Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 45 min6:05 am – 8:50 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 35 min7:37 am – 5:11 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People4,745 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 42.11,030 householdsMedian household income $29,330Median home value $57,800Median rent $812 a month71% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $337 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.0% unemployment rate16% of adults are in the labour force, 652 employedMain industries: education and health care 38%, public administration 28%, retail 12%Average commute 19 minutes81% drive alone, 9% car-pool, 3% take public transport, 1% walk or cycle, 5% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages5% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher75% finished high school, 2% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 92%, Spanish 6%5% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 65°FColdest month January: highs 41°F, lows 25°F49 in of rain a year, on about 97 dayswettest month July20 in of snow a year, on about 9 days10 days above 90°F, 112 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Pineville station, 7 mi away
Nearby landmarksBelcher Mountainpeak · 2.2 miClarence Stewart Springspring · 1.8 miGrapevine Branch Refuse Bank Lakelake · 5.7 miNumber 50 Earthfill Impoundmentreservoir · 5.3 miKeystone Refuse Impoundmentreservoir · 6.4 miShawnee Mountainpeak · 7.9 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsTug Fork Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 3.8 mi · 6,778 acresTwin Falls Resort State Parkstate park · 11.3 mi · 3,744 acresHorse Creek Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.0 miR.D. Bailey Recreation Arearecreation area · 12.5 mi · 19,158 acresAnawalt Lake Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.9 mi · 1,796 acresPinnacle Rock State Parkstate park · 17.4 mi · 393 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes9 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.3 on 23 Nov 200632 mi away, near Raven, VirginiaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 13 Sep 201747 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, 47 mi away
Internet at home80% of households have a broadband subscription67% have cable, fibre or DSL13% rely on a mobile data plan alone18% 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 serving the town
Elevation1,979 ft603 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalWelch Community Hospital2.8 miPost officeWelch Post Office3.2 miTown hallWelch City Hall3.0 miPoliceWest Virginia State Police Troop 6 - Welch Detachment2.6 miFire stationMcDowell Volunteer Fire Department1.3 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 elementaryElementaryWelch Elementary School1.4 miCollegeSouthern West Virginia Community and Technical College - Wyoming - McDowell Campus13.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRaleigh County Memorial Airport BKW32 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO130 miInterstateI-7724 miUS highwayUS 522.6 miAmtrakPrince, WV PRC38 miCoachBluefield Bus StopGreyhound22 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24801 ZIP area.
