Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 35 min6:12 am – 8:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 44 min7:34 am – 5:18 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 67°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 28°F57 in of rain a year, on about 82 dayswettest month June7 in of snow a year, on about 3 days32 days above 90°F, 101 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Marion station, 5 mi away
Nearby landmarksBald Mountainpeak · 1.2 miMorgan Lakelake · under a mileLake Tahomalake · 1.6 miFALLS BRANCH TRAILHEADtrailhead · 1.8 miWOODLAWN TRAILHEADtrailhead · 2.2 miGrassy Knobpeak · 1.3 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsPisgah National Forestnational forest · 2.8 mi · 510,983 acresFonta Flora State Trailstate park · 4.5 mi · 240 acresCity of Marion - Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenwayrecreation area · 2.4 miMcDowell County - Greenlee Parkrecreation area · 3.3 miArmstrong Fish Hatcherystate conservation land · 4.9 mi · 476 acresLake James State Parkstate park · 8.7 mi · 3,920 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes10 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 25 Aug 200542 mi away, near Hot Springs, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 4 Jun 202347 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowMcDowell County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality82% of days had good air in 2025291 of 357 days measured65 moderate, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 31, worst day 102main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Mitchell County, NC, 20 mi away
Drinking waterCity of Marionserves 9,362 people from surface water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: lead and copper, treatment technique6 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation1,607 ft490 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMission Hospital McDowell5.5 miPost officeMarion Post Office4.9 miTown hallMarion City Hall4.5 miPoliceMarion Police Department5.0 miFire stationPleasant Gardens Volunteer Fire Department3.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeMcDowell Technical Community College7.9 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL34 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT73 miInterstateI-406.5 miUS highwayUS 221under a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS60 miCoachAshevilleSunway Charters30 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28737 ZIP area.
