Lack of seasonal extremes in climate, cool summer nights have been an attraction to visitors for years.

Annual precipatation averages about 47.71 inches, and average relative humidity is about 70% in the summer, and 66% in the winter.

Area elevations range from 1,085 to 6,643 feet above sea level.

Tourism

Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park. More than 1/2 of the U.S. population lives within one day's drive of the park.
The park attracts between 9 and 10 million visitors each year.

Although it is the most visited park, with 512,000 acreas of land, it never seems crowded.

Tourism is the core of the economy in Western NC, but it is fairly undeveloped.

Access

Access to Western North Carolina is easy by air and highway.

The Western North Carolina region is also "wired" for high speed electronic access.

Land Usage

Largest unspoiled mountain wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.

Swain County has only 60,000 acres of private land.

Population

U.S. Census data shows Swain County population 16 years and older
to be 10,207 in the year 2000.

Overall population growth for the State of North Carolina increased
1.7% between 2000 and 2001.