Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 44 min6:06 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 36 min7:37 am – 5:13 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People180 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 20.853 householdsMedian home value $99,40093% of homes owner-occupiedSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 62°FColdest month January: highs 44°F, lows 23°F45 in of rain a year, on about 93 dayswettest month July18 in of snow a year, on about 10 days6 days above 90°F, 126 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Richlands station, 15 mi away
Parks and public landsBerwind Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 4.7 mi · 91 acresPanther Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 7.4 mi · 11,519 acresPanther State Foreststate park · 10.3 miTug Fork Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 9.7 mi · 6,778 acresR.D. Bailey Recreation Arearecreation area · 18.3 mi · 19,158 acresPinnacle Rock State Parkstate park · 25.8 mi · 393 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes7 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200616 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200616 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, 37 mi away
Internet at home100% of households have a broadband subscription100% have cable, fibre or DSL0% rely on a mobile data plan alone0% 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
Elevation2,028 ft618 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital13.2 miPost officeRaysal Post Office2.3 miTown hallWar City Hall4.5 miPoliceBradshaw Police Department3.3 miFire stationRaysal Volunteer Fire Department2.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeAppalachian College of Pharmacy14.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW48 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO132 miInterstateI-8135 miUS highwayUS 529.5 miAmtrakPrince, WV PRC54 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound29 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24879 ZIP area.
