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Gamewell, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Caldwell County County

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,701 Population 456/sq mi density
$55,977 Median Income $23,681 per capita
$154,100 Home Value $208,897 Zillow
$875 Median Rent 36.6% income on rent
58°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
239 Violent Crime/100K 4,351 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$55,977 median income, 3.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$154,100 home value, $875/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
239 violent crimes/100K
F
Education
1.4 / 5.0
4.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Gamewell enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.7 inches. The area receives 4.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average57.9°F
7% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,052 ft (321 m)
Area8.1 sq mi (21.0 km²)
Population Density456/sq mi
Coordinates35.8640°N, 81.5978°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCaldwell County County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
3 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.7"
31% above US avg
Snowfall 4.1"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.72"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.54"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0447 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score67.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability45.0 / 100
Community Resilience30.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

31 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 14, 2025.

Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 110 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 99 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 119 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 81 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 73 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 44 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 61 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 34 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 121 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 67 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 83 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 119 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 82 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 123 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 58 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 70 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 63 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 10 km
Jan 15, 2017 8 km NW of Rogersville, Tennessee M2.6 149 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 124 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 272 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 137 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

267 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 14 fatalities, 278 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 20 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 44 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 92 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 93 km 3
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 93 km 0
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 77 km 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 60 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 78 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 84 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 23 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 74 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 90 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 60 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 25 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 68 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 44 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 37 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 92 km 0
May 9, 2008 EF2 78 km 0
Nov 15, 2006 EF2 60 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 27 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 73 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 29 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 28 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 18 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 58 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 26 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 49 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 22 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 64 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 81 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 58 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 88 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 30 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 36 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 50 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 61 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 84 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 37 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 36 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 3.8 in Coldest
February 40°F (5°C) 3.9 in
March 48°F (9°C) 4.7 in Wettest
April 56°F (14°C) 3.9 in
May 64°F (18°C) 4.6 in
June 72°F (22°C) 4.5 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 74°F (23°C) 4.1 in
September 68°F (20°C) 4.3 in
October 57°F (14°C) 3.8 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.6 in
December 40°F (4°C) 3.5 in Driest

Gamewell has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 38°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.7") and December the driest (3.5").

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