Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0Where Fontana Dam residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fontana Dam, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 28733. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fontana Dam
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Fontana Dam
The closest emergency room is DLP Swain County Hospital in Bryson City, 21.4 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Appalachian Mountain Health at Robbinsville is closer (8.2 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Cancer runs high in Fontana Dam
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the North Carolina figure falls outside Fontana Dam’s likely range; Fontana Dam’s figures come from ZIP code 28733, which may reach past town lines.
Care in and near Fontana Dam
No hospital or community health center in Fontana Dam itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fontana Dam; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Fontana Dam adults…
Fontana Dam runs above NC on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
7.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Fontana Dam adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Fontana Dam adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Fontana Dam adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Fontana Dam adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Fontana Dam and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fontana Dam adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Fontana Dam
Why doesn’t Fontana Dam have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fontana Dam.
What hospital is closest to Fontana Dam?
DLP Swain County Hospital in Bryson City, 21.4 miles in a straight line from Fontana Dam’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Fontana Dam?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Appalachian Mountain Health at Robbinsville in Robbinsville, 8.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fontana Dam.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.