Burnsville

History

The town was founded on March 6, 1834, from land conveyed by John "Yellow Jacket" Bailey, and it was named after Captain Otway Burns, a naval hero of the War of 1812. In 1909, a statue of Captain Burns was given to the town by his grandson, Walter Francis Burns Sr., and it was set on a granite pedestal in the center of the town square. It has an inscription that reads, in part, "He Guarded Well Our Seas, Let Our Mountains Honor Him." Due to damages, the original statue was replaced in the early 2000s. On April 6, 2010, Burnsville, the only incorporated town within Yancey County, held a referendum providing for the legal sale of alcohol within the town limits. The referendum passed. After applying for and receiving the applicable permits, Burnsville now operates an ABC store; some retail establishments now sell beer and wine; and a few restaurants sell beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Graham County is the last remaining fully dry county in the state of North Carolina. In September 2024, Burnsville and the surrounding area was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene and subsequent storm-induced landslides, resulting in devastating property and infrastructure damage to Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery Counties. Officials reported the damages and repairs to the area to be over $50 billion.

Geography

Burnsville is located in the mountains of western North Carolina, at 2,749 feet above sea level. It is on a tributary of the Cane River, just north of the Black Mountains, and 30 miles northeast of Asheville. U.S. Highway 19E runs through the town, leading to Interstate 26 and Mars Hill to the west and, to the east, to Spruce Pine. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Mountain Heritage High
  High · Burnsville · 639 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Blue Ridge Elementary
  Elementary · Burnsville · 371 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Burnsville Elementary
  Elementary · Burnsville · 286 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• East Yancey Middle
  Middle · Burnsville · 255 students · 15:1 ratio
• Cane River Middle
  Middle · Burnsville · 191 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Micaville Elementary
  Elementary · Burnsville · 188 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• South Toe Elementary
  Elementary · Burnsville · 108 students · 15.4:1 ratio