Etowah, North Carolina
In a Scenic Valley on the Edges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Little Etowah is Close to Trendy Asheville, the Pisgah National Forest and a Popular Waterfall
Set in a scenic valley, Etowah is a nice little community (census designated place) tucked next to the 500,000-acre Pisgah National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern North Carolina. It got its name from the Native American word for a river in Georgia and dates from the late-1800s. Just 25 miles from trendy Asheville, Etowah has been growing thanks to people wanting to live near, but not in, Asheville.
There is no traditional town center so most merchants, including a grocery, a post office, banks, a few eateries, a pharmacy, gas stations and the like, are along or near the main thoroughfare, Brevard Road. Anything not found here is generally available in nearby Hendersonville.
Neighborhoods, most without sidewalks, have a country quality and attractive residences on nicely-landscaped lots. Riverwind is a pet-friendly 55+ community with tree-lined lanes. The Etowah Valley Golf Club sits toward the northern end of the community.
The Pisgah National Forest offers a bounty of hiking, camping and fishing opportunities. Looking Glass Falls, one of the most popular waterfalls in North Carolina, is just a 20 minute drive away. Mountain views are all around.
Population: 8,000
Median Home Price: $475,000
Climate: The elevation is 2,100 feet above sea level, so summer temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and winter temperatures are in the 20s, 30s and 40s. On average, the area receives 54 inches of rain and nine inches of snow each year.
Crime Rate: Meets the national average
Age 45 or Better: 56%
Hospital: Transylvania Regional Hospital, 10 miles away
Public Transit:Â No
Political Leanings: Conservative
Is North Carolina Retirement Tax-Friendly:Â Somewhat
Drawbacks: Winter roads are sometimes a little treacherous.