Ashe County History Ashe County History Census Information 1752 - Moravian Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenburg, seeking a settlement location, explores the region. 1799 - Ashe County is formed from Wilkes County. 1802 - Jefferson, Ashe County seat, is incorporated.
Area suffers from severe erosion problems.
1902 - Ashe County population reaches 19,581. Jefferson has 230 residents, but 4 hotels and boarding houses. 1910 - Census reports 19,074 residents. 650 miles of dirt roads crisscross the county. 1920 - Population 21,100.