Southern hospitality, peaceful summer evenings, beautiful environment and a rich agricultural history are the attributes of the region surrounding Hendersonville.

Hendersonville’s history is closely tied to agriculture, which provided the primary livelihood of most of its residents during the 1800s and 1900s. Their primary crops were corn, wheat, rye, grass, potatoes, cabbage, and apples.

To this day, apples remain a significant contributor to the economy.

Since the 1940s every year always on the Labor Day weekend, Hendersonville hosts the Apple Festival with its famous Apple Parade.

Due to its elevated location, the Hendersonville/Flat Rock area has always been a favorite summer retreat for wealthy South Carolina planters and dwellers wishing to escape the intense summer heat, insects and diseases of the Low Country.

With the arrival of the railroad in 1879, the County and Hendersonville experienced a tremendous boost in the degree of urbanization and industrialization making it easier to travel and to ship products. During this “Golden Age” the city and the County prospered, creating new businesses and establishing a flourishing tourism industry.

Henderson County was only established in 1838 after splitting off parts of old Buncombe County (Asheville) and Rutherford County. After a fierce quarrel amongst the county commissioners about the location of the county seat and the courthouse, a popular vote decided to establish the county seat and the courthouse in Hendersonville.

Henderson County and Hendersonville are named after Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Judge Leonard Henderson (1772-1833).