Census Data for Beech Mountain
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Beech Mountain a population of 323 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Beech Mountain a population of 320 people.
The town of Beech Mountain is located in Avery County. The 2010 Census gave Avery County; a population of 17,799 people. This means that Beech Mountain had 1.8% of the county's total population, making it Avery's 4th most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Beech Mountain has a total area of 6.67 square miles [17.3 km²]. Of this total, only a minor amount of the area is covered by water.
Avery County has a land area of 247.1 square miles [640 km²]. At 6.66 square miles [17.3 km²], Beech Mountain has 2.7% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Beech Mountain, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the town.
- Things like population, area and housing for Beech Mountain reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Beech Mountain might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 36° 12' 42" (or 36.21°)
- Lon: -81° 53' 28" (or -81.89°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Avery County ...
The community of Beech Mountain is primarily located in Avery County<3>. A portion of Beech Mountain extends into Watauga County.
The county had a population of 17,799 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 320 people, Beech Mountain represented 1.8% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Beech Mountain has a population density of 48 people per square mile [18.53 people/km²], Avery County averages 72 people per square mile [27.81 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Avery County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Beech Mountain, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Beech Mountain. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Beech Mountain or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Beech Mountain, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Beech Mountain.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.211707° (or 36°12'42" N)
- Lon: -81.891175° (or -81°53'28" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.206374° (or 36°12'22" N)
- Lon: -81.883115° (or -81°52'59" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,066 feet to the northwest<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2405226) to Beech Mountain. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Beech Mountain. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.210754° (or 36°12'38" N)
- Lon: -81.888373° (or -81°53'18" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 894 feet to the west<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Beech Mountain. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Beech Mountain.
Miscellaneous Information for Beech Mountain ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Avery County or the town of Beech Mountain:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 37 (North Carolina)
- County Code: 011 (Avery County)
- Place Code: 04510 (Beech Mountain)
- State & County Code: 37/011 (North Carolina / Avery County)
- State & Place Code: 37/04510 (North Carolina / Beech Mountain)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Beech Mountain is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Beech Mountain.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Beech Mountain: www.townofbeech.com/
The official website for Avery County: www.averyco.com/gov/
The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of North Carolina's counties, including Avery, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 50 degrees and a distance of 3,066 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 67 degrees and a distance of 894 feet. |