Watauga County, North Carolina
Watauga County, North Carolina, has 54,786 residents (July 2025 estimate). Its county seat is Boone. It uses Eastern Time and covers 312 sq mi (809 km²) of land.
- Resident population, July 2025
- 54,786
- Land area
- 312 sq mi (809 km²)
- County seat or government
- Boone
- Time zone
- Eastern TimeUTC-05:00 in January; UTC-04:00 in July
- Median household income
- $51,693 ± $3,285
- Median home value
- $358,900 ± $18,269
- Median rent, with utilities
- $1,127 ± $85
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62.1% ± 1.7 points
- County type
- County
- Metro or micro area
- Boone, NC micro areaCentral county
- Water area
- 0.88 sq mi (2.27 km²)
- State
- North Carolina
- County code (FIPS)
- 37189
- Coordinates (central point)
- 36.235368, -81.709888
These coordinates mark a central point for the area, not a street address. Income, home value, rent and homes lived in by their owners: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ± margin at 90% confidence; checked on October 13, 2026.
Time zones in Watauga County
| Time zone | Local time and UTC offset | Next clock change |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern TimeAmerica/New_York | UTC-05:00 in January; UTC-04:00 in July. Enable JavaScript for the live clock. | Enable JavaScript for upcoming changes. |
Near a time-zone line, check where you are with the time-zone finder. Your phone’s setting can differ.
ZIP Code areas, largest first
- 2864545,997 people
- 2860735,679 people
- 286047,869 people
- 286924,367 people
- 286053,883 people
- 286222,565 people
- 286792,454 people
- 286982,320 people
- 286182,208 people
- 286841,961 people
10 ZIP Code areas overlap Watauga County. People counts are 2020–2024 estimates for each whole ZIP area. Mailing ZIPs can differ; check an address with USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
Official county information
Watauga County government website ↗ is the next stop for county offices, tax, voting, jury and records information. A geographic lookup cannot determine eligibility, tax liability or a court obligation.
Townships in Watauga County, largest first
- New River Township14,511 people
- Boone Township10,719 people
- Blue Ridge Township4,865 people
- Watauga Township3,576 people
- Brushy Fork Township3,461 people
- Cove Creek Township3,387 people
- Blowing Rock Township2,674 people
- Meat Camp Township2,605 people
- Laurel Creek Township2,399 people
- Stony Fork Township2,229 people
- Beaverdam Township1,355 people
- Shawneehaw Township1,067 people
All 15
- Bald Mountain Township982 people
- Elk Township726 people
- North Fork Township567 people
People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. All townships in North Carolina, by county
School districts in Watauga County, largest first
- Watauga County Schools55,123 people
Districts with land in the county; a district can cross county lines. People counts are American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. A district boundary doesn’t decide which school a student attends.
Cities, towns and communities, largest first
These areas overlap the mapped boundary; an overlap does not mean that every address belongs to both.
- Boone, North Carolina (town)20,032 people
- Cove Creek, North Carolina (CDP)1,629 people
- Foscoe, North Carolina (CDP)1,226 people
- Blowing Rock, North Carolina (town)992 people
- Beech Mountain, North Carolina (town)987 people
- Seven Devils, North Carolina (town)425 people
- Valle Crucis, North Carolina (CDP)242 people
Bordering areas, nearest first
Distances are straight lines between map points.
- Avery County, North Carolina16 mi southwest
- Johnson County, Tennessee17 mi northwest
- Ashe County, North Carolina19 mi northeast
- Caldwell County, North Carolina22 mi southeast
- Wilkes County, North Carolina30 mi east
Before using this answer on a form
Use a precise point for address-level questions. A device accuracy circle can cross a boundary; confirm tax, voting or jury details with the responsible office.
Find the county where you are now, check its ZIP area, or check the time zone where you are.