Caldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the population was 83,029. Its county seat is Lenoir.
Caldwell County is part of the Hickoryâ€"Lenoirâ€"Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The county was formed in 1841 from parts of Burke County and Wilkes County. It was named for Joseph Caldwell, presiding professor (1796â€"1797, 1799â€"1804) and the first president (1804â€"1812, 1816â€"1835) of the University of North Carolina.
A series of reductions in the county's territory followed. In 1847 parts of Caldwell County, Iredell County, and Wilkes County were combined to form Alexander County. In 1849 parts of Caldwell County, Ashe County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County were combined to form Watauga County. In 1861, parts of Caldwell County, Burke County, McDowell County, Watauga County, and Yancey County were combined to form Mitchell County. Finally, in 1911 parts of Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County were combined to form Avery County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230Â km2), of which 472 square miles (1,220Â km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0Â km2) (0.6%) is water.
Caldwell County is divided into three distinct geographic sections: the Blue Ridge Mountains, which dominate the northern and western parts of the county; the gently rolling Piedmont country in the middle and southern parts of the county; and the Brushy Mountains, an isolated remnant of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The "Brushies", as they are often called, run across much of Caldwell County's eastern section. Hibriten Mountain, located within the city limits of Lenoir, the county's largest city, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountain range. In the western part of the county is the Wilson Creek area.
Adjacent counties
- Watauga County - north
- Wilkes County - northeast
- Alexander County - east
- Catawba County - southeast
- Burke County - south
- Avery County - northwest
National protected areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- Pisgah National Forest (part)
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 83,029 people, 33,388 households, and 23,456 families residing in the county. The population density was 176.1 people per square mile (109.4/km²). There were 37,659 housing units at an average density of 79.9 per square mile (49.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.24% White, 4.92% Black or African American, 0.52% Asian, 0.31% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.47% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino (of any race) population was 4.57%.
There were 33,388 households of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.16% were married couples living together, 12.52% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.75% were non-families. 25.39% of all households were made up of individuals living alone and 41.16% of those households had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.
Of the county's entire population, 22.63% was under the age of 18, 18.33% were 18 to 34, 22.44% were 35 to 49, 21.17% were 50 to 64, and 15.44% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.84 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.06 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,853, and the median income for a family was $47,028. Males had a median income of $36,429 versus $31,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,397. About 15.3% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.8% of single mothers and 13.2% of people age 65 or over.
Law and government
The county is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners. They are elected from single-member districts and appoint a professional County Manager to handle daily operations. The members of the Board of Commissioners are Clay Bollinger, Jeff Branch, Randy Church, Mike LaBrose, and Donnie Potter. Caldwell County is a member of the regional Western Piedmont Council of Governments.
Caldwell County is part of North Carolina's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Mark Meadows in the United States House of Representatives.
In the North Carolina General Assembly, the county is represented by Republican Deanna Ballard in the North Carolina Senate, as part of N.C. Senate District 45, and by Republican George Robinson in the North Carolina House of Representatives. This is the final term for George Robinson, who was defeated in the 2016 Republican primary. That N.C. House seat was won by Destin Hall, who won the Republican primary and was unopposed in the November 2016 general election.
Deanna Ballard was appointed to her N.C. Senate seat after former N.C. state Senator Dan Soucek resigned. She faced Democrat Art Sherwood in the general election.
Caldwell County's sheriff is Alan C. Jones.
Education
Elementary Schools
- Baton
- Davenport
- Dudley Shoals
- Gamewell
- Granite Falls
- Hudson
- Lower Creek
- Sawmills
- Valmead
- West Lenoir
- Whitnel
K-8 Schools
- Collettsville
- Happy Valley
- Kings Creek
- Oak Hill
Middle Schools
- Gamewell
- Granite Falls
- Hudson
- William Lenoir
High Schools
- Caldwell Early College
- Career Center Middle College
- Hibriten
- South Caldwell
- West Caldwel
Alternative Schools
- Horizons Elementary
- Gateway School
College
- Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute
- Appalachian State University Center at Caldwell (a distance education site for Appalachian State University)
Transportation
Major highways
USÂ 321 is the busiest highway in the county with an annual average daily traffic count of 39,000.
Other major highways include:
- NCÂ 18
- USÂ 64
- NCÂ 90
- USÂ 321A
- NCÂ 268
- USÂ 221
The Blue Ridge Parkway also crosses the northern tip of the county.
Railroads
Caldwell County has one railroad, the Caldwell County Railroad which interchanges with the Norfolk Southern Railway in Hickory, North Carolina.
Communities
Cities
- Hickory
- Lenoir
Towns
- Blowing Rock
- Cajah's Mountain
- Gamewell
- Granite Falls
- Hudson
- Sawmills
Village
- Cedar Rock
Census-designated place
- Northlakes
Other unincorporated communities
- Collettsville
- Patterson
- Rhodhiss
Notable people
- Claude Baker, composer
- Etta Baker, musician
- William Horton Bower, US congressman
- Jim Broyhill, US congressman and senator
- Claudia Church, country music artist
- Eric Church, country music artist
- Clinton A. Cilley, mayor of Lenoir and Medal of Honor recipient
- Dr. Linda Combs, U.S. government official
- William Lenoir, soldier and statesman
- Kary Mullis, scientist and Nobel laureate
- William C. Newland, North Carolina lieutenant governor
- James Pritchett, actor
- Larry Smith, NASCAR driver
- George Younce, gospel singer
- Six Major League Baseball players:
- Johnny Allen
- Madison Bumgarner, 2014 World Series MVP
- Charlie Cozart
- Jack Curtis
- Lindsay Deal
- Rube Walker
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Caldwell County, North Carolina
References
External links
- Caldwell County Economic Development Commission
- Caldwell County government official website
- Geographic data related to Caldwell County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap