Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 34 min6:13 am – 8:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 45 min7:34 am – 5:19 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People6,599 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 52.42,978 householdsMedian household income $66,410Median home value $196,600Median rent $793 a month77% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,031 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting9.4% unemployment rate57% of adults are in the labour force, 2,928 employedMain industries: manufacturing 32%, education and health care 28%, transport, warehousing and utilities 6%Average commute 25 minutes82% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 1% walk or cycle, 11% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages21% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher92% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%1% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 50°F, lows 25°F56 in of rain a yearwettest month August2 in of snow a year, on about 1 days11 days above 90°F, 108 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Old Ft Ag 3 W station, 4 mi away; snow from N Fk 2
Nearby landmarksCamp Grier Lakelake · under a mileBergen Mountainpeak · under a mileJerdon Mountainpeak · 1.5 miCURTIS CREEK CAMPGROUNDcampground · 1.6 miCURTIS CREEK ROADSIDE CAMPSITEScampground · 1.6 miLeft Prong Catawba Riverriver · 2.4 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsPisgah National Forestnational forest · within reach · 510,983 acresTown of Old Fort - Catawba River Parkrecreation area · 1.2 miFonta Flora State Trailstate park · 6.3 mi · 240 acresLake Tomahawkpark · 7.8 miMount Mitchell State Parkstate park · 11.3 mi · 4,494 acresChimney Rock State Parkstate park · 12.3 mi · 7,095 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes9 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 25 Aug 200538 mi away, near Hot Springs, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 4 Jun 202339 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 quality73% of days had good air in 2025268 of 365 days measured97 moderate daysMedian index 40, worst day 97main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Buncombe County, NC, 19 mi away
Internet at home77% of households have a broadband subscription48% have cable, fibre or DSL19% rely on a mobile data plan alone12% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Old Fortserves 1,700 people from ground water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: lead and copper, treatment technique2 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,463 ft446 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMission Hospital McDowell9.3 miPost officeOld Fort Post Officeunder a mileTown hallOld Fort Town Hallunder a milePoliceOld Fort Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationOld Fort Volunteer Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 elementaryElementaryOld Fort Elementary Schoolunder a mileCollegeMontreat College - Main Campus6.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL24 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT76 miInterstateI-401.0 miUS highwayUS 70under a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS63 miCoachAshevilleSunway Charters21 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28762 ZIP area.
