Hot Springs, North Carolina
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Hot Springs, North Carolina
| official_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| nickname =
| named_for = Thermal springs in area{{cite web |url=https://ncpedia.org/gazetteer/search/Hot%20Springs/0 |title=North Carolina Gazetteer |accessdate= December 19, 2022}}
| motto =
| image_skyline = Hot Springs, NC.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption = Hot Springs and the French Broad River, as seen from the Appalachian Trail
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_map = NCMap-doton-HotSprings.PNG
| mapsize = 250x200px
| map_caption = Location of Hot Springs, North Carolina
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Madison
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Discovered
| established_title1 = Founded
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 8.12
| area_land_km2 = 7.43
| area_water_km2 = 0.69
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.13
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.87
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.27
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 520
| population_density_km2 = 70.03
| population_density_sq_mi = 181.37
| timezone = Eastern (EST)
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| elevation_ft = 1378
| coordinates = {{coord|35|53|36|N|82|49|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 28743
| area_code = 828
| blank_name = FIPS code
| blank_info = 37-32840{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}
| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
| blank1_info = 2405868{{GNIS|2405868}}
| website = [http://www.hotspringsnc.org hotspringsnc.org]
| footnotes =
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
}}
Hot Springs is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 520 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Asheville metropolitan statistical area. It is situated on the Appalachian Trail and French Broad River near the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Hot Springs is best known for its hiking trails, natural springs, and mountain town atmosphere.
History
Hot Springs is located at the confluence of the French Broad River and Spring Creek. A natural thermal spring is located there,{{cite book |last1=NOAA |title=Thermal Springs List for the United States |date=1980 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=Boulder, CO}} the only hot spring known in North Carolina and in much of the southeastern United States. Thus, this area has long been a destination for those looking for therapeutic relief from their ailments. Native Americans were the first to discover and use the 108 °F (42 °C){{cite web |last1=NOAA |title=List of hot springs in the United States |url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/results?t=100006&s=1&d=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407201958/http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/results?t=100006&s=1&d=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2005 |website=National Oceanic and Aeronautical Association |access-date=February 21, 2020}} mineral waters, and European immigrants settled the area over 200 years ago. It is reported that people were visiting the springs by 1778 for the waters' reported healing properties.
It was believed Jasper Dagy was the first owner of Warm Springs, as it was then called, and he sold it to William Neilson in 1791. Neilson built an inn, and Philip Hoodenpile built an estate and a ferry across the French Broad, as well as the toll road Jewel Hill Road.{{cite news|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2019/08/18/visiting-our-past-missing-ears-other-topics-occupied-first-settlers/2035274001/|title=Visiting Our Past: Roads, orphans, speculation and missing ears occupied first settlers|last=Neufeld|first=Rob|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|date=August 18, 2019|access-date=August 18, 2019}} In 1828, a major road was constructed through the town, the Buncombe Turnpike, making the area more accessible.
By 1831, James Patton of Asheville bought the springs and had erected 350 room Warm Springs Hotel with its 13 tall columns representing the Thirteen Colonies in 1837. The dining room of this large hotel could seat 600 people. The railroad reached the village in 1882. The hotel burned in 1884 after 46 years of operation. Another hotel, called the Mountain Park, was built in 1886.
A higher temperature spring was found, prompting the changing of the town's name from Warm Springs to Hot Springs in 1886. Sixteen marble pools were surrounded by landscaped lawns with croquet and tennis courts, and it was known as one of the most lavish resorts in the Southeast. By May 1917, the hotel and grounds were leased to the US Government to be used as an internment camp. Many German and Austro-Hungarian internees, noncombatant aliens, made local friends and stayed in the region after World War I. That hotel burned in 1920, and two more were built—neither as large and opulent, and both later burned as well.
Hot Springs and the historic district was devastated by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/picture-gallery/weather/2024/10/15/hot-springs-resort-and-spa-n-c-after-tropical-storm-helene/75687111007/|title=See inside Hot Springs N.C. after Tropical Storm Helene |accessdate=2024-12-30|publisher=USA Today}}>
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|3.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|3.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (8.96%) is water.
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Hot Springs, North Carolina, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1984–present
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 79
|year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 68.1
|Feb avg record high F = 72.1
|Mar avg record high F = 78.9
|Apr avg record high F = 86.0
|May avg record high F = 88.3
|Jun avg record high F = 92.4
|Jul avg record high F = 93.7
|Aug avg record high F = 92.9
|Sep avg record high F = 91.5
|Oct avg record high F = 84.9
|Nov avg record high F = 77.2
|Dec avg record high F = 70.2
|year avg record high F = 95.2
|Jan high F = 48.3
|Feb high F = 52.3
|Mar high F = 60.4
|Apr high F = 70.5
|May high F = 77.9
|Jun high F = 84.3
|Jul high F = 87.2
|Aug high F = 86.4
|Sep high F = 81.9
|Oct high F = 71.6
|Nov high F = 60.4
|Dec high F = 51.5
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 38.4
|Feb mean F = 41.6
|Mar mean F = 48.6
|Apr mean F = 57.4
|May mean F = 65.7
|Jun mean F = 72.9
|Jul mean F = 76.3
|Aug mean F = 75.5
|Sep mean F = 70.3
|Oct mean F = 59.3
|Nov mean F = 48.4
|Dec mean F = 41.5
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 28.5
|Feb low F = 30.8
|Mar low F = 36.7
|Apr low F = 44.2
|May low F = 53.5
|Jun low F = 61.5
|Jul low F = 65.4
|Aug low F = 64.5
|Sep low F = 58.8
|Oct low F = 46.9
|Nov low F = 36.3
|Dec low F = 31.6
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = 10.4
|Feb avg record low F = 15.9
|Mar avg record low F = 21.3
|Apr avg record low F = 28.9
|May avg record low F = 38.6
|Jun avg record low F = 50.6
|Jul avg record low F = 58.0
|Aug avg record low F = 56.9
|Sep avg record low F = 45.8
|Oct avg record low F = 30.9
|Nov avg record low F = 21.4
|Dec avg record low F = 16.6
|year avg record low F = 8.1
|Jan record low F = -1
|Feb record low F = -2
|Mar record low F = 11
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 32
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 45
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 25
|Nov record low F = 13
|Dec record low F = 2
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.66
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.34
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.99
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.83
|May precipitation inch = 4.50
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.22
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.67
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.93
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.40
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.86
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.91
|year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.1
|Feb precipitation days = 12.2
|Mar precipitation days = 12.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.1
|May precipitation days = 12.3
|Jun precipitation days = 12.9
|Jul precipitation days = 12.6
|Aug precipitation days = 10.9
|Sep precipitation days = 8.8
|Oct precipitation days = 8.0
|Nov precipitation days = 9.1
|Dec precipitation days = 11.6
|year precipitation days =
|Jan snow inch = 1.6
|Feb snow inch = 2.6
|Mar snow inch = 0.5
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 1.2
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 2.1
|Feb snow days = 1.5
|Mar snow days = 0.7
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 1.0
|year snow days =
|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
| url =https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=gsp
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00314260&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = October 15, 2021
}} }}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1890= 695
|1900= 445
|1910= 443
|1920= 495
|1930= 637
|1940= 773
|1950= 721
|1960= 723
|1970= 653
|1980= 678
|1990= 478
|2000= 645
|2010= 560
|2020= 520
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
}}
=2020 census=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Hot Springs racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3732840&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 19, 2021|website=data.census.gov}} !scope="col"| Race !scope="col"| Number !scope="col"| Percentage |
| scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)
| 460 | 88.46% |
|---|
| scope="row"| Native American
| 1 | 0.19% |
| scope="row"| Asian
| 2 | 0.38% |
| scope="row"| Other/Mixed
| 48 | 9.23% |
| scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino
| 9 | 1.73% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 520 people, 223 households, and 143 families residing in the town.
Economy
Today, the hot mineral springs are privately owned by a spa and private lodging rental businesses.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotspringsnc.org/hot-mineral-springs/|title=Hot Mineral Springs - Hot Springs NC Travel and Visitor Information|date=July 23, 2017|publisher=Hot Springs Tourism Association |access-date=June 13, 2019}} Water is piped to outdoor tubs beside the river and Spring Creek. The town is a tourist destination, with the springs as well as abundant outdoor recreation. The Appalachian Trail runs along downtown's Bridge Street and climbs the mountains on either side of the river. Rafting and kayaking is popular on the French Broad River. There are numerous other hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and sightseeing opportunities in the nearby Pisgah National Forest.
Hot Springs Historic District
{{main|Hot Springs Historic District (Hot Springs, North Carolina)}}
Hot Springs Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.{{NRISref|version=2010a}} Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Henry Ottinger House, and Sunnybank.
Gallery
File:CecilSharp HotSprings.jpg|A sign outside of The Sunnybank Inn marks where Cecil Sharp collected ballads in 1916.
File:HotSpring ATsign.jpg|Appalachian Trail sign
File:Hot Springs, NC.jpg|View from Lover's Leap Trail
File:Appalachian Trail in downtown Hot Springs, NC.jpg|Appalachian Trail marker embedded in sidewalk
File:Town of Hot Springs and Bridge Street.jpg|alt=View of Town of Hot Springs, NC|View of downtown
File:Hot Springs, NC in Winter.jpg|View of Hot Springs and Lover's Leap Ridge
File:Bridge over the French Broad River.jpg|French Broad River bridge
File:Sunnybank (The Inn at Hot Springs), Hot Springs, NC (31729996117).jpg|Historic Sunnybank
File:Lawson Street, Hot Springs, NC (45946946014).jpg|Historic Home on Lawson Street
File:Rutland (Mountain Magnolia Inn), Hot Springs, NC (45756553815).jpg|Mountain Magnolia Inn
File:Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs, NC (46619175092).jpg|Dorland Memorial Presbyterian Church
File:Andrews Avenue, Hot Springs, NC (32796871858).jpg|Downtown Hot Springs
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.hotspringsnc.org/ Official site]
{{Madison County, North Carolina}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Towns in Madison County, North Carolina
Category:Spa towns in the United States
Category:Towns in North Carolina
Category:Hot springs of North Carolina
Category:Internment of German Americans
Category:Populated places established in 1800
Category:Asheville metropolitan area
Category:North Carolina populated places on the French Broad River
Category:World War I prisoner-of-war camps in the United States