Cherokee County
North CarolinaFIPS 37039
Pop. 28,7741 HospitalSVI 0.37RUCC 9 (Rural)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Cherokee County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 10.6% | 11.2% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 31.5% | 35.7% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 13.5% | 12.5% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 4.1 | 5.2 | ▲ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 12,641.296 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
12
Primary Care Physicians
40.1 per 100k
46
NPs & PAs
153.5 per 100k
14
Dentists
25
Hospital Beds
0.8 per 1,000
$9,326.9
Medicare Per Capita
1459.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Cherokee County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 15.2% | — | |
| Obesity | 35.3% | — | |
| Depression | 26.0% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 16.2% | — | |
| COPD | 11.1% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 16.6% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 10.2% | — | |
| Stroke | 5.1% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 44.5% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 22.5% | — | |
| Disability | 37.9% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 27.4% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 13.0% | — | |
| Uninsured | 9.3% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Cherokee's 1 hospital.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.37
Socioeconomic Status0.72
Household Composition & Disability0.25
Minority Status & Language0.29
Housing Type & Transportation0.13
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
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Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
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Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
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Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Cherokee County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center | Murphy | 50 | CAHRural |
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.