Watauga County is a county in North Carolina, United States, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the state’s northwestern High Country. It had a population of 54,086 at the 2020 census, up modestly since, and covers 312.44 square miles (809.2 km2) of land centred near 36°14′N 81°43′W.
Boone is the county seat, and its postal code is 28607. The county holds four incorporated towns (Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils) plus three unincorporated census-designated places. It sits in the Eastern time zone and is served by the Watauga County Board of Commissioners and an appointed county manager.
Towns & Villages in Watauga County
Boone anchors the county as both its seat and largest community, home to Appalachian State University. The remaining towns and CDPs are mountain resort and farming communities strung along the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boone | Town · seat | 19,092 | 28607 |
| Blowing Rock | Town | 1,376 | 28605 |
| Beech Mountain | Town | 675 | 28604 |
| Seven Devils | Town | 313 | 28604 |
| Valle Crucis | CDP | — | 28691 |
| Foscoe | CDP | — | 28688 |
| Cove Creek | CDP | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 28607 — Boone (also serves the Appalachian State University campus)
- 28605 — Blowing Rock
- 28604 — Beech Mountain and Seven Devils, which share a post office ZIP
- 28691 — Valle Crucis
- 28688 — Foscoe
Smaller communities such as Cove Creek, Sugar Grove, Vilas, Deep Gap and Zionville draw mail through a neighbouring town’s ZIP and have no dedicated code of their own.
Geography
Watauga County sits high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with elevations ranging from river valleys near 2,800 feet to ridgelines above 5,500 feet. Boone’s own elevation, 3,232 feet, makes it one of the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi. The county’s terrain is steep and forested, drained by the New River’s south fork and by the Watauga River, for which the county is named.
Watauga County borders five counties and one Tennessee county: Ashe County to the northeast, Wilkes County to the east, Caldwell County to the south, Avery County to the southwest, and Johnson County, Tennessee, to the northwest.
Nearby counties on this site: Ashe County, Wilkes County, Caldwell County and Avery County.
Demographics
The county’s population stood at 54,086 at the 2020 census and has grown only slightly since, to an estimated 54,786. Boone and Blowing Rock are the two largest communities. Watauga’s median household income trails North Carolina’s statewide 2023 ACS median of $70,804, a pattern common in college counties where a large share of residents are enrolled students reporting little or no income. Population density works out to roughly 175 people per square mile, concentrated around Boone and the resort towns.
Economy & Local Life
Appalachian State University, with more than 21,000 students, is the county’s largest single employer and economic driver, supporting housing, retail and services in Boone. Tourism is the other pillar: the ski resorts at Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mtn draw winter visitors, while the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain-area trails and Blowing Rock’s shops and inns draw summer traffic. Fraser fir Christmas tree farming is a long-standing local industry on the county’s higher slopes. The county’s best-known annual event is An Appalachian Summer Festival, a multi-week arts festival hosted on the university campus each July.
History
Watauga County was formed in 1849 from parts of Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes and Yancey counties. It takes its name from the Watauga River, a Native American word variously translated as “beautiful water” or “whispering waters.” Boone, the county seat, is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone, who hunted in the area in the 18th century. Appalachian State University traces its roots to a teacher training school founded in Boone in 1899 and became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1971.
Getting There
US Routes 221, 321 and 421 and NC Routes 88, 105, 184 and 194 cross the county, along with a scenic stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Blowing Rock — 8 miles southeast of Boone
- Banner Elk (Avery County) — 18 miles southwest of Boone
- Wilkesboro — 30 miles east of Boone
- Johnson City, Tennessee — 40 miles northwest of Boone
The nearest commercial airport is Tri-Cities Airport near Johnson City, Tennessee; the nearest Amtrak service is at Charlotte or Greensboro, both roughly three hours’ drive away, since no passenger rail line serves the North Carolina mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Boone postcode?
28607, covering Boone town and the Appalachian State University campus.
What is the county seat of Watauga County?
Boone is the county seat.
How many people live in Watauga County?
The population was 54,086 at the 2020 census.
How big is Watauga County?
It covers 312.44 square miles (809.2 km2) of land.
What county is Boone, North Carolina in?
Boone is the seat of Watauga County and its largest town.
Which counties border Watauga County?
Ashe, Wilkes, Caldwell and Avery counties in North Carolina, and Johnson County, Tennessee.
What university is in Watauga County?
Appalachian State University, in Boone, with more than 21,000 students.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.