Mars Hill

History

Long occupied by indigenous peoples, this area was not settled by European Americans much before the Revolutionary War. They were mostly yeomen and subsistence farmers, many of whom had Scotch-Irish ethnicity. The California Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Mars Hill College Historic District, Mars Hill High School, and Thomas J. Murray House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Mars Hill is in eastern Madison County, by road north of Asheville. Interstate 26 passes just east of the town, with access from Exit 11 (NC 213). The Interstate leads south to Asheville and north to Johnson City, Tennessee. U.S. Routes 19 and 23 leads northeast from Mars Hill to Cane River, and State Highway 213 passes through the center of town, leading west to Marshall. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land. It is drained mainly by Gabriel Creek, which flows through the west side of town. Some of the eastern side is drained by tributaries of Big Branch. Both streams flow south to Ivy Creek, a west-flowing tributary of the French Broad River. The town has an elevation of , so the climate of the area is considerably cooler than might be expected of a town in a southern state.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Mars Hill Elementary
  Elementary · Mars Hill · 500 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• Madison Middle School
  Middle · Marshall · 452 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Madison High School
  High · Marshall · 414 students · 9:1 ratio
• Brush Creek Elementary
  Elementary · Marshall · 333 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• Madison Early College High
  High · Marshall · 249 students · 24.9:1 ratio
• Madison Velocity Learning Center
  High · Marshall · 20 students