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Linville, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Avery County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
437 Population 244/sq mi density
$72,759 Median Income $38,167 per capita
$348,100 Home Value $305,422 Zillow
48°F Avg Temperature 298 sunny days/yr
146 Violent Crime/100K 2,332 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$72,759 median income, 11.7% unemployment
B+
Affordability
4.0 / 5.0
$348,100 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
146 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Linville experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 298 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 64.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average47.5°F
12% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days298 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,688 ft (1,124 m)
Area1.8 sq mi (4.6 km²)
Population Density244/sq mi
Coordinates36.0675°N, 81.8714°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyAvery County County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 64.8"
70% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 5.24"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.46"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0435 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score47.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability76.7 / 100
Community Resilience50.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

49 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 82 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 84 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 135 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 105 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 113 km
Apr 29, 2018 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee M3.1 139 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 47 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 29 km
Apr 13, 2001 11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee M3.0 141 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 148 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 68 km
Jan 22, 1995 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia M2.9 146 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 22 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 89 km
Feb 15, 2005 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia M2.8 125 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 45 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 55 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 105 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 89 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 125 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 2 167 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

208 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 21 fatalities, 317 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 49 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 71 km 4
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 84 km 6
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 65 km 3
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 75 km 2
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 45 km 0
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 87 km 1
May 26, 2022 EF2 84 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 56 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 57 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 80 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 37 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 78 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 68 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 76 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 98 km 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 92 km 0
Nov 15, 2006 EF2 93 km 0
Jul 7, 2005 EF2 68 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF2 71 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 23 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 74 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 27 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 54 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 85 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 48 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 51 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 26 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 44 km
2001 LARMAN 3,072 89 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 20 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 35 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 55 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 50 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 59 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 24 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 34 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 41 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 28 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 54 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 34°F (1°C) 4.1 in
March 41°F (5°C) 5.2 in Wettest
April 49°F (9°C) 4.3 in
May 56°F (14°C) 5.0 in
June 63°F (17°C) 4.7 in
July 65°F (18°C) 4.7 in
August 66°F (19°C) 4.6 in Warmest
September 61°F (16°C) 4.2 in
October 51°F (11°C) 3.9 in
November 43°F (6°C) 4.1 in
December 35°F (2°C) 3.5 in Driest

Linville has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 29°F in January to 66°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 52.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.2") and December the driest (3.5").

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