County population, largest to smallest
(based on 2009 estimates by U.S. Census Bureau):

1. Buncombe - 231,452
2. Henderson - 103,669
3. Burke - 89,548
4. Caldwell - 79,914
5. Wilkes - 66,555
6. Rutherford - 63,415
7. Haywood - 57,109
8. Watauga - 45,479
9. McDowell - 43,988
10. Jackson - 36,891
11. Macon - 33,233
12. Transylvania - 30,203
13. Cherokee - 26,307
14. Ashe - 25,812
15. Madison - 20,442
16. Polk - 19,255
17. Yancey - 18,548
18. Avery - 17,932
19. Mitchell - 15,634
20. Swain - 13,404
21. Alleghany - 10,964
22. Clay - 10,333
23. Graham - 8,001

wnc10countypopulation2009