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Galax, VA

Full City Profile · Virginia · Galax city County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
6,698 Population 813/sq mi density
$41,438 Median Income $31,429 per capita
$126,800 Home Value $175,815 Zillow
$692 Median Rent 23.8% income on rent
53°F Avg Temperature 305 sunny days/yr
459 Violent Crime/100K 4,035 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.9 / 5.0
$41,438 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$126,800 home value, $692/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
459 violent crimes/100K (21% above avg)
C
Education
2.5 / 5.0
18.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Galax experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.6 inches. The area receives 16.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

33°F Jan (0°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average52.5°F
3% below US avg
January Average33°F (0°C)
July Average71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,459 ft (750 m)
Area8.3 sq mi (21.4 km²)
Population Density813/sq mi
Coordinates36.6656°N, 80.9143°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyGalax city County
Nearest AirportStatesville Regional (SVH)
62 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 45.6"
20% above US avg
Snowfall 16.6"
Wettest Month (May) 4.57"
Driest Month (Jan) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score6.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability76.2 / 100
Community Resilience47.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

34 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.6 on Jul 8, 2023.

Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 98 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 51 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 124 km
Sep 13, 2017 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia M3.2 92 km
Dec 4, 2001 9 km W of Alderson, West Virginia M3.1 119 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 137 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 84 km
May 16, 2009 2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia M3.0 104 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 130 km
Jan 22, 1995 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia M2.9 44 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 87 km
Jul 4, 2009 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 75 km
Feb 15, 2005 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia M2.8 107 km
Jul 15, 2021 10 km S of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 64 km
May 12, 2017 6 km SSW of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 68 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 18 km
Aug 18, 2000 2 km SSE of Narrows, Virginia M2.7 104 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 120 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 75 km
Feb 8, 2005 15 km E of Vansant, Virginia M2.7 109 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

3 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Isabel (2003, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2003 Isabel Category 1 287 km
1996 Fran Category 2 258 km
1989 Hugo Category 1 219 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

139 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 6 fatalities, 209 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 98 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF3 94 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 92 km 3
May 8, 2008 EF3 90 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 86 km 0
Mar 20, 1998 EF3 89 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF3 87 km 0
May 22, 1985 EF3 85 km 0
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 92 km 1
May 26, 2022 EF2 80 km 0
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 29 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 61 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 76 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 97 km 0
Apr 8, 2011 EF2 44 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 97 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 16 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF2 88 km 0
Jul 7, 2005 EF2 96 km 0
Jul 7, 2005 EF2 76 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: SAMS BRANCH (5,872 ac, 1987).

Year Name Acres Distance
1987 SAMS BRANCH 5,872 83 km
1987 KIWIS CREEK 4,879 94 km
2001 MOUNTAIN FORK 4,393 98 km
1987 SOUTH FORK OF TUG RIVER 3,490 88 km
2006 BULL MOUNTAIN 3,300 64 km
1991 JOHNSON HOLLOW 2,987 86 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 83 km
2014 UNNAMED 2,194 25 km
2010 HUFF HOLLOW 1,566 61 km
1987 SLATE CREEK 1,566 100 km
2016 HORTON 1,480 82 km
2021 UNNAMED 1,460 61 km
2021 UNNAMED 1,388 44 km
2013 TANK HOLLOW 1,340 81 km
2017 UNNAMED 1,287 91 km
2014 UNNAMED 1,171 44 km
2017 UNNAMED 1,154 59 km
2021 UNNAMED 1,124 25 km
1987 WAR 1,122 97 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,120 43 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (0°C) 3.0 in Coldest, Driest
February 36°F (2°C) 3.4 in
March 43°F (6°C) 4.0 in
April 52°F (11°C) 3.7 in
May 60°F (15°C) 4.6 in Wettest
June 67°F (19°C) 3.9 in
July 71°F (22°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 3.7 in
September 64°F (18°C) 3.9 in
October 53°F (12°C) 4.2 in
November 44°F (7°C) 3.6 in
December 37°F (3°C) 3.2 in

Galax has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 33°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.6") and January the driest (3.0").

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