I am sure a lot of people are wondering, why are there so many people who just Love Ashe County, NC?

I hear all the time, that there is nothing to do in Ashe County. However, as a local, born and raised in Ashe County, I was never bored growing up in Ashe County.

There is The New River, kayaking, tubing, fishing, walking downtown West Jefferson, many local bands play at the restaurants, hiking trails, camping, parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and sometimes just riding down a back road to get lost can be the best therapy one can have. I couldn’t try to list all the exceptional activities and things to do in Ashe, that was just to name a few.

I loved growing up here, I had close friends and learned to make new friends when our schools merged. I enjoy having a tight nit community, makes parents and children feel much safer. I now am raising my children and there is no other place I would want to raise them.

Be sure to check out the available homes HERE

Businesses and residents alike enjoy the benefits of a great quality of life in Ashe County. Our mountain setting not only provides a beautiful backdrop to everyday living but also allows for abundant recreation opportunities and unique small-town culture. We encourage you to browse through the pages on recreation, arts & culture, communities, housing, and healthcare in our County to learn more about what makes Ashe such a great place to live. Or, better yet, visit us and see first-hand what makes our area so special!

Ashe County is one of the safest counties in North Carolina ranking 3rd in the state as far as the fewest crimes overall.  As demonstrated by the crime index numbers below, Ashe County is an attractive and safe place to work and live. A score of 100 is the U.S. average, with lower numbers indicating less frequency of crime per capita. Ashe County’s numbers are indicative of low levels of crime. Small town and rural values along with a close-knit community provide an attractive and secure place to raise a family and run a business. The Ashe County Sheriff’s Office employs 33 law enforcement officers that work in conjunction with two municipal police departments to ensure the safety of residents. Additionally, all public schools in Ashe County have a dedicated School Resource Officer on-site to ensure the protection of students while class is in session.

Ashe County Crime Index (100 is the US Average)

Source: NC Department of Commerce

Ashe County’s five public schools offer students a safe and dynamic environment in which to learn. The School Board operates three elementary schools –Westwood, Blue Ridge, and Mountain View. These three schools feed into the Ashe County Middle School and eventually into Ashe County High School. The entire system serves approximately 3,200 students in five modern facilities, with the most recent being built in 2004.  Ashe students consistently score well on the North Carolina State Assessments.  In North Carolina, Ashe County High School ranks 18 out of 115 school systems in overall proficiency.

The Ashe County School System has 51 personnel who have achieved national board certification. Additionally, the Ashe County Sheriff’s Department provides a School Resource Officer for each of the five schools to ensure student safety.

In supplement to the terrific K-12 public education offered in Ashe County, students also have a variety of options for post-secondary learning. The Wilkes Community College System offers numerous classes and degrees at its three facilities, the Ashe Campus near West Jefferson, Alleghany Campus in Sparta, and the main campus in Wilkesboro.  Also, nationally-recognized Appalachian State University in nearby Boone is only a short 30-minute drive from West Jefferson, and offers a multitude of undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. Ashe County also enjoys close proximity to Wake Forest University, which is approximately an hour and a half drive from West Jefferson.