During the 1940s, the railroad was still the main means of shipping goods in and out of the county. And the telegraph was still one of the fastest means of communication. The Southern Railway System employed 75 people in Henderson County, according to the 1950 census.
Telephone lines were slowly being extended into Henderson County, but in 1950 persons with telephones were still primarily in the town of Hendersonville and communities close to Hendersonville.
Telecommunications employed 96 people in Henderson County in 1950. This includes the Western Union Telegraph Company and Southern Bell Telephone Company.
When radio station WHKP went on the air in 1946, another fast means of news communication was available.
With more people buying automobiles, fewer people were using the train. But, the train was still extremely important as a passenger service between towns and states.
Trucks are now also used for shipping. And warehouses are built for this new trucking industry.
People are also using trucks for moving. Henderson County has three moving/transfer companies in 1950.
According to the 1950 census, trucking and warehouse employed 156 persons in Henderson County.
The Hendersonville Airport operated by the Meyer Flying Service offered a runway for private planes and flight instruction. For more information, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/barker-heights/
There was also the Asheville-Hendersonville Airport located near Fletcher. Airlines servicing this airport included Delta Air Lines, Capital Airlines and Piedmont Airlines. The airport had opened in the Fletcher/Hooper’s Creek area in 1941.
Passenger bus service was booming during the 1940s. By 1950, there were six bus lines serving Henderson County: Atlantic Greyhound Corp., Carolina Scenic Coach Lines, City Bus Company, P & M Bus Company, Queen City Coach Company and Smoky Mountain Trailways. The main bus depot was located at 707 N. Main Street. The City Bus Company was located at 600 N. Main Street. The P&M Bus Company was located at 640 N. Main Street.
With the boom in automobile sales and the automobile as the main means of traveling, there were now 10 taxi cab companies operating in Henderson County.
Transportation services, including buses and taxis, employed 90 people in Henderson County in 1950.
There were two newspapers in Henderson County by 1950: The Times-News and the Tribune.
Two newsstands sold newspapers and magazines from throughout the nation.