Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Boone is the home of Appalachian State University and the headquarters of the disaster and medical relief organization Samaritan's Purse.

It is the largest community and the economic hub of the seven-county region of Western North Carolina known as the High Country.

Daniel's nephews, Jesse and Jonathan (sons of brother Israel Boone), were members of the town's first church,[6] Three Forks Baptist, still in existence today.

[7] Boone was served by the narrow-gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (nicknamed "Tweetsie") until the flood of 1940.

He was followed in the role by Glenn Causey, who portrayed the rugged frontiersman for 41 years, and whose image is still seen in many of the depictions of Boone featured in the area today.

Located in the hills just north of Downtown Boone, a free black community has existed in the area since before the Civil War.

Notable artists associated with Boone include the late Grammy Award-winning bluegrass guitar player Doc Watson and the late guitarist Michael Houser, one of the founding members of and the lead guitarist for the band Widespread Panic, as well as Old Crow Medicine Show, The Blue Rags, and Eric Church, all who are Boone natives.

As such, Boone features, depending on the isotherm used, a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), a rarity for the Southeastern United States, bordering on an oceanic climate (Cfb)[13] and straddles the boundary between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6B and 7A;[14] the elevation also results in enhanced precipitation, with 59.13 inches (1,500 mm) of average annual precipitation.

Summers are warm, but far cooler and less humid than lower regions to the south and east, with a July daily average temperature of 68.4 °F (20.2 °C).

[15] Boone receives on average nearly 25 inches (64 cm) of snowfall annually, far higher than the lowland areas in the rest of North Carolina.

[20] In addition to the locally printed papers, a monthly entertainment pamphlet, Kraut Creek Revival, has limited circulation and is funded by a Denver, North Carolina–based newspaper.

"[23] The document is not in any way law, but is used by the town council, board of adjustment, and other committees to guide decision-making as to what types of development are appropriate.

[24] In 2009, the North Carolina Department of Transportation began widening 1.1 miles of U.S. 421 (King Street) to a 4-to-6-lane divided highway with a raised concrete median from U.S. 321 (Hardin Street) to east of N.C. 194 (Jefferson Road), including a new entrance and exit to the new Watauga High School, at a cost of $16.2 million.

Boone is home to the Appalachian State Mountaineers, which field varsity teams in 17 sports, 7 for men and 10 for women.