Beech Mountain, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
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| Nickname(s):
Beech
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Location of Beech Mountain, North Carolina
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| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| Counties | Watauga, Avery | |
| Incorporated | 1981 | |
| Named for | Beech Mountain | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.49 sq mi (16.82 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.48 sq mi (16.78 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | |
| Elevation | 4,354 ft (1,327 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 675 | |
| • Density | 104.15/sq mi (40.21/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28604
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| Area code(s) | 828 | |
| FIPS code | 37-04510 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405226 | |
Beech Mountain is a small town located in North Carolina, in both Avery and Watauga counties. In 2020, about 675 people lived there.
This town sits on top of Beech Mountain. It is the highest town east of the Rocky Mountains, reaching an elevation of about 5,506 feet (1,678 meters). The next closest town that is higher up is far away in Des Moines, New Mexico.
Beech Mountain is a very popular place for tourists. Its population can grow to 5,000 in the summer and 10,000 during ski season. People love to visit because of the many outdoor activities, cool summer weather, and the ski resort. Many families from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida own vacation homes here.
Contents
Geography of Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain is found in Avery and Watauga counties in North Carolina. The town covers about 6.7 square miles (17.4 square kilometers) of land.
At 5,506 feet (1,678 meters) high, Beech Mountain is the highest town in the eastern United States, east of the Mississippi River. The Beech Mountain Ski Resort is one of the few places to ski in the Southeastern United States.
Population Changes in Beech Mountain
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 239 | — | |
| 2000 | 310 | 29.7% | |
| 2010 | 320 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 675 | 110.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 310 people living in Beech Mountain. There were 145 households, with 95 of them being families. The town has grown quite a bit, reaching 675 people by the 2020 census.
The average age of people living in Beech Mountain in 2000 was 51 years old. About 12.6% of the population was under 18 years old.
Climate on Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. It is known as the coldest town in North Carolina and the entire Southeastern United States.
Winters here are very cold and snowy, similar to coastal New England. Summers are much cooler than other areas nearby. They are usually mild and rainy, with some warmer or cooler days.
| Climate data for Beech Mountain (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) |
67 (19) |
76 (24) |
77 (25) |
78 (26) |
81 (27) |
83 (28) |
80 (27) |
79 (26) |
74 (23) |
77 (25) |
64 (18) |
83 (28) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.4 (11.9) |
55.4 (13.0) |
61.8 (16.6) |
70.2 (21.2) |
72.3 (22.4) |
74.6 (23.7) |
76.2 (24.6) |
74.8 (23.8) |
72.8 (22.7) |
68.6 (20.3) |
61.7 (16.5) |
55.5 (13.1) |
76.5 (24.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.8 (1.6) |
36.9 (2.7) |
43.4 (6.3) |
53.3 (11.8) |
60.7 (15.9) |
65.9 (18.8) |
68.9 (20.5) |
67.7 (19.8) |
63.4 (17.4) |
55.0 (12.8) |
45.6 (7.6) |
38.8 (3.8) |
52.9 (11.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
35.6 (2.0) |
44.9 (7.2) |
53.3 (11.8) |
59.8 (15.4) |
63.1 (17.3) |
61.9 (16.6) |
57.0 (13.9) |
47.8 (8.8) |
38.3 (3.5) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
45.8 (7.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.0 (−6.7) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
36.4 (2.4) |
46.0 (7.8) |
53.6 (12.0) |
57.3 (14.1) |
56.1 (13.4) |
50.5 (10.3) |
40.6 (4.8) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
38.8 (3.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −3.2 (−19.6) |
2.7 (−16.3) |
7.2 (−13.8) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
42.6 (5.9) |
49.7 (9.8) |
48.8 (9.3) |
38.1 (3.4) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
12.6 (−10.8) |
4.7 (−15.2) |
−5.4 (−20.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−15 (−26) |
−10 (−23) |
7 (−14) |
18 (−8) |
35 (2) |
44 (7) |
41 (5) |
29 (−2) |
16 (−9) |
3 (−16) |
−10 (−23) |
−17 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.18 (132) |
4.21 (107) |
4.81 (122) |
4.92 (125) |
5.71 (145) |
4.94 (125) |
5.97 (152) |
4.96 (126) |
4.99 (127) |
3.75 (95) |
3.50 (89) |
4.84 (123) |
57.78 (1,468) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.6 (42) |
16.5 (42) |
13.0 (33) |
4.4 (11) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
2.1 (5.3) |
13.2 (34) |
66.5 (169) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 9 (23) |
9 (23) |
9 (23) |
4 (10) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (2.5) |
3 (7.6) |
7 (18) |
9 (23) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 20.1 | 17.8 | 16.1 | 15.4 | 17.2 | 18.0 | 18.6 | 16.9 | 13.1 | 11.6 | 12.1 | 18.3 | 195.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.7 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 37.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Fun Things to Do in Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain is a great place for outdoor fun. Its high elevation means cool summers and lots of snow in winter. This makes it a popular spot for many activities.
Hiking Trails
The town has over 28 miles of hiking trails. You can explore trails like Upper and Lower Pond Creek, which follow the creek banks. Grassy Gap Trail goes down to the Buckeye Recreation Center.
The Emerald Outback is a popular spot for hiking and trail running. It has 11 miles of trails, mostly above 5,000 feet high. You can find several viewpoints there that look out over the mountains. In summer, guided hikes are offered to see birds, flowers, and plants.
Biking Adventures
Biking has always been popular on Beech Mountain. You can enjoy both road cycling and mountain biking. The Emerald Outback trail system has trails with jumps and turns for mountain bikers.
During summer, Beech Mountain Resort opens its downhill bike park. You can take a chair lift up and bike down. Many competitions are held on these downhill trails. Road cyclists also love Highway 184, which is a very challenging climb. It became famous when it was part of the Tour DuPont race.
Fishing Spots
Even without huge rivers, Beech Mountain has many places to fish. Over 3 miles of streams are stocked with trout by the NC Fish and Wildlife Service. Buckeye Lake and Lake Coffey also have fish like brown, rainbow, and brook trout.
You can take guided fishing tours through the Buckeye Recreation Center. Special one-day fishing licenses for Beech Mountain are available. Every June, the Kiddo Fishing Derby at Lake Coffey celebrates the start of trout fishing season.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Beech Mountain was first built around its ski resort, Beech Mountain Resort. It opened in 1967 and has grown a lot since then. Today, it has 17 trails and 8 lifts across 95 acres for skiing.
In the 1970s, the mountain hosted big racing events that brought many Olympic athletes. After some tough times, the resort owners are now making big improvements. There are trails for all skill levels, including a beginner area, a terrain park with jumps, and challenging slopes like Oz Run.
Sledding and Tubing
Beech Mountain is special because it has a free public sledding hill. It's located across from the town hall and is open all winter for kids under 12. Remember to bring your own sled! You can also rent or buy sleds nearby.
Beech Mountain Resort also offers tubing. You need to buy tickets in person for two-hour blocks. It's a good idea to sign the waiver online beforehand to save time.
Buckeye Recreation Center
The Buckeye Recreation Center is a large indoor facility for residents and visitors. It opened in 2005 and is the main spot for town recreation. Inside, you'll find a gym, indoor tennis and pickleball courts, meeting rooms, a fitness area, and a kids playroom. There's also an indoor walking track and free WiFi.
Outside, there are two outdoor tennis courts, a softball field, a walking path, and a big playground. The center also rents canoes, kayaks, and other water equipment for use on nearby Buckeye Lake. In the summer, they host a day camp for kids and other fun events.
Other Activities
Beech Mountain has 63 miles of quiet town roads, perfect for running and walking. Several running races are held on the mountain each year. In winter, some less-used roads are not plowed, which is great for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. These activities are also allowed on the town's trails.
Beech Mountain Resort also offers ice skating in the winter. In the summer, you can enjoy roller skating and disc golf there.
Famous People from Beech Mountain
- Ray Hicks, a famous storyteller from the Appalachian region.
- Frank Proffitt, a well-known banjo player.
See also
In Spanish: Beech Mountain para niños
