Leicester (/ˈlɛstər/ LEST-ər) is an unincorporated community in Buncombe County, North Carolina United States;[1] although incorporating was proposed in 2007[2][3] and an incorporation bill was briefly filed in the North Carolina General Assembly,[4] no measure has been adopted. Leicester is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2007, Leicester's population is 12,514 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 16.26 percent.[5]