Ashe County, NC

ZIP 28617

In ZIP 28617, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: West Jefferson, Town Of meets every EPA legal limit; 9 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 33× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Ore Knob Mine, 6.9 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: U.S. Chemical Storage LLC (100%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.1 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 16,421 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28617

• Superfund sites nearbyC
• Factories and industrial sitesA
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityB to F
• Pesticide useF
• Neighborhood health statusD to F
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsB
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsC to D

Based on 3 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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