About Our Library

Contact us at library@yanceycountync.gov

Yancey County was founded in 1833 and named after Congressman Bartlett Yancey. It is home to many beautiful and strong communities, including Bald Creek, Celo, Green Mountain, Micaville, Pensacola, Sioux, Busick, Day Brook, Hamrick, Murchison, Ramseytown, and Swiss. 

 In the mid-18th century, English, Irish, and Scottish settlers established a thriving agricultural center in Yancey County, and those roots remain today. As time passed, the arrival of the railroad in 1911 transformed Yancey County into a mining community, bringing economic growth to the county and the burgeoning town of Burnsville, NC. 

Today, Yancey County boasts the highest peak in the Eastern United States, Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet), and is classified as the most mountainous county in North Carolina. The county is well known for its rich arts and crafts culture, which is celebrated annually at the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair. 

 The Yancey County Public Library has deep roots in education. Its location and surrounding buildings once housed the Yancey Collegiate Institute (1901–1926), which endured two fires during its operation. Shortly after, the property was purchased by the Board of Education and became Burnsville School, serving the community for many years. The site earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places for both the United States and North Carolina due to its Classical Revival architecture and legacy of learning.

 In July 2011, the Yancey County Public Library moved from the Citizens Bank Building, where it had been housed since 1972, and joined the AMY Regional Library System. In 2025, Yancey County transitioned to a stand-alone library, maintaining its location and continuing to serve the community.