Swannanoa, North Carolina
Swannanoa is a community of 6,901 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Why visit Swannanoa
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cedar Cliff, Flat Top, Black Mountain College and Black Mountain Downtown Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 26°F, and about 28 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Swannanoa
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Swannanoa
Swannanoa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population 5,021 at the 2020 census up from 4,576 at the 2010 census. The community is named for the Swannanoa River, which flows through the settlement. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Swannanoa, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Museums and landmarks8
Black Mountain College
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
College in the United States known for its liberal and arts education
Black Mountain Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Blue Ridge Assembly Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Dougherty Heights Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Intheoaks
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Building in Black Mountain, United States of America
Monte Vista Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Hotel in Black Mountain, United States of America
South Montreat Road Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
William Nelson Camp, Jr., House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes18
El Lemon
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.1 mi
2077 US-70, Swannanoa
09:00-21:00
Black Mountain Cider + Mead
Brewery and winery · 1.7 mi
104 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain
Oak and Grist Distilling Company LLC
Brewery and winery · 1.6 mi
1556 Grovestone Road, Black Mountain
6 more on the map.
History
Swannanoa is located several miles west of Black Mountain just prior to Oteen and eastern Asheville. The area hosts the former Beacon Blanket Mill. Alexander Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Swannanoa also homes the Asheville Junction, a tunnel made with the forced labor of around three-thousand African American prisoners, which inspired the folk song "Swannanoa Tunnel."
In 2024, the town was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. In January 2025, president-elect Donald Trump visited the town to survey the damage and meet survivors.
From the History section of Swannanoa, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship18
Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Macedonia AME Zion Church
Church · African Methodist Episcopal Zion · 0.4 mi
2619 US-70, Swannanoa
Grove Stone Baptist Church
Church · 1.5 mi
1568 State Road 2472, Grovestone Road, Black Mountain
Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 0.5 mi
102 Andrew Place, Swannanoa
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Healthcare2
Map of Swannanoa
79 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 26°F | 4.5 in | 6.8 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 28°F | 3.7 in | 5.8 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 34°F | 4.7 in | 6.3 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 42°F | 4.6 in | 2.5 in |
| May | 75°F | 50°F | 4.1 in | 0.7 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.8 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 4.1 in | 1.1 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 29°F | 4.3 in | 5.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Black Mtn 2 W (2 mi away), rain and snow from Swannanoa 2 Sse, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Buncombe County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-08: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Black Mountain 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Fairview 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Asheville 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Biltmore Forest 10 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Royal Pines 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Hoopers Creek 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Emma 12 mi west, about 19 min by car
- Fletcher 13 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Edneyville 13 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Avery Creek 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Thomas Chapel, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Willie Nelson Camp, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Black Mountain Downtown Historic District, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Blue Ridge Assembly Robert E Lee Hall, HowardMorland, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monti Vista Hotel, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Intheoaks - Black Mountain, N.C. 02, Unknown photographer, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.