Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 45 min6:07 am – 8:52 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:38 am – 5:13 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People749 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 36.4389 householdsMedian household income $30,389Median rent $671 a month64% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $420 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.0% unemployment rate30% of adults are in the labour force, 184 employedMain industries: professional and business services 72%, hospitality, food and recreation 10%, farming, forestry and mining 7%Average commute 81 minutes100% drive aloneSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages0% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher63% finished high school, 0% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 100%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 84°F, lows 64°FColdest month January: highs 43°F, lows 24°F48 in of rain a yearwettest month July16 in of snow a year, on about 15 days13 days above 90°F, 117 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Rd Bailey Lake station, 11 mi away; snow from Grundy
Nearby landmarksSheep Knobpeak · 3.3 miSlagle Impoundmentreservoir · 7.3 miGlen Alum Mountainpeak · 8.6 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsPanther State Foreststate park · 5.5 miPanther Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 3.5 mi · 11,519 acresR.D. Bailey Recreation Arearecreation area · 11.7 mi · 19,158 acresR.D. Bailey Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.9 mi · 17,782 acresFishtrap Recreation Arearecreation area · 18.1 mi · 15,592 acresBreaks Interstate Parkstate park · 21.8 mi · 3,056 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200622 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200622 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 quality88% of days had good air in 2025322 of 365 days measured43 moderate daysMedian index 34, worst day 77main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Pike County, KY, 25 mi away
Internet at home82% of households have a broadband subscription72% have cable, fibre or DSL11% rely on a mobile data plan alone9% 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
Elevation1,287 ft392 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalBuchanan General Hospital14.5 miPost officePanther Post Office3.4 miPoliceIaeger Police Department8.5 miFire stationPanther Volunteer Fire Department3.4 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW51 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO147 miUS highwayUS 527.8 miAmtrakPrince, WV PRC56 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24862 ZIP area.
