Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:19 am – 8:52 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 46 min7:39 am – 5:25 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,425 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 47.13,827 householdsMedian household income $50,882Median home value $221,900Median rent $732 a month72% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $893 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting5.7% unemployment rate59% of adults are in the labour force, 3,989 employedMain industries: education and health care 28%, hospitality, food and recreation 16%, construction 11%Average commute 24 minutes81% drive alone, 12% car-pool, 4% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages24% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher86% finished high school, 12% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 96%, Spanish 3%2% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 84°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 48°F, lows 26°F59 in of rain a yearwettest month December7 in of snow a year, on about 4 days4 days above 90°F, 96 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Bryson City 4 station, 6 mi away; snow from Cherokee
Parks and public landsGreat Smoky Mountains National Parknational park · 2.9 mi · 279,592 acresNantahala National Forestnational forest · within reach · 532,900 acresNeedmore Game Landstate conservation land · 1.9 mi · 5,087 acresSwain County Recreation Parkrecreation area · 6.1 miCherokee National Forestnational forest · 13.6 mi · 661,139 acresChattahoochee National Forestnational forest · 25.9 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes38 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.7 on 30 Nov 197339 mi away, near Alcoa, TennesseeMost recent: magnitude 4.1 on 10 May 202530 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowSwain County, NC, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsLandslide Relatively ModerateCold wave Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality81% of days had good air in 2025296 of 365 days measured69 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 87main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Swain County monitors, NC
Internet at home80% of households have a broadband subscription48% have cable, fibre or DSL12% rely on a mobile data plan alone17% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Bryson Cityserves 4,395 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,953 ft595 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalSwain Community Hospital6.1 miPost officeAlmond Post Office3.7 miTown hallBryson City Town Hall5.7 miPoliceSwain County Sheriff's Office4.8 miFire stationWest Swain Volunteer Fire Department2.0 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportMcGhee Tyson Airport TYS41 miInterstateI-4033 miUS highwayUS 19under a mileAmtrakToccoa, GA TCA55 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28713 ZIP area.
