Relocate to McDowell County
For specific information on topics mentioned below, click here to view the Relocation Guide
(table of contents located on page 7 of the Guide)
With abundant scenic beauty, a cost of living that's lower than the national average, property tax rates less than nearby counties and a rich musical heritage, many families are discovering McDowell County as a rewarding place to live. Although it's an easy drive to larger areas, including Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville, S.C., the county boasts a small-town charm that attracts people who appreciate a wholesome quality of life with diverse recreational and cultural opportunities.
McDowell's population of about 45,000 people includes about 7,000 residents in Marion, the county seat, and 1,000 residents of Old Fort. Residents enjoy a temperate climate year-round that allows the pursuit of hiking, biking, golf, activities on the Catawba River and Lake James and other outdoor recreation regularly. Municipal parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest and Lake James State Park all offer limitless opportunities for fun.
The McDowell Arts Council Association sponsors a range of events, including exhibits at its gallery, classes, touring performances and one of North Carolina's largest pottery festivals. McDowell County's popular—and free— musical events include an outdoor concert series in Marion and live bluegrass and traditional mountain music jams weekly in Marion and Old Fort. There's also free country and bluegrass music offered seasonally at the Historic Orchard at Altapass on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Annual festivals and other events observe the county's history and connection to the arts and recreation.
With a topography that ranges from mountaintops to valleys and includes Lake James, residential settings are as varied as recreational and cultural opportunities in McDowell County. Whether you prefer a rolling countryside, lake or mountain views, golf-course homes or secluded forest or stream settings, you have plenty of choices about where to live. In you want to be in or close to town, Marion, where the downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, offers vintage and contemporary homes in central McDowell. Old Fort, with its railroad museum and Mountain Gateway Museum near the town's center in western McDowell, has a range of options in terms of lot sizes, price and distance from town.
Some of the low-density developments at Lake James, in eastern McDowell, have gorgeous lake views, and many have waterfronts for private or community boat slips. In hilly southern McDowell, within 30 minutes from Marion, several developments offer options, including one that features a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. In the other direction, in northern sections of the county, the communities of North Cove, Linville Falls, Turkey Cove and Little Switzerland boast home sites on mountainsides, along streams or beside golf fairways. In northernmost McDowell, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, elevations are higher than 3,000 feet.
The many realty offices in the county are ready to help you find just what you want. To find an agent, visit our business directory. Property tax rates per $100 of valuation are 55 cents in McDowell County, 51 cents in Marion and 42 cents in Old Fort.
From home to the workplace, the county's manufacturing base includes dozens of major industries: pharmaceuticals, precision metals, textiles, lumber and furniture.
The McDowell County public school system provides educational and vocational opportunities to help students prepare for jobs. More than 6,000 students are in the system, from preschool to a traditional high school and the Early College program. McDowell High School awarded 381 diplomas in 2009.
The Early College program is a streamlined path to both a high school diploma and an associate's degree. College-transfer classes are offered through McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, where students may enroll tuition-free in conjunction with their high school enrollment. In addition to the community college, a number of four-year private and public colleges and universities are within about 90 minutes of McDowell County.
The county's health care network is strong, with the 65-bed McDowell Hospital as the primary care provider. The hospital is part of Mission Hospitals, based in Asheville, about 30 miles west of Marion. Mission, licensed for more than 800 beds and bassinets, is the regional medical referral center for western North Carolina and parts of adjoining states.
Opportunities for seniors are plentiful in the county. The McDowell County Senior Center in Marion, beside the YMCA, offers a variety of activities and services for people 60 and older. A satellite center is in Old Fort. Programs include lunches, home-delivered meals, arts and crafts, legal assistance and income tax preparation. The center also offers exercise equipment and a computer lab. The annual McDowell County Senior Games feature competitions in sports and visual, literary and performing arts. Two nursing homes, Autumn Care in Marion and Sunrise Rehabilitation & Care in Nebo east of Marion, operate in the county.
People of various ages can find a fulfilling purpose at the McDowell Volunteer Center at the county administration building in Marion. The center matches people who want volunteer opportunities with agencies that need volunteers. By enriching the lives of county residents, the center strengthens the community.
