Mountain Xpress | 403 followers on LinkedIn. Local matters. Asheville, NC. | Mountain Xpress is the keen-eyed, eloquent voice of the Asheville metro area (pop. 225,000) and surrounding southern Appalachian counties, providing an indispensable guide for residents and visitors alike. We focus on local politics, civic issues and the area's vibrant arts-and-entertainment scene -- reporting the news with a magazine flair. Our opinion section offers a popular forum for the debate of local issues, thanks in large part to the lively submissions of our readers, who constitute a diverse blend of the region's most active and independent-minded residents.