Ashe County Demographics

A map of Ashe County's Population by Race

Ashe County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 26,950, a slight increase from the 26,577 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 90.8% White, 6.0% Hispanic, 1.4% Multiracial, 0.9% Black, 0.4% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ashe County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ashe has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ashe County, that probability was 17.9% in 2020 and 17.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ashe County is ranked the 73rd most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Ashe County was ranked the 73rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Ashe County's White Population

24,475 residents of Ashe County, or 90.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ashe County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Ashe County ranks 4th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. White residents' share of Ashe County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 90.8%.

Ashe County is more White than neighboring Watauga County (88.5% White), Johnson County (87.3% White), Grayson County (87.2% White), Alleghany County (83.9% White), and Wilkes County (85.7% White).

Ashe County's Black Population

239 residents of Ashe County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ashe County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Ashe County ranks 99th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's Black population has grown by an estimated 91.2%. Black residents' share of Ashe County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Ashe County is less Black than neighboring Watauga County (1.6% Black), Johnson County (4.7% Black), Grayson County (5.5% Black), Alleghany County (1.6% Black), and Wilkes County (3.6% Black).

Ashe County's Asian Population

119 residents of Ashe County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ashe County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Ashe County ranks 72nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 16.7%. Asian residents' share of Ashe County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Ashe County is more Asian than neighboring Johnson County (0.3% Asian). Ashe County is less Asian than neighboring Watauga County (0.9% Asian), Grayson County (1% Asian), Alleghany County (0.5% Asian), and Wilkes County (0.6% Asian).

Ashe County's Hispanic Population

1,630 residents of Ashe County, or 6.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ashe County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Ashe County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Ashe County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.0%.

Ashe County is more Hispanic than neighboring Johnson County (3.2% Hispanic), and Grayson County (4.2% Hispanic). Ashe County is less Hispanic than neighboring Watauga County (6.2% Hispanic), Alleghany County (11.4% Hispanic), and Wilkes County (7.5% Hispanic).

Ashe County's Native American/Other Population

120 residents of Ashe County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ashe County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Ashe County ranks 99th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 16.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ashe County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Ashe County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Watauga County (0.2% Native American/Other), Alleghany County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Wilkes County (0.2% Native American/Other). Ashe County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Johnson County (1% Native American/Other).

Ashe County's Multiracial Population

367 residents of Ashe County, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ashe County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Ashe County ranks 90th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashe County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 47.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Ashe County's population has decreased from 2.6% to 1.4%.

Ashe County is less Multiracial than neighboring Watauga County (2.7% Multiracial), Johnson County (3.5% Multiracial), Grayson County (1.7% Multiracial), Alleghany County (2.6% Multiracial), and Wilkes County (2.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.