View from highway Welcome to Buncombe County, North Carolina. Buncombe County has changed in form since its inception, but it was always within the folds of the Appalachian mountains, judged to be the oldest in the world. Named after a Revolutionary War figure, Colonel Edward Buncombe, the county was formed from parts of Burke and Rutherford counties in 1791. North Carolina is home to more than 30 state parks from its mountains to the sea. Hiking, camping, boating, picnicking, rock climbing, nature watching