Inside WNC is a permanent feature from Carolina Public Press that profiles each of the 18 westernmost counties of North Carolina. This is your guide, including direct links, to elected officials, key agencies and departments, plus information on the county’s wages, housing, education and more.
Watauga County, N.C., map courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, via Wikipedia
Watauga County
Geography and Population
Watauga County is bordered by Ashe County to the northeast, Wilkes County to the east, Caldwell County to the south, Avery County to the southwest and Tennessee to the west and north.
Map courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Census Bureau Maps
Land area in square miles: 312.6
Persons per square mile: 163.4
Population, 2012 estimate: 51,024
American Indian or Alaska Native: .3 percent
Asian: 1.1 percent
Black: 1.8 percent
Hispanic or Latino origin: 3.4 percent
White, non-Hispanic: 92.4 percent
People reporting two or more races: 1.4 percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
U.S., State and Local Government
U.S. elected officials
U.S. Senate
Sen. Richard Burr (R)
Washington address: 217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Email contact form
Asheville address: Federal Building, 151 Patton Ave., Suite 204
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Phone: (828) 350-2437
Fax: (828) 350-2439
Information on Burr’s support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
Sen. Kay Hagan (D)
Washington address: 521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6342
Fax: (202) 228-2563
Email contact form
Asheville address: 82 Patton Ave., Suite 635
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Phone: (828) 257-6510
Fax: (828) 257-6514
Information on Hagan’s support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
U.S. House: 5th Congressional District
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R)
Washington address: 1230 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3305
Phone: (202) 225-2071
Email contact form
Boone office address: 240 Hwy. 105 Extension, Suite 200
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 265-0240
Information on Foxx’s support, sponsored bills, etc. from GovTrack.us
N.C. Elected Officials
N.C. Senate District 47
Sen. Dan Soucek (R)
Address: N.C. Senate
300 N. Salisbury St., Room 310
Raleigh, N.C. 27603-5925
Phone: (919) 733-5742
Email: Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net
N.C. House District 85
Rep. Jonathan C. Jordan (R)
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 420
Raleigh, N.C. 27603-5925
Phone: (919) 733-7727 and (336) 846-1657
Email: Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net
County Officials and Agencies
Watauga County Courthouse in September 2012. Hank Shell/Carolina Public Press
Watauga County Board of Commissioners
Chairman: Nathan Miller
Address: 814 W. King St., Suite 205
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-1125
Email: Nathan.Miller@watgov.org
County Manager: Deron Geouque
Address: 814 W. King St., Suite 205
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828)
Email: deron.geouque@watgov.org
Sheriff: Len D. Hagaman
Address: Watauga County Sheriff’s Office
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-3761
Email: len.hagaman@watgov.org
Watauga County Social Services
Director: Matthew “Jim” Atkinson
Address: Watauga County Human Services Building
132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C, Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 265-8100
Email: jim.atkinson@watgov.org
Watauga County Health Department
This health department is part of the Appalachian District Health Department, which also includes health departments in Alleghany and Ashe counties.
Director: Beth G. Lovette
Address: 126 Poplar Grove Connector
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-6635
Email: info@apphealth.com
Email contact form
Watauga County is a member of the High Country Council of Governments, which also includes Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Wilkes and Yancey counties.
County Seat
Town of Boone
Population (2012 estimate): 17,774
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Town of Boone Government Office Address: 567 W. King St., Boone, N.C., 28607
Mayor: Loretta Clawson
Address: 567 W. King St.
Boone, N.C., 28607
Phone: (828) 268-6200
Email: Loretta.Clawson@townofboone.net
Town Clerk: Kimberly Brown
Address: 567 W. King St.
Boone, N.C., 28607
Phone: (828) 268-6200
Email contact form
Chief of Police: Dana Crawford
Address: Boone Police Department
1500 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 268-6900
Email: dana.crawford@townofboone.net
Law Enforcement Agencies
Boone Police Department
1500 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 268-6900
Email: dana.crawford@townofboone.net
Watauga County Sheriff’s Office
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-3761
Email: len.hagaman@watgov.org
Voter Information
Watauga County Board of Elections
Director: Jane Ann Hodges
Address: 842 W. King St, Suite 6
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 265-8061
Email: janeann.hodges@watgov.org
Chairman: Luke Eggers
Address: 842 W. King St, Suite 6
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 265-8061
Email: n/a
Court System
Judicial District 24
Address: 842 W. King St, Suite 13
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 268-6600
Email: n/a
Clerk of Superior Court: Diane Cornett Deal
Phone: (828) 268-6600
Email: n/a
District Attorney: Jerry Wilson
Phone: (828) 268-6610
Email: n/a
Economy and Employment
Unemployment rate, August 2013: 7.3 percent
Unemployment rate, August 2012: 8.3 percent
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce-Labor and Economic Analysis Division
Top three industries, by employment (2011, most current)
Healthcare and social assistance: 3,345
Retail trade: 3,330
Accommodation and food services: 3,043
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Employer (First quarter of 2013, most current): Appalachian State University
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, Economic Development
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO: Dan Meyer
Address: 870 W. King Street, Suite A
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-2225
Email contact form
Watauga County Economic Development Commission
Contact: Joe Furman
Address: Watauga County Office of Economic Development
P.O. Box 404, Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-3082
Email: joe.furman@watgov.org
Watauga County Tourism Development Authority
Address: 815 W. King Street, Suite 10
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 266-1345
Email: wataugatda@gmail.com
High Country Host Visitor Center
Address: 1700 Blowing Rock Road (Hwy. 321)
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-1299
Email: info@highcountryhost.com
Wages, Housing and Education
Per capita money income in past 12 months (2011 dollars) 2007-2011: $21,266
Persons living below poverty level (2007-2011): 26.3 percent
Median household income (2007-2011): $34,497
Median owner-occupied housing value (2007-2011): $234,300
High school graduates, age 25+ (2007-2011): 88.3 percent
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+ (2007-2011): 39.3 percent
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts
Number of homeless (January 2013 point-in-time count): Combined total number of 875 reported for Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties.
Source: North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness
Education
Watauga County Schools
Four-year cohort high school graduation rates, as of September 2013: 87.6 percent
Source: N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Watauga County Board of Education
Address: 175 Pioneer Trail
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone (828) 264-7190
Email: warrenl@watauga.k12.nc.us
Board of Education Chairman: Lee Warren
Address: 175 Pioneer Trail
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone (828) 264-7190
Email: warrenl@watauga.k12.nc.us
Interim Superintendent: David Fonseca
Address: 175 Pioneer Trail
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone (828) 264-7190
Email: fonsecad@watauga.k12.nc.us
Higher Education*
Appalachian State University
Address: 287 Rivers St.
Boone, N.C. 28608
Phone: (828) 262-2000
Email: admissions@appstate.edu
Total enrollment for Appalachian State University: 17,589 (for fall 2012, according to Appalachian State University)
Top Healthcare Providers*
Watauga County Health Department
This health department is part of the Appalachian District Health Dept. http://www.apphealth.com/, which also includes health departments in Alleghany and Ashe counties.
Address: 126 Poplar Grove Connector
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 264-6635
Email: info@apphealth.com
Email contact form
Watauga Medical Center
Address: 336 Deerfield Road
Boone, N.C. 28607
Phone: (828) 262-4100
Email: krastello@apprhs.org
HCAHPS Patient Perceptions Survey 4/2011-3/2012 rankings
Rate 9 or 10 Overall: 68 percent
Always Clean and Quiet: 65.5 percent
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime Rate Per 100,000 (2012): 1,840.4
Violent Crime Rate: 131
Property Crime Rate: 1,709.4
Number of registered sex offenders: 37
Source: N.C. Department of Justice
*Listings are for entities headquartered in the county and do not include satellites, branches or other service information for others with operations in the county.
This page will be updated regularly. Contact us with updates or questions.