McDowell County, NC

ZIP 28761

In ZIP 28761, 5 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Black Bear Development meets every EPA legal limit; 1 contaminant is above health goals, led by lead at 35× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 0% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Hexion Inc - Morganton Facility (44%), mostly formaldehyde.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.2 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 8,701 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28761

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

Based on 5 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

Loading the full report, with every source…