Perhaps no southern town is known more for its picturesque town square than Burnsville, North Carolina. The manicured brick walkways, well-kempt grass, brightly colored flowers at each entrance and the lifelike copper statue of the town's namesake, Otway Burns, in the center combine to create a "Small-Town USA" image other towns only dream of.

The 2800 foot elevation of the town square offers visitors breathtaking views of not only Mt. Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet) but several of the additional peaks in the county that exdeed 6,300 feet. Burnsville is the county seat of Yancey and both have a rich historical past. Established in 1833, Yancey County was named for statesman Bartlett Yancey, who served in the U.S. Congress from 1813 to 1817. Yancey also served as speaker of the North Carolina Senate from 1817 until 1827. He helped to create an educational fund that would support the state's public school systema and was actually involved in the process of establishing the county that now bears his name. After his death, establshment of the county was made possible through the efforts of Captain Otway Burns, a naval hero turned state legislator. Burns continued the efforts begun by Yancey and cast the deciding vote that created the county. In 1834, Bursville was established honoring the name of Captain Burns.

Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Burnsville has become the perfect destination for "getting back to nature" while at the same time "keeping up with the nightlife." With all of its golfing, fishing, hunting and camping; with pristine mountain streams making your hardest choice of the day whether to go swimming, tubing or whitewater rafting; with great nature trails for hiking, picnicking and horseback riding, Burnsville is still only 35 miles northeast of Asheville, the largest western city in the state. Charlotte, the states largest metropolis, lies about 120 miles southeast of the county and Johnson City, Tennessee, just 60 miles to the west.

Whether you're looking for a place to "get away from it all" for a weekend or a lifetime, Burnsville and Yancey County can offer you unique mountain home with a spectacular vista.