Transylvania County, North Carolina

Transylvania County is a county in North Carolina, United States, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains along the South Carolina line. It had a population of 32,986 at the 2020 census and covers 380 square miles (985 km2) centred near 35°13′N 82°49′W.

Brevard is the county seat, and its postal code is 28712. The county has one incorporated city (Brevard), one incorporated town (Rosman), and several unincorporated communities and census-designated places, grouped historically into eight townships. Transylvania County sits in the Eastern time zone.

Towns & Villages in Transylvania County

Transylvania County has two incorporated municipalities and roughly a dozen recognized unincorporated communities and CDPs. “City · seat” marks the county seat; “Town” is Rosman, the only other incorporated place; everything else is unincorporated or a CDP (census-designated place, not a municipality).

Pisgah Forest, just northeast of Brevard, is the county’s largest unincorporated community and home to the Ecusta paper-mill site and the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. Lake Toxaway and Sapphire are resort communities in the southern part of the county near the South Carolina line, both built around private mountain lakes. Several smaller named places from older gazetteers — subdivisions such as Barberry Heights, Bear Wallow Hollow, Broadview Estates, Glen Cannon and Hidden Valley — are residential developments rather than distinct settlements and are not tabled separately here.

ZIP Codes

• 28712 — Brevard (also serves North Brevard, Pisgah Forest Farms)
• 28768 — Pisgah Forest
• 28772 — Rosman (also serves Quebec, Calvert)
• 28747 — Lake Toxaway
• 28774 — Sapphire
• 28718 — Cedar Mountain
• 28766 — Penrose
• 28708 — Balsam Grove

Smaller communities such as Blantyre, Connestee Falls and Little River share the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than carrying their own.

Geography

Transylvania County lies in the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where the Blue Ridge Mountains drop steeply toward the South Carolina Piedmont. Roughly a third of the county is inside Pisgah National Forest, and Gorges State Park covers the far southern corner near Lake Jocassee. The French Broad River rises here and flows north through Brevard; the Davidson, Little and Toxaway rivers also cross the county, feeding the region’s namesake “Land of Waterfalls” reputation — more than 250 named waterfalls, including Whitewater Falls, the tallest cascade east of the Mississippi.

Transylvania County borders Buncombe County to the north, Henderson County to the east, Jackson County to the west, Haywood County to the northwest, and Greenville, Pickens and Oconee counties in South Carolina to the southeast, south and southwest.

Demographics

The 2020 census counted 32,986 residents, with a density of about 87 people per square mile. Brevard (7,744) and Pisgah Forest are the county’s two largest communities; Rosman (701) is the only other incorporated place. Median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting the county’s mix of retirees, tourism-and-service jobs, and a smaller working-age manufacturing base than neighboring Henderson and Buncombe counties.

Economy & Local Life

Transylvania County’s economy shifted over the 20th century from farming to timber and paper manufacturing — the former Ecusta plant near Pisgah Forest was once one of the region’s largest employers — and has shifted again toward tourism, outdoor recreation and retirement migration. Brevard College and the annual Brevard Music Center summer festival anchor the county seat’s cultural life, drawing visitors for concerts and waterfall hikes throughout the warmer months. Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest, which straddles the Transylvania–Henderson line, support a large outdoor-recreation and hospitality sector.

History

Transylvania County was formed in 1861 from parts of Jackson and Henderson counties, taking a Latin name meaning “across the woods.” Brevard, laid out as the seat that same year, grew slowly until the railroad and later the paper industry brought steady growth in the early 1900s. The county’s mountain lakes at Toxaway and Sapphire were developed as resort destinations beginning in the late 19th century, and the historic Toxaway Dam failure of 1916 remains one of the area’s most-discussed local events.

Getting There

US 64, US 178 and US 276 are the county’s main highways, along with NC 215, NC 280 and NC 281; the Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the county’s northern edge.

• Asheville — 30 miles north
• Hendersonville — 18 miles east
• Sylva — 25 miles northwest
• Greenville, SC — 45 miles south

The nearest commercial airport is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), about 35 miles north of Brevard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Transylvania County?
It is in the mountains of western North Carolina, on the South Carolina border southwest of Asheville.

What is the population of Transylvania County?
32,986 people, per the 2020 census.

How big is Transylvania County?
380 square miles (985 km2), including about 5 square miles of water.

What is the county seat of Transylvania County?
Brevard is the county seat.

How many towns are in Transylvania County?
Two incorporated places — Brevard and Rosman — plus around a dozen unincorporated communities and CDPs such as Pisgah Forest, Lake Toxaway and Sapphire.

What ZIP codes are in Transylvania County?
Eight, led by 28712 (Brevard), 28768 (Pisgah Forest) and 28772 (Rosman).

Why is it called the “Land of Waterfalls”?
The county has more than 250 named waterfalls, including Whitewater Falls, the tallest cascade east of the Mississippi River.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.