Pond, where Shawneehaw Creek and the Elk River merge (2009-12-26)
  • Unique bridge that fords Shawneehaw Creek (2009-12-26)
    Unique bridge that fords Shawneehaw Creek (2009-12-26)

See also

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Banner Elk, North Carolina
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Banner Elk town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  5. Heritage, 1976
  6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/29/13 through 5/03/13. National Park Service. May 10, 2013.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  10. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  11. "Station: Banner Elk, NC". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  12. "Woolly Worm Festival". Woolly Worm Festival. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
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