In the early 19th century, much of the forested
county of Transylvania was farmland worked by Scots-Irish immigrants.
By 1860, the population had grown from just a few settlers to
a goodly number, prompting Representative Joseph P. Jordan to
introduce a bill to the North Carolina House of Commons to establish
a new county from parts of Henderson and Jackson Counties named
"Transylvania."
During the first official meeting of the Transylvania court
on May 28, 1861, three gentlemen jointly donated 50 acres for
a new town site which would become the county seat. The name
"Brevard" originates from the surname Beauvert (meaning,
"beautiful green growth). "Brevard" began with
two stores, a new wood-frame courthouse and county jail, two
churches and a dozen residences.
Early industries in Transylvania
County included sawmills, cotton and paper mills, logging
and tanning. With the coming of the railroad in 1894, Brevard
experienced a wave of tourism. Visitors were attracted to the
mild climate, hiking trails and breathtaking views. Thus began
construction of the first hotels, and homeowners opened their
residences to boarders. Early visitors to the area included
Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and the tire king Harvey Firestone.
Surrounded by Pisgah National Forest and hundreds
of waterfalls in what began as a settlement of fewer than 200
inhabitants, Brevard has grown to a population of 7,000. On
the southeast corner of the intersection of Main St. and Broad
St. stands Transylvania County's Italianate courthouse, completed
in 1881. A jail was added to the rear of the red brick structure
in 1921.
Gaze down West Main Street and you will see views of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. Also on Main and Broad streets, brick storefronts
provide a scene from the past--many of them dating from the
late 1800s to early 1900s. Visiting the revitalized, 16-block
business district, you will enjoy a number of treats. Do-it-yourself
epicures will enjoy the gadgets, gourmet food and wineat Brevard's
Proper Pot.
Poppies Gourmet
Farmer's Market, located on the way to Pisgah Forest offers
a wide variety of organic and local food. Drop into Quotations
Coffee Café, Brighter Day Coffee, or Dugan's Irish
pub. Enjoy a burger and malt at the 1950s-style lunch counter
at Rocky's Soda Shop & Grill, then grab a luscious pastry
at Bracken Mountain Bakery.
Brevard offers a number of fine restaurants: The Quarry, Falls
Landing Bar & Restaurant, Hob Nob and Maple, all in the
downtown area, all of which are smoke free.
Brevard is known for its Brevard
Music Center, an internationally renowned venue for world
class performers. It is also a haven for artists and their local
wares. Look for artists' renditions of animal sculptures, with
such subjects as a bobcat, monarch butterflies, an elk, a red
wolf, ravens and a panther, designed from steel, copper, stone,
marble and limestone that dot the downtown area. The permanent
exhibit signifies the community's appreciation of the natural
world and how nature inspires art.
