Kenilworth History

Kenilworth, touted as Asheville’s “Pioneer Suburb", was founded in 1914. It is located between downtown Asheville and Biltmore Village and the Biltmore Estate. Situated on high land above the Swannanoa River, Kenilworth is one of Asheville’s oldest neighborhoods and one that was born a town before it was annexed by the City of Asheville in 1929. In fact, Leah Chiles, wife of one of Kenilworth’s founders, Jake Chiles, served as Kenilworth’s mayor. She was the first female mayor in the state of North Carolina.

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Today Kenilworth is a neighborhood of over 900 homes ranging from historic to eclectic. The Kenilworth Residents Association (KRA) is committed to enhancing the quality, safety, and beauty of the neighborhood. Our primary intent is to build connections among our residents – long time residents and newcomers. KRA also works to facilitate balancing the neighborhood’s historical identity with the pressures of growth and development.