West Marion, North Carolina
West Marion is a community of 1,066 people in McDowell County, North Carolina.
Why visit West Marion
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 14 places to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Grant Mountain, Pool Mountain, Depot Historic District and Lone Beech.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 28°F.
Weather in West Marion
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Marion
West Marion is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States, adjacent to the city of Marion, the county seat. The population of West Marion was 1,226 at the 2020 census, down from 1,348 in 2010.
From the Wikipedia article West Marion, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks4
Depot Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic district in Marion, North Carolina
Lone Beech
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic home located at Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina
Main Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic district in Marion, North Carolina, United States
McDowell County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Courthouse in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
West Marion Community Park
Park · 1.4 mi
201 Ridley Street, Marion
Restaurants and cafes14
Luisa’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
2845 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
Mo-Th, Su 11:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-21:30
Bojangles'
Fast food · Chicken · 0.7 mi
2569 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
Mo-Sa 05:00-22:00; Su 06:00-22:00
Dunkin'
Fast food · Donut, Coffee Shop · 0.5 mi
2017 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
Mo-Sa 06:00-20:00; Su 07:00-20:00
2 more on the map.
Churches and places of worship10
First Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
St. John's Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Addies Chapel United Methodist
Church · United Methodist · 1.4 mi
201 Ridley Street, Marion
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
Church · 1.2 mi
115 East Wilhemenia Street, Marion
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries13
West Mcdowell Middle School
School · 3.5 mi
346 West Mcdowell Junior High, Marion
Healthcare2
McDowell Medical Associates: Kedron M. Hendley, FNP-C
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
2293 Sugar Hill Road, Marion
Map of West Marion
50 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 4.7 in | 1.9 in |
| Feb | 53°F | 31°F | 3.6 in | 2.1 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 37°F | 4.3 in | 1.4 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 67°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 66°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 60°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 38°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 51°F | 31°F | 4.9 in | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Marion Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
McDowell County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Foothills Regional Airport (MRN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Marion 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
- Nebo 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Glen Alpine 14 mi east, about 23 min by car
- Black Mountain 17 mi west, about 28 min by car
- Lake Lure 17 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
- Salem 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
- Spruce Pine 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Morganton 19 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Rutherfordton 20 mi south, about 33 min by car
- Swannanoa 21 mi west, about 34 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lone Beach-Marion, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marion depot from Railroad Street, Nyttend, Public domain
- St. Johns Episcopal Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McDowell County Courthouse, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Presbyterian Church, Marion, NC, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 3.0
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