Ashe County is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. It was founded in 1799 out of Wilkes County. The area was named in honor of Colonel Samuel Ashe, a Revolutionary War soldier, judge, and a former governer of North Carolina. Ashe County was once called "The Lost Province" because of its breathtaking beauty, and the remoteness of the area.

      Jefferson, the county seat was established in 1800 and was the first town in the United States to be named after President Thomas Jefferson.

      Local historians have been unable to determine the origin of Lansing's name the first record of the use of the name was for a Post Office in the area, and the name stuck and the community that surrounded it became the town of Lansing.

      By 1914, Lansing was enjoying strong economic and population growth. Thanks in big part to the arrival of the Norfolk and Western Railroad the same year. More vendors and stores came to the area and the extra merchents and hardware establishments brought more people. The railroad constructed a depot on the present site of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department building.

      The original residents of the town mined ore from Lansing and the surrounding areas, and the Norfolk and Western Railroad provided a key link for these raw materials to markets in Richmond, VA and Pittsburgh, PA. At one time the town Lansing was more populated and successful than the county seat of Jefferson and several of the local towns residents recall that at one time the bank of Lansing had more money in it than the one in Jefferson! By the end of 1922 the mining boom had slowed considerably.

      As the Great Depression came to a close and WWII began, Coble Dairies opened a milk collection plant in Lansing. The plant prospered for twenty five years with local farmers bringing hundreds of cans of milk to the plant for processing. The plant was finally closed because of shrinking market demand.

      In 1976 the Norfolk and Western Railroad ceased all rail service to Lansing, eliminating the towns key link to the national and global economies. A near simultaneous decline in demand for tobacco products, combined with severe downturns in the manufacturing and furniture sectors had significantly impacted this once prosperous community as well as the quality of life of everyone in the town.

      Although the residents of Lansing have been through tough times and hardships, the town is making a turn around. Businesses are returning to the area and as the town grows so do our festivals. People are coming to enjoy our newly formed park and paved walking and biking trail (which is handicap accessible.) Many local farmers around the area that once produced tobacco now operate successful Christmas tree farms. The frazier fir has gained popularity over the years and is being produced all along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Contact site designer &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Special thanks to Mauvine Shephard and all of the town members that helped with the information.

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