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Granite Falls, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Caldwell County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
4,921 Population 996/sq mi density
$74,250 Median Income $33,512 per capita
$203,100 Home Value $266,486 Zillow
$845 Median Rent 26.7% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
86 Violent Crime/100K 7,172 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$74,250 median income, 1.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$203,100 home value, $845/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
86 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.2 / 5.0
27.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Granite Falls enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average59.0°F
9% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (25°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,128 ft (344 m)
Area5.2 sq mi (13.6 km²)
Population Density996/sq mi
Coordinates35.7972°N, 81.4244°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCaldwell County County
Nearest AirportHickory Regional (HKY)
4 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.2"
24% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.80"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.58"

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

32 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 M3.4 123 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 106 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 133 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 64 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 86 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 60 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 69 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 46 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 137 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 83 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 100 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 132 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 88 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 120 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 66 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 147 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 82 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 60 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 24 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 121 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 2 255 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 126 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

294 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 250 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 9 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 92 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 39 km 4
May 8, 2008 EF3 96 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 79 km 0
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 95 km 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 46 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 69 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 85 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 7 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 81 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 58 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 77 km 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 90 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 16 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 60 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 83 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 26 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 29 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 43 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 82 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 45 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 29 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 18 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 72 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 42 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 63 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 39 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 81 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 93 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 71 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 46 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 50 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 65 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 78 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 39 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 51 km
2001 OAK MT. FIRE 1,677 69 km
2007 UNNAMED 1,617 92 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 41°F (5°C) 3.9 in
March 49°F (10°C) 4.8 in Wettest
April 57°F (14°C) 3.6 in
May 65°F (19°C) 4.5 in
June 73°F (23°C) 4.5 in
July 78°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in
September 69°F (21°C) 4.2 in
October 58°F (15°C) 3.8 in
November 49°F (9°C) 3.6 in Driest
December 41°F (5°C) 3.7 in

Granite Falls has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.8") and November the driest (3.6").

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