Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 44 min6:05 am – 8:50 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 36 min7:36 am – 5:11 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People667 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 26.2174 householdsMedian household income $64,167Median home value $53,10072% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $452 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting34.6% unemployment rate62% of adults are in the labour force, 212 employedMain industries: education and health care 47%, farming, forestry and mining 17%, retail 16%Average commute 39 minutes79% drive aloneSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages11% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher90% 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 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, 7 mi away; rain from Bluefield
Parks and public landsAnawalt Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 4.1 mi · 1,796 acresPinnacle Rock State Parkstate park · 11.4 mi · 393 acresTug Fork Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 10.2 mi · 6,778 acresBerwind Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.5 mi · 91 acresJefferson National Forestnational forest · 14.2 mi · 711,977 acresTwin Falls Resort State Parkstate park · 20.0 mi · 3,744 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 200628 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 13 Sep 201745 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, 44 mi away
Internet at home95% of households have a broadband subscription84% have cable, fibre or DSL0% rely on a mobile data plan alone5% 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
Elevation2,083 ft635 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital9.2 miPost officeElbert Post Office2.0 miTown hallGary Town Hall3.8 miPoliceGary Police Department3.8 miFire stationGary Volunteer Fire Department3.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW38 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO121 miInterstateI-7721 miUS highwayUS 526.1 miAmtrakHinton, WV HIN42 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound15 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24871 ZIP area.
