Hype for the Future 100/284: Town of Banner Elk, North Carolina

Overview

The Town of Banner Elk is the largest town located within Avery County, North Carolina. However, the Town of Newland to the south serves as the county seat, and the most significant geographical interest related to the county is the relatively high elevation associated with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the region. Today, the Town of Newland is the county seat with the highest elevation east of the Mississippi River, while the Town of Banner Elk is home to the college or university of the highest elevation in the eastern part of the country. The college is known as Lees-McRae College, and the surrounding area is largely determined by rural mountain communities, thus with minimal population.