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Facts & Highlights
ALTITUDE: Elevations from 900-5,665 ft. Marion - 1,240 ft. AREA: County - 436 sq. mi. Approx. 75% of land is forested, 67,000 acres of which is Pisgah National Forest lands. Lake James, the first lake on the Catawba River, was built in the 1920's and includes 150 miles of shoreline. CLIMATE: Average humidity: 62%. Average annual rainfall: 52.32 in. Frost-free growing season: 192 days. Mean temperature: summer - 75 degrees; winter - 41.2 degrees. HISTORY: McDowell County was organized in 1843 in Carson House (listed in National Register of Historic Places), a stagecoach inn whose famous visitors included Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston. POPULATION (2006): Marion - 7,079 , Old Fort - 963, County - 43,414. Percent change, 2000-06: +3%. Median age: 38 Density: 97.25 persons/sq. mi. [NC = 181.2 persons/sq.mi.] Distribution of population by race: · White-92.2% % · Black-4.2% · Hispanic-2.9% · Other-0.7% TAXES - Property (each per $100 property valuation): · County - $0.55 · Marion - $0.51 · Old Fort - $0.42 · 2% Fire District - $0.02- 0.04 (depends upon location) Rescue Tax $0.0045 Sales Tax: County-state combined: 6.75% BANKS: Asheville Savings Bank; Bank of America; Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T), Carolina First Bank; Fifth Third; First Citizens Bank & Trust; Mountain 1st; State Farm; Wachovia Bank. CHURCHES: Over 150 Protestant churches, predominantly Baptist; one Catholic church (Marion). EDUCATION: Consolidated system (central office: 828-652-4535): One high school, two junior highs, eight elementary, two pre-schools (ages 3-4). McDowell Tech.Community College, tel. 652-6021: Two-year associate degree programs; also continuing adult education courses and transfer program to four-year schools. Within 1.5 hrs.: • State universities: University of N.C - Asheville; Western Carolina Univ. -Cullowhee; Appalachian State Univ. -Boone. • Private colleges (4-yr.): Brevard College - Brevard; Gardner-Webb University - Boiling Springs; Lees-McRae College- Banner Elk; Lenoir-Rhyne College -Hickory;Mars Hill College -Mars Hill; Montreat College -Montreat GOVERNMENT: County-Board of Commissioners & Manager, tel. 828-652-7121. Marion-City Council, Mayor & Manager, tel. 828-652-3551. Old Fort-Board of Alderman & Mayor; tel. 828-668-4244. |