Community Overview
The High Country of North Carolina, encompasses four counties - Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga. The largest of these scenic towns is Boone, which was named for famed pioneer Daniel Boone and is home to Appalachian State University. Blowing Rock is the only full service community located on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a population of around 1,500. And if it's small you're looking for, Banner Elk's population is still under 1,000 according to the latest census, which doesn't lessen the appeal of this area known as the "Balcony of the Blue Ridge." The High country is an outdoor playground year around. In the warmer months you’ll find some of the best camping, hiking, biking and fishing around. In the winter, ski at Appalachian, Beech or Sugar mountain.
The High Country area is also home to higher education institutions.
- Appalachian State University in Boone is the largest of the three, and it is one of 17 institutions that comprise the University of North Carolina System.
- Lees-McRae College, a liberal arts school in Banner Elk, offers 23 majors and over 2 dozen minors. Because of its liberal arts core, Lees-McRae attracts a number of retirees as both full time and part-time students.
