Transylvania County Courthouse - District#29B

The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County. Its name is derived from the Transylvania Company and has Latin origins: trans ("across") and silva or sylva ("woods"). The county is divided into eight townships: Boyd, Brevard, Cathey's Creek, Dunn's Rock, Eastatoe, Gloucester, Hogback, and Little River.

Partially due to the fact that there are over 250 waterfalls in the county, Transylvania County is the wettest county in the state. This is contrasted with Buncombe County, which is thirty miles northeast of Transylvania County receiving the lowest precipitation. The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses through parts of the county, affording spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains, which reach over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) elevation in the county. The highest point, Chestnut Knob, 6,025 feet (1,836 m), lies northwest of the county seat Brevard.