Buncombe County Experiences Population Decline Amid Hurricane Helene Aftermath
In an unprecedented shift, Buncombe County’s population saw a reduction last year, marking the first decline in decades. As of July 2025, the county’s population stood at 277,417, indicating a decrease of approximately 1,800 residents compared to the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This downturn represents a significant change for Buncombe County, which has consistently experienced growth for over twenty years. Alongside Buncombe, other western counties including Mitchell, McDowell, and Swain also faced population declines within the same timeframe, though Buncombe’s was the most pronounced.
Dr. Mike Cline, the state demographer of North Carolina, attributes the reduction primarily to Hurricane Helene. The storm not only displaced some residents but also deterred potential newcomers. “What happened with Helene is certainly, there was some displacement, but probably most of that impact is from people saying, ‘Oh, we were going to move to Western North Carolina. Helene happened. Well, now we don’t have a place to move to,’” Cline explained in an interview with BPR.
Western North Carolina has historically seen more deaths than births, relying heavily on migration for demographic growth. However, even counties that did witness growth after the storm did so at a diminished rate compared to other regions in the state, as per the latest Census data.
“If you look at that whole region, population growth dropped to about half of what it was in 2023 to ‘24,” Cline stated. “And then statewide … we saw slower growth even outside of that Western North Carolina region. It’s just that there, we’re at about 80% of the previous year’s growth.”
The primary concern moving forward is the pace at which people continue to relocate to Buncombe and other affected counties. Many areas are still undergoing recovery efforts. “What we’ll be looking for in the long term is how well housing gets rebuilt, how much infrastructure gets rebuilt in that area,” Cline mentioned.
Given these factors, Cline cautioned that it is premature to determine if Buncombe’s population decrease is indicative of a lasting trend.
