Anyone lived here or spent any amount of time? A good friend of mine is considering a transfer to Asheville and is wondering what it's like living in Black Mountain specifically, especially when it comes to what the people are like. Progressive? Conservative? ...

Anywhere else around Asheville that would be good to live?

1/23/2013 3:17:37 PM

Why would you live in Black Mountain if you could live in Asheville?

1/23/2013 3:25:31 PM

I am a fan of the black mtn/mt mitchell area....fishin on the south toe, carolina hemlocks etc...

1/23/2013 3:28:25 PM

Yeah I love the area. I was actually just up in the area hiking the Mt. Mitchell trail up from Black Mountain Campground and then the Black Mountain Crest Trail. Used to go to Carolina Hemlocks as a kid all the time.

I just meant in terms of actually living I'd much rather be in the Asheville area and drive to aforementioned areas. The town of Black Mountain is actually pretty small.

1/23/2013 3:34:47 PM

I would say it's split down the middle for the type of people that live there. You've got your hipster culture there, and your southern Baptist culture. There's a couple of bars that are open "late" but I can't imagine wanting to frequent these places.

It's only 20 minutes out of Asheville, which is too far for the cabs to be reasonable if you end up getting hammered and can't drive.

BlMt has everything you need, though.

1/23/2013 3:37:10 PM

Quote :

"Why would you live in Black Mountain if you could live in Asheville?"

That's the area they selected...not sure why.

I'll also point out that the couple would rather live in a place like Chapel Hill, as opposed to Garner. So keep that in mind.

1/23/2013 4:18:43 PM

I think in some ways Asheville is to Chapel Hill as Black Mountain is to Carrboro. Smaller while being within the same county, more artsy, and more emphasis on connecting to the environment.

I think the influence from the surrounding region being the mountains rather than triangle does lead to some significant differences that make that analogy not fully hold up though. And that's all said as a visitor, not someone who has lived there (although I do have family there and my family mostly comes from Low Gap, Mt. Airy, and the surrounding region).

I know Buncombe and Watauga counties were the only ones in the mountainous part of the state to vote against amendment one last May.

1/23/2013 6:36:11 PM

Quote :

"I'll also point out that the couple would rather live in a place like Chapel Hill, as opposed to Garner. So keep that in mind."

Not exactly a window to their soul.

1/23/2013 7:14:36 PM

We spend some time there once a year while we're up at a friend's place in Marion. It's a good little mountain town with a pretty decent downtown area with some good restaurants. I can't speak for the bars there, but they do have the Pisgah Brewery which usually has bands on Saturdays and fantastic beer. It's definitely more conservative than Asheville, but just from the eye test, looks like a regular, quaint small town.

Definitely tell them to hit up My Father's Pizza - a very solid option with a great beer selection.

1/23/2013 8:56:04 PM

god i would love to live in a small mountain town and be able to walk to a good trout stream every day

1/23/2013 10:41:53 PM

I don't think you move to Black Mountain for the people....maybe for the nature, but not the people.

Has your friend given Asheville any thought? I am friends with a family that moved there over a year ago and loved it.

1/24/2013 9:55:10 AM

is the job in Black Mountain or Asheville?

they should live in Asheville
I bet they'd like Montford

1/24/2013 1:22:02 PM

Job is 100% telework, so he can live where he wants.

I imagine his reasoning for living outside of Asheville is financial, but I'm not sure.

1/28/2013 1:31:45 PM

Quote :

"I think in some ways Asheville is to Chapel Hill as Black Mountain is to Carrboro."

so... black mountain is what kids that have graduated call asheville?

1/28/2013 2:48:58 PM

i don't really get that joke. they are completely different municipalities with their own local governments.

1/28/2013 7:18:04 PM

going to get a job one day i work from home. moving the mountains. building my office overlooking the mountains. retiring at 45.

1/28/2013 8:08:10 PM

Quote :

"I am a fan of the black mtn/mt mitchell area....fishin on the south toe, carolina hemlocks etc..."

black mountain is nowhere near mount mitchell

it's over an hour drive, and the two areas are not even close to the same.

1/28/2013 9:11:23 PM

I'd much rather live in Weaverville

1/28/2013 11:02:11 PM

Quote :

"black mountain is nowhere near mount mitchell it's over an hour drive, and the two areas are not even close to the same."

Well Mount Mitchell state park is technically part of the Black Mountain Range and Black Mountain campground is right below Mt. Mitchell. Not to mention the most popular trail in the area which starts at Mount Mitchell is called the "Black Mountain Crest Trail".

The town is also located at the lower end of the same Black Mountain range. So when you say "Black Mountain Area" it kind of depends what you're talking about. Usually it means Mt. Mitchell. When people are talking about the town they specify "The Town of Black Mountain".

[Edited on January 29, 2013 at 9:17 AM. Reason : s]

1/29/2013 9:13:33 AM

Quote :

"i don't really get that joke. they are completely different municipalities with their own local governments."

Nor do I.

1/29/2013 10:14:36 AM

I, too, did not understand Simon's joke. Could someone explain?

1/29/2013 10:52:57 AM

Quote :

"Well Mount Mitchell state park is technically part of the Black Mountain Range and Black Mountain campground is right below Mt. Mitchell. Not to mention the most popular trail in the area which starts at Mount Mitchell is called the "Black Mountain Crest Trail". The town is also located at the lower end of the same Black Mountain range. So when you say "Black Mountain Area" it kind of depends what you're talking about. Usually it means Mt. Mitchell. When people are talking about the town they specify "The Town of Black Mountain". "

this. by road, it is about an hour away, but as the crow flies the two are only 10-15 miles apart

1/29/2013 11:27:50 AM

b/c kids that went to unc graduate and "move to carrboro", and then when you ask them if they live in chapel hill they're all like "naw, i live in carrboro".

is this not a universal experience w/ unc grads? maybe it's just people i knew.

1/29/2013 11:39:28 AM