The Mountain Xpress is an alternative newspaper covering news, arts, local politics, and events primarily in Buncombe County and Asheville in western North Carolina, United States. Published each Wednesday in print and continuously online, it has a print circulation of about 29,000. The Mountain Xpress is one of 130 member newspapers of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.
The Mountain Xpress<nowiki/>' mission is "To build community and strengthen democracy by serving an active, thoughtful readership at the local level â where the impact of citizen action is greatest".
Mountain Xpress covers Buncombe County, including the city of Asheville, Henderson County, McDowell County and Haywood County.
Publisher Jeff Fobes moved to Western North Carolina in 1984 and attended a local Green Party meeting in 1987. Shortly thereafter, he proposed founding a local Green Party-based newspaper, which he named Green Line. In 1994, Green Line changed its name to Mountain Xpress.
Every election, Xpress publishes Election Voter Guides, which can include Asheville City Council, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, Buncombe County Sheriff, North Carolina District Court Judge, Buncombe County District Attorney and North Carolina Court of Appeals judges. In the voter guides, candidates answer questions generated by Xpress staff about their key endorsements, funds raised, motivations for running and othe topics.
The Xpress publishes an annual "Best of WNC" listing the best restaurants, businesses and activities in the Asheville area, based on a readers' poll.
Other Xpress guides to the area include Asheville Eats & Drinks, Give!Local guide to accessible philanthropy, Go Local Guide to discounts at local businesses, Nonprofit supplements, Women in Business supplements and Beer Fest.