Avery County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,806. The county seat is Newland. The county seat was initially established in Elk Park when the county was first formed, but was moved to Newland upon completion of the courthouse in 1912. The Avery County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located at Newland. It was designed by Wheeler & Runge and was built in 1900. It has included both a courthouse and a correctional facility. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Wikipedia