How come Asheville is so blue? I've heard it referred to as, "the San Francisco of

[raccoon]

the South."

[tekisui]

1. It's because we're so awesome.

There are a variety of theories. Some claim that there are 'energy pockets' that draw people here. One reason is that after the Depression, Asheville refused to take on more debt to build up and expand. The city stayed relatively as it was until the original debts were paid off in the 60s-70s. Then, an influx of development came.

We are a tourist destination, so we get lots of people from across the Eastern Seaboard. With it comes tolerance of ideas. Those things combined with Southern hospitality make Asheville a welcoming and tolerant place.

But, much of what you here is marketing to bring in more of that. It is less diverse than even Ashevillians realize. We have a large GLBT community, which is good. But, our African-American community is largely segregated and poor. You can walk around downtown and never see an African-American, other than a few panhandlers(which we have a lot of). Latinos are similarly sequestered to their own communities.

It is a strange problem we have. We claim diversity, yet it is predominately white on the surface. But, it is liberal and accepting of new-Agers, transients, transplants, travelers, etc. The make-up of the city is never constant. The faces always change(with the regulars remaining, of course).

It is a great city.

[Sequoia]

9. Then there's the Biltmore Estate, Pisgah Nat'l Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Which is the most visited park in the USA. Also the winery at Bilmore Estate is the most visted winerly. I remember as a kid when it was a dairy farm and their Bilmore Icecream was wonderful.

[zazen]

2. it's commonly referred to as the "Lesbian capital of the South"

I don't know how that holds up statistically, but it sure does experientially. I have several lesbian relatives and friends there too, and that's what they tell me. But it's surrounded, generally speaking, by a very traditional "Scotch-Irish" (and I think the term used _is_ "Scotch," not Scots) culture, which makes it difficult for the elected Dems to be very progressive without losing the district.

But, there are some progressive enclaves nearby, too, like Black Mountain and Cullowhee, where liberal artists and activists have been going on retreat since the 20s at least.

[jeremyfive]

3. Blue Asheville

Born in Asheville over 50 years ago, I've seen the city grow and change. Years ago, there were very discernable black neighborhoods near the downtown area--much less so now. And I see a lot more integrated socialization happening among the races. All of this is a good thing, it appears to me. The latin culture there is a relatively new phenomenon, as this group was in very small numbers years ago. So latin integration into Ashville is a new question--Mexicans dominate the latin population now, I think, as they originally came for farm work and decided to stay. I have visited Asheville with South American and Cuban friends, and as they have no strong connection to the existing Mexican culture there, they considered themselves in very small minority.

On a recent visit, I spied an international welcome center in Asheville, which is a positive thing it seems to me. One the negative side, there are still those sidewalk preachers downtown, some with very small children in tow late at night, telling every third person they are going to hell. Don't these people have real jobs?

But overall, Asheville has grown and benefited from association with UNCA, I believe, and I am very proud of the vibrant city downtown. I hope the liberalism is a true core value that will remain.

I grew up in farm country, and many people forget that country people usually went out of their way to be open and hospitable, taking great pains to accept those who were "different". If you criticized some someone's eccentric behavior, the well-bred Southernor might retort, "Well, he's just different", as if that explained things. I loved this acceptance of others then as now, and I think this attitude still exists among many rural folks today.

I am very proud to have been born in Asheville, and I return every chance I get.

[Thickasabrick]

4. Blue Dog Schuler sucks - it's not as blue as it looks. nt

[paparush]

5. There are pockets of very liberal folks in Asheville. However, we are

still smack dab in the middle of the Baptist Bible Belt, NASCAR, Wrastlin (pro wrestling), and more recently, Tea Bagger Mania.

We do have a pretty good progressive AM radio station - 880am "The Revolution", which unfortunately is countered by the conservative talk 570am with Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, etc, blathering non-stop.

[tpsbmam]

6. And there are lots of the aforementioned transplants

I grew up in New York City and I've always lived in New York, New England or the Midwest (Madison, WI or Chicago). I've always been a registered Dem or Ind (when I too pissed off at the Dems.). I never considered the South for living or working well, because it was the South. Then I visited Asheville and loved it. When I thought about where to retire (due to disability) I thought of Asheville -- I researched the city and its politics and decided it was actually a place in the South where I could live, so I bought a house and moved here. Smart move -- I love it and real estate was much more affordable than New England or Seattle, both places I considered retiring.

After I moved, I met more transplants than I did locals, or even actual Southerners. Even the checker at a local dollar store was from Wisconsin.

With the transplants, you've probably gotten more liberals moving into the area, though the transplants are also a mix. But I've met lots of transplants from places like NYC, Seattle, Los Angeles, etc. -- I've often met them at rallies & protests. But we transplants are a mix -- for example, one set of neighbors are transplants from Wisconsin and they're disgustingly Republican and conservative (fortunately another couple is very Dem & liberal.....and one grew up here, another in eastern NC). I know about 13 other relatively new transplants (last 5 years) and all are Dems or Inds and liberal.

[Tunkamerica]

7. Asheville has been a conclave for artists, scientists, and the counter culture for more than

100 years.

It has little to do with any new migration and more with it's continued reputation as a tolerant city in a beautiful location. It draws people from all over the country for that reason. As a North Carolinian myself I know LOTS of native NC'ers that moved to Asheville after college and just stayed. But it is very accepting of transplants.

[Lex]

8. University town.

All that book learnin' in one place dontcha know. Asheville's certainly blue, but Durham/Chapel Hill is the biggest, bluest area in the state (again, Universities abound).