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Catawba, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Lancaster County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,225 Population 123/sq mi density
$55,385 Median Income $29,684 per capita
$198,100 Home Value $322,236 Zillow
$1,525 Median Rent 30.3% income on rent
61°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
689 Violent Crime/100K 2,870 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.5 / 5.0
$55,385 median income, 7.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$198,100 home value, $1,525/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
689 violent crimes/100K (81% above avg)
B
Education
3.0 / 5.0
25.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Catawba enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.8 inches. The area receives 2.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average60.9°F
13% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation513 ft (156 m)
Area10.0 sq mi (25.8 km²)
Population Density123/sq mi
Coordinates34.8396°N, 80.8999°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyLancaster County County
Nearest AirportCharlotte/Douglas International (CLT)
26 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.8"
26% above US avg
Snowfall 2.1"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.80"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.07"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score79.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability42.1 / 100
Community Resilience52.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

29 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 49 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 77 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 76 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 77 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 77 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 80 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 126 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 130 km
Jan 29, 1994 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina M2.9 130 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 83 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 98 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 127 km
May 10, 2022 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.8 76 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 130 km
Jan 7, 1992 5 km NNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M2.7 147 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 128 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 129 km
Mar 9, 2024 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.7 77 km
May 31, 2021 4 km SW of Summit, South Carolina M2.6 117 km
Apr 26, 2025 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.6 77 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

13 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 232 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 244 km
2018 Florence Category 1 248 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 230 km
2004 Charley Category 1 230 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 237 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 290 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 297 km
1996 Fran Category 3 204 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 290 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 24 km
1985 Bob Category 1 296 km
1984 Diana Category 4 256 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

440 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 26 fatalities, 496 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 98 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 22 km 1
May 5, 1989 EF4 94 km 4
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 65 km 5
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 94 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 42 km 0
Apr 8, 1957 EF4 37 km 4
Sep 7, 2004 EF3 70 km 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 61 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 38 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 25 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 75 km 0
Apr 18, 1969 EF3 85 km 0
Mar 31, 2022 EF2 67 km 0
May 5, 2020 EF2 30 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 84 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 79 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 60 km 0
Jan 11, 2020 EF2 57 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 81 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BURNING UNIT (5,567 ac, 2010).

Year Name Acres Distance
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 52 km
2009 UNNAMED 5,322 90 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 83 km
1991 UNNAMED 3,094 68 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 83 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 57 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 87 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 60 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 77 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 73 km
2008 05/05 RX BURN 2,351 65 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 60 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 87 km
2010 C-142 RX 2,149 85 km
2007 06-09 RX BURN 2,054 66 km
2022 SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE 2,039 65 km
2021 UNNAMED 2,024 77 km
2019 UNNAMED 2,000 84 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,989 82 km
2016 UNNAMED 1,964 52 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 4.4 in Coldest
February 44°F (7°C) 3.8 in
March 52°F (11°C) 4.8 in Wettest
April 60°F (16°C) 3.1 in Driest
May 68°F (20°C) 3.5 in
June 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in
July 80°F (27°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 78°F (25°C) 4.3 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.2 in
October 61°F (16°C) 3.8 in
November 52°F (11°C) 3.4 in
December 44°F (7°C) 3.5 in

Catawba has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.8") and April the driest (3.1").

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