Mills River is a town located in Henderson County, North Carolina (USA). The town took its name from the nearby confluence of the Mills River and French Broad River. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was incorporated into a town in June, 2003. Sierra Nevada opened a brewery in Mills River in 2014.
History
Mills River is among the oldest communities in Henderson County with its first landholder receiving a deed from the State of North Carolina in 1787. It was once a thriving agricultural community, often called the “fertile crescentâ€.
Mills River Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Geography
It lies in the northwestern part of the county, covering roughly 22 square miles (57Â km2), and located near Etowah and Fletcher. The Town of Mills River lies within minutes of Pisgah National Forest, Interstate 26, and Asheville Regional Airport. Highways 280 and 191 serve as the major arteries and provide access to the nearby cities of Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard.
Government
The current mayor is Larry Freeman. Mayor Freeman took office in December 2013, elected by his fellow town council members. The current town council members include Wayne Carland, Shanon Gonce, Billy Johnston, and Roger Snyder.
Mills River is the second largest town in Henderson County, and it is home to one river: the Mills River (South fork and North fork), and four schools, Mills River Elementary, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary, Rugby Middle School, and West Henderson High School.
The Town Hall and Library are located at 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River, NC 28759. Surrounding the Town Hall is Mills River Park, whose Master Plan includes ball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, multiuse trails, a dog park, shelters and support facilities. The Mills River runs along the northern boundary of the property. The Plan also proposes fishing piers with handicapped access and a boat launch for non-motorized vessels along with picnic areas to enjoy the river.
Demographics
It is home to 6,802 people as of the 2010 Census.
References
External links
- Official website
- Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development
