McDowell County Demographics

A map of McDowell County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	38,364	37,788	85.6%	84.8%
Hispanic	3,170	2,947	7.1%	6.6%
Black	1,724	1,707	3.8%	3.8%
Multiracial	908	1,483	2.0%	3.3%
Asian	506	388	1.1%	0.9%
Native American/Other	145	265	0.3%	0.6%

McDowell County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 44,817, a less than 1% change from the 44,578 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 85.6% White, 7.1% Hispanic, 3.8% Black, 2.0% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of McDowell County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

McDowell has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In McDowell County, that probability was 27.4% in 2020 and 26.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

McDowell County is ranked the 56th most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. McDowell County was ranked the 56th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

McDowell County's White Population

38,364 residents of McDowell County, or 85.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in McDowell County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. McDowell County ranks 18th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.5%. White residents' share of McDowell County's population has increased from 84.8% to 85.6%.

McDowell County is more White than neighboring Rutherford County (80.8% White), and Burke County (79.1% White). McDowell County is less White than neighboring Yancey County (90.8% White), Mitchell County (91% White), and Avery County (85.7% White).

McDowell County's Black Population

1,724 residents of McDowell County, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in McDowell County is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. McDowell County ranks 80th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.8%.

McDowell County is more Black than neighboring Yancey County (0.8% Black), and Mitchell County (0.9% Black). McDowell County is less Black than neighboring Rutherford County (7.7% Black), and Burke County (6.1% Black).

McDowell County's Asian Population

506 residents of McDowell County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in McDowell County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. McDowell County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 30.4%. Asian residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

McDowell County is more Asian than neighboring Rutherford County (0.5% Asian), Yancey County (0.5% Asian), Mitchell County (0.5% Asian), and Avery County (0.4% Asian). McDowell County is less Asian than neighboring Burke County (3.5% Asian).

McDowell County's Hispanic Population

3,170 residents of McDowell County, or 7.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in McDowell County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. McDowell County ranks 59th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.6%. Hispanic residents' share of McDowell County's population has increased from 6.6% to 7.1%.

McDowell County is more Hispanic than neighboring Rutherford County (5.7% Hispanic), Yancey County (5.8% Hispanic), Mitchell County (5.6% Hispanic), and Avery County (6.1% Hispanic). McDowell County is less Hispanic than neighboring Burke County (8.5% Hispanic).

McDowell County's Native American/Other Population

145 residents of McDowell County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in McDowell County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. McDowell County ranks 71st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 45.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of McDowell County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

McDowell County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Yancey County (0.1% Native American/Other). McDowell County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Rutherford County (0.9% Native American/Other), Mitchell County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Avery County (0.7% Native American/Other).

McDowell County's Multiracial Population

908 residents of McDowell County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in McDowell County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. McDowell County ranks 66th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, McDowell County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 38.8%. Multiracial residents' share of McDowell County's population has decreased from 3.3% to 2.0%.

McDowell County is more Multiracial than neighboring Mitchell County (1.6% Multiracial). McDowell County is less Multiracial than neighboring Rutherford County (4.4% Multiracial), Burke County (2.5% Multiracial), and Avery County (3.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.