Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 44 min6:05 am – 8:49 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:36 am – 5:11 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People501 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 45.0233 households80% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $261 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.5% unemployment rate47% of adults are in the labour force, 187 employedMain industries: farming, forestry and mining 27%, transport, warehousing and utilities 19%, education and health care 17%Average commute 30 minutes100% drive aloneSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages11% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher67% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 98%, Spanish 1%1% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 60°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 23°F45 in of rain a year, on about 96 dayswettest month May40 in of snow a year, on about 22 days5 days above 90°F, 120 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Elkhorn station, 4 mi away; rain from Bluefield
Parks and public landsAnawalt Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · within reach · 1,796 acresPinnacle Rock State Parkstate park · 6.8 mi · 393 acresJefferson National Forestnational forest · 10.1 mi · 711,977 acresGraham Recreation Parkpark · 8.8 miTwin Falls Resort State Parkstate park · 19.2 mi · 3,744 acresCamp Creek State Parkstate park · 19.5 mi · 559 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes10 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200633 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 13 Sep 201741 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowMcDowell County, WV, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsCold wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality94% of days had good air in 2025337 of 357 days measured20 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 80main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Giles County, VA, 39 mi away
Internet at home96% of households have a broadband subscription79% have cable, fibre or DSL17% rely on a mobile data plan alone4% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCity of Welchserves 2,907 people from ground water4 health-based violations since 2021latest Oct 2025: coliform bacteria, treatment technique17 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation2,655 ft809 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital11.8 miPost officeAnawalt Post Officeunder a mileTown hallAnawalt Town Hallunder a milePolicePochahontas Police Department4.9 miFire stationAnawalt Volunteer Fire Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeBluefield State University11.0 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW36 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO118 miInterstateI-7717 miUS highwayUS 523.4 miAmtrakHinton, WV HIN38 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound11 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24808 ZIP area.
