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Old Fort, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · McDowell County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
643 Population 527/sq mi density
$50,357 Median Income $27,842 per capita
$121,400 Home Value $256,966 Zillow
$771 Median Rent 21.7% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
37 Violent Crime/100K 1,696 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.8 / 5.0
$50,357 median income, 2.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$121,400 home value, $771/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
37 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
24.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Old Fort enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 55.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

37°F Jan (3°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average55.6°F
3% above US avg
January Average37°F (3°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,445 ft (440 m)
Area1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²)
Population Density527/sq mi
Coordinates35.6303°N, 82.1780°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyMcDowell County County
Nearest AirportAsheville Regional (AVL)
24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 55.9"
47% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 5.35"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.86"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score59.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability66.3 / 100
Community Resilience29.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

67 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 94 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 140 km
Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 131 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 63 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 126 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 130 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 131 km
Apr 29, 2018 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee M3.1 132 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 150 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 101 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 124 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 18 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 M3.0 144 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 75 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 127 km
Apr 5, 2005 1 km SE of Blaine, Tennessee M2.9 148 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 149 km
Jul 11, 2000 7 km WSW of Seymour, Tennessee M2.8 149 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 35 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Hugo (1989, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
1989 Hugo Category 2 143 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

249 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 22 fatalities, 403 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 77 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 65 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 57 km 4
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 71 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 73 km 6
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 65 km 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 98 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 93 km 2
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 84 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 86 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 86 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 75 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 72 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 71 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 63 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 47 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 87 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 86 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 93 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 64 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 37 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 19 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 81 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 32 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 47 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 63 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 54 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 9 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 35 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 12 km
2001 LARMAN 3,072 69 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 42 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 49 km
2016 HALLS TOP 2,464 91 km
2010 BROWN GAP CREEK-A 2,210 76 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 9 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 62 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 34 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 24 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 16 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 37°F (3°C) 4.3 in Coldest
February 39°F (4°C) 4.3 in
March 46°F (8°C) 5.4 in Wettest
April 54°F (12°C) 4.1 in
May 61°F (16°C) 5.0 in
June 68°F (20°C) 4.8 in
July 74°F (23°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 4.7 in
September 65°F (19°C) 4.1 in
October 55°F (13°C) 3.9 in
November 47°F (8°C) 4.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.9 in Driest

Old Fort has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 37°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 53.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.4") and December the driest (3.9").

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