HAYWOOD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Western North Carolina’s third-largest county has a population of 61,000 and is situated in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Haywood boasts mountain vistas, fertile river valleys and vibrant small towns. We are minutes from downtown Asheville and located in one of the most dynamic regions in the U.S. Our economy is growing, the business climate is robust and the quality of life unmatched, making it the ideal place to live, work and open a business.
HAYWOOD COUNTY lies along Interstate 40 and U.S. 19/23, and Interstate 26 is just 20 miles east. This makes it an ideal location for moving freight or for personal travel to the east, west, north and south. Asheville’s regional airport with connections to most major U.S. cities is only 30 minutes away.
LABOR INFORMATION
Haywood County is part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area that includes Buncombe County (Asheville), Henderson County (Hendersonville), Transylvania County (Brevard) and Madison County (Marshall). The total population of the MSA is 441,724, and there are thousands of available workers both in the county or a short commute away.
Waynesville, the county seat of Haywood, has a population of 10,000 and has 95,169 potential workers within a 40-minute commute.
Canton is Haywood County’s second largest town and has a population of 4,200. Its proximity to Asheville puts 163,207 potential workers within a 40-minute commute.
AT A GLANCE
HAYWOOD COUNTY has a population of 61,000 and is home to four incorporated towns: Waynesville (county seat), Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley.
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY SECTORS
INCOME
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
Average Home Sales Price: $216,667
Average Weekly Wage: $721
UTILITY AND SERVICES
Electricity
Duke Energy Haywood EMC
Town of Waynesville
Gas
Public Service of NC provides natural gas.
Propane available through local distributors.
TOP 5 EMPLOYERS Evergreen Inc. 1,230 Haywood County Schools 883
Haywood Regional Medical Center 808 Consolidated Metco 708
Haywood County Government 525
Phone/Internet
Charter Communications
Skyrunner Internet
HAYWOOD COUNTY is one of North Carolina’s first Certified Entrepreneurial Communities, and we’re proud of our reputation for rolling out the red carpet for new businesses. Our diverse economy boasts large and small manufacturers, a flourishing tourism and service sector, a growing health care component, and a rich agricultural tradition. We have a professional and knowledgeable team of economic developers, county and city staff, and elected officials who work together to assure the needs of the business community are met. We also have access to state and local economic development grants and incentives to help new and expanding businesses (visit haywoodedc.org/business-incentives for more information).
“Haywood County is a perfect location for any business due to the high volume of tourists frequenting the area, access to major interstates heading in all directions, and the business resources available in the local community.”
— Dave Angel, owner Elevated Mountain Distillery
HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE are the second largest industry cluster in Haywood County, providing quality care at home and hundreds of well-paying jobs. Haywood Regional Medical Center — a Duke-LifePoint Hospital — and Mission Health Systems both provide advanced services. In addition, a wide variety of urgent care, therapeutic, mental health, and elderly care providers have practices in Haywood County.
“In
our high-energy collaborative environment, our teams focus on bringing to market quality products that consumers and global brands trust. We value talented, flexible makers with entrepreneurial spirits.”
— John Rooney, CEO Evergreen Packaging
MANUFACTURING has been the backbone of Western North Carolina’s economy since the early 1900s. Haywood County and Western North Carolina are pursuing an aggressive, pro-growth business agenda that is creating jobs and opportunities for the region. The stimulus to this turnaround has been the ability to shift away from labor-intensive manufacturing to advanced, skills-based production.
ARTS AND CULTURE are important to the quality of life in Haywood County. Thanks to groups like the award-winning Haywood Arts Regional Theater and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Group of the Year Balsam Range, you’re likely to find yourself rubbing elbows with world-class entertainers when you head out to one of our breweries or restaurants. Galleries line Main Street in Waynesville, and every year Folkmoot, the state’s official international festival, brings dancers and musicians from around the world. Both locals and tourists help drive our thriving arts scene.
• Award-winning bluegrass band Balsam Range is named for a beautiful mountain range located in Haywood County where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge. Balsam Range was named the 2014 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
• The Haywood Arts Regional Theater (HART) is one of the most successful community theaters in the Southeast, producing a year-round schedule of plays on two main stages. They have been named the NC Community Theater of the Year and have won multiple awards at the NC Theater Festival and from the American Association of Community Theaters.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS are inescapable in Haywood County. We are situated next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. Local and tourists have easy access to hiking, fishing, mountain biking, gorgeous waterfalls, snow skiing, camping or just taking a drive and enjoying the views in Haywood County, which has the highest average elevation of any county east of the Rockies.
“Haywood County is home to more than 20 mountains over 6,000 feet high, and all the water in the county originates here. This region has a unique habitat, a temperate rain forest with four distinct seasons. It’s just a special place.”
— Don Hendershot, writer and naturalist
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES are plentiful here as residents and visitors take full advantage of the natural beauty and the four distinct seasons. Easily accessible greenways and public parks are located in each of our communities, and the nearby wilderness areas are full of more remote trails for those who prefer to get away from it all. We also have great indoor and outdoor swimming pools, several state-of-the-art health and fitness centers, and our rural roads are among the best in the East for cycling.
LAKE JUNALUSKA
is one of the jewels of Haywood County, a community nestled around a 200-acre lake with incredible mountain views. Lake Junaluska was originally established in 1913 as a retreat center for Methodists, and today it is open to all. It was named for Junaluska Mountain, which was named after a Cherokee Indian chief. From the beginning, Lake Junaluska was a conference center as well as a residential community. Today, the grounds include two hotels, dormitory and motel-like facilities, a campground, a golf course, 16 gardens, meeting facilities and 800 residential homes. The 2.3-mile walking trail around the lake is one of the most popular recreation areas in Haywood County.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES for those living in and around Haywood County are plentiful. The Haywood County Public School System has 7,000 students and is perennially ranked in the top 10 percent academically in the state. Western Carolina University and UNC Asheville — both members of the University of North Carolina system — are within 30 minutes and offer traditional university degrees and many programs for working professionals. Haywood Community College is part of the statewide community college system and will tailor programs to meet the needs of local industries, and its Small Business Center encourages entrepreneurship in the region.
• Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College · abtech.edu
• Haywood Community College · haywood.edu
• Haywood County Public Schools · haywood.k12.nc.us.
• Lenoir-Rhyne University - Asheville · lr.edu/asheville
• Southwestern Community College · southwesterncc.edu
• UNC Asheville · unca.edu
• Western Carolina University · wcu.edu
“Central to our mission at Haywood Community College is our pledge to work with new and existing business and industry to make sure they have a qualified workforce to meet their needs. We stand ready and welcome any opportunity to serve our community partners in developing their workforce.”
— Barbara M. Parker, Haywood Community College President
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission photo
CUISINE AND CRAFT beverages are among the top attractions for Haywood County and the entire area surrounding Asheville. Our farm-to-table restaurants and regionally produced beer, cider, wine, liquor and sodas have created a thriving industry pumping millions of dollars into the local economy. Haywood County boasts many topnotch chefs who take great pride in using fresh ingredients from the region to produce award-winning cuisine. Haywood County is also home to many great restaurants and pubs, three craft breweries, one local distillery, and a craft soda producer.
“It’s seed-to-table here. There’s nothing better for a chef to put on the plate than
something just picked.”
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For more information about opening or relocating your business or manufacturing facility to Haywood County, visit HaywoodEDC.org or contact:
• Cece Hipps
Haywood County Economic Development Council Executive Director 828.768.1430 · chipps@haywoodchamber.com
• David Francis
Haywood County Program Administrator for Economic Development 828.558.7552 · dbfrancis@haywoodnc.net
Chef’s Table owner and chef Josh Monroe
