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Bryson City, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Swain County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,676 Population 769/sq mi density
$43,387 Median Income $26,379 per capita
$246,700 Home Value $313,872 Zillow
$721 Median Rent 28.3% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
499 Violent Crime/100K 6,828 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$43,387 median income, 0.7% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.5 / 5.0
$246,700 home value, $721/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
499 violent crimes/100K (31% above avg)
B
Education
3.4 / 5.0
30.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Bryson City enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 58.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

37°F Jan (3°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average55.8°F
3% above US avg
January Average37°F (3°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,734 ft (529 m)
Area2.2 sq mi (5.6 km²)
Population Density769/sq mi
Coordinates35.4266°N, 83.4473°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySwain County County
Nearest AirportMc Ghee Tyson (TYS)
41 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 58.6"
54% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.42"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.90"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0420 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)6.2 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score49.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability93.8 / 100
Community Resilience25.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave No Rating
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

163 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 19, 2025.

May 10, 2025 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee M4.1 51 km
Jul 30, 1997 6 km NNE of Tazewell, Tennessee M3.8 121 km
Jan 20, 2020 2 km NE of Fincastle, Tennessee M3.8 123 km
Jul 5, 1995 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee M3.7 66 km
Jun 17, 1998 9 km SSE of Coalfield, Tennessee M3.6 103 km
Jul 19, 1997 12 km E of Cohutta, Georgia M3.5 135 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 24 km
Mar 5, 2019 7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee M3.4 100 km
Mar 18, 1995 10 km SE of Dayton, Tennessee M3.3 135 km
Apr 11, 2006 5 km NE of Etowah, Tennessee M3.3 94 km
Apr 20, 2010 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee M3.3 60 km
Aug 31, 2009 2 km NNE of Friendsville, Tennessee M3.3 73 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 55 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 65 km
Aug 1, 2009 8 km ENE of Ducktown, Tennessee M3.2 87 km
May 10, 2006 3 km WNW of Madisonville, Tennessee M3.2 87 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 61 km
Mar 7, 2001 6 km NW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 128 km
Mar 7, 2001 5 km WNW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 127 km
Oct 30, 1991 9 km NNE of Eton, Georgia M3.1 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Hugo (1989, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1989 Hugo Category 2 228 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

207 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 19 fatalities, 309 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 56 km 0
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 94 km 4
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 96 km 1
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 96 km 1
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 89 km 6
Mar 23, 2011 EF3 76 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 81 km 0
Feb 21, 1993 EF3 98 km 0
Feb 21, 1993 EF3 95 km 0
Feb 21, 1993 EF3 99 km 1
Nov 15, 1989 EF3 91 km 0
Aug 7, 2023 EF2 85 km 0
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 85 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 88 km 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 97 km 0
Mar 2, 2012 EF2 83 km 0
Mar 2, 2012 EF2 78 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 87 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 57 km 0
Apr 24, 2010 EF2 77 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: ROCK MOUNTAIN (25,224 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 ROCK MOUNTAIN 25,224 49 km
2016 CHIMNEY TOPS 2 14,998 29 km
2016 TELLICO 14,172 19 km
2016 BOTELER 8,626 45 km
2024 RX - T26 BRUSHY RIDGE 8,324 62 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 78 km
2016 MAPLE SPRINGS 7,696 44 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 80 km
2001 SHARP 6,039 8 km
2024 RX - T10 MILLER RIDGE 5,154 62 km
2013 BEAVER DAM 4,336 63 km
2021 UNNAMED 3,888 62 km
2019 COW CAMP 3,786 56 km
2016 CAMP BRANCH 3,234 29 km
2023 PANTHER KNOB 3,170 35 km
2019 JACK DAVIS/DOGWOOD SPRINGS RX 3,120 71 km
2001 LARMAN 3,072 78 km
2010 COW CAMP-A 2,953 57 km
2022 UNNAMED 2,933 92 km
2023 SMITH MOUNTAIN 2,807 92 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 37°F (3°C) 5.4 in Coldest
February 38°F (3°C) 5.3 in
March 45°F (7°C) 6.4 in Wettest
April 53°F (12°C) 4.8 in
May 60°F (16°C) 5.6 in
June 67°F (20°C) 5.1 in
July 73°F (23°C) 5.6 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 5.0 in
September 65°F (18°C) 4.5 in
October 54°F (12°C) 3.9 in Driest
November 46°F (8°C) 5.0 in
December 38°F (3°C) 5.3 in

Bryson City has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 37°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 61.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.4") and October the driest (3.9").

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