The town suffered flooding and devastation as a result of Hurricane Helene in 2024.

The Trail Days festival is held around the middle of May each year and draws in excess of 20,000 tourists, making it the largest single gathering of Appalachian Trail Hikers anywhere.

Some victims were transported to area hospitals by ambulance or helicopters with some critically injured.

40.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.