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Woodfin, North Carolina

Woodfin is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,123 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named for Nicholas Washington Woodfin, a renowned lawyer and statesman of early North Carolina, under whom Governor Zebulon Vance clerked as an attorney. Woodfin is the only municipality bearing the name Woodfin in the United States. The town was incorporated in 1971, although the community itself dates back to at least the mid-19th century.

History

The town's history is closely tied to manufacturing. Much of the remaining early housing stock is characteristic of early 20th century mill villages. Many neighborhoods within the community bear names tied to the industry, such as "Martel Village" and "Company Bottom". The decline of American industry in the 1970s and '80s brought a decline to the economy of Woodfin as well. The loss of many manufacturing jobs led to a decline in population and property values. Starting in the 1990s, however, the town has experienced new residential growth, due primarily to the influx of new residents to western North Carolina. Woodfin's economy today is a mix of large- and small-scale manufacturing, combined with a variety of residential and commercial districts. It is the 115th largest municipality in the state.

North Carolina Electrical Power Company Electric Generating Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Geography
Woodfin is located in central Buncombe County, bordering the north side of the city of Asheville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Woodfin has a total area of 23.8 sqkm, of which 22.8 sqkm is land and 1.1 sqkm, or 4.47%, is water. The French Broad River flows through the western part of the town.

Government
The town is governed by a seven-member board consisting of a mayor and six council members. The council members serve four-year terms with staggered elections of three every two years. The board meets at 5:00 PM on the third Tuesday of every month, held at the Woodfin Town Hall.

Public services and utilities
Sewer services are provided by the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County.

Water services are provided by one of three water systems that serve various parts of Woodfin: Woodfin Water District, Asheville Water Authority, and Weaverville Water Department.

Town services include police, sanitation, street maintenance and construction, planning and zoning, animal control, street lighting, parks and recreation, and administration. Fire services are provided by one of three Fire Service Districts.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,936 people, 2,495 households, and 1,390 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,162 people, 1,394 households, and 769 families residing in the town. The population density was 905.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,521 housing units at an average density of 435.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.66% White, 1.96% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 3.29% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.

There were 1,394 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,525, and the median income for a family was $30,909. Males had a median income of $22,351 versus $23,176 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,408. Roughly 14.6% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Woodfin, North Carolina


text:
Connelly Springs, North Carolina

Connelly Springs is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,669 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The first settler on record in the area was William Lewis Connelly, a colonel in the North Carolina militia, for whom the town was named. In 1838, Colonel Connelly built a log home and operated a way station where fresh horses could be made available for the stagecoach line that ran from Salisbury to Asheville. He also took in boarders who were looking to spend a night during a long journey. During this time, a settlement grew up around the way station, which was then known as Happy Home, and a post office was established.

In 1885, the area was found to have a mineral spring, thought to be beneficial in healing a large number of diseases. Mrs. Elmira Connelly opened her spring to others, and before long people were arriving by horse and wagon, and by train, to cart water away in five-gallon demijohns. The popularity of Mrs. Connelly's mineral spring led to the construction of the Connelly Mineral Springs Hotel, a 50-room hotel that was built along the railroad tracks, and near the mineral spring discovered by Mrs. Connelly. As the town grew, it became known as Connelly Springs, and was incorporated as such on May 4, 1920.

Geography
Connelly Springs is located in eastern Burke County. It is bordered to the west by the town of Rutherford College and to the north by Rhodhiss Lake on the Catawba River. Interstate 40 forms part of the southern boundary of the town and leads east 10 mi to Hickory and west 10 mi to Morganton. U.S. Route 70 is the main local road through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.9 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,529 people, 727 households, and 473 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,814 people, 695 households, and 508 families residing in the town. The population density was 505.0 PD/sqmi. There were 752 housing units at an average density of 209.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.08% White, 1.65% African American, 0.11% Native American, 7.39% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.

There were 695 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,889, and the median income for a family was $39,500. Males had a median income of $28,065 versus $20,608 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,451. About 9.5% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Connelly Springs, North Carolina


text:
Drexel, North Carolina

Drexel is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,858 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Drexel is located in eastern Burke County. It is 6 mi east of Morganton, the county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.5 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,760 people, 788 households, and 465 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,938 people, 759 households, and 503 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,383.9 PD/sqmi. There were 811 housing units at an average density of 579.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 84.47% White, 3.87% African American, 0.41% Native American, 6.97% Asian, 3.41% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.

There were 759 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,086, and the median income for a family was $41,917. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $22,827 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,463. About 4.9% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Drexel, North Carolina


text:
Glen Alpine, North Carolina

Glen Alpine is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,517 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Glen Alpine is located in western Burke County. It is bordered to the southeast by an extension of the city of Morganton. U.S. Route 70 passes through the town as Main Street, and Interstate 40 passes to the south of the town, with access from exits 98 and 100. Via US-70, it is 5 mi east to downtown Morganton and 15 mi west to Marion.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Glen Alpine has a total area of 5.6 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,529 people, 635 households, and 481 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,090 people, 423 households, and 307 families residing in the town. The population density was 588.0 PD/sqmi. There were 443 housing units at an average density of 239.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 81.28% White, 3.85% African American, 0.37% Native American, 13.49% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 423 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,397, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $27,917 versus $21,679 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,506. About 4.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Edward W. Pearson Sr., African-American businessman and residential developer
 * Daniel R. Simpson, American jurist and legislator

title: Glen Alpine, North Carolina


text:
Hildebran, North Carolina

Hildebran is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,023 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
There are two conflicting stories from where the name Hildebran came from. The one more accepted is that it was named after 19th-century land owner Solomon Hildebrand and his son Jacob; the other is that it was named after the 11th-century Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand of Sovana). When Hildebran received its charter in 1899, the "d" was dropped from the name.

Geography
Hildebran is located in eastern Burke County. Its southeastern border is also the border with Catawba County. The town of Long View borders Hildebran to the east, and the census-designated place of Icard borders Hildebran to the west. Interstate 40 follows the town's southern border, with access from exits 118 and 119. U.S. Route 70 passes through the center of the town, leading east 5 mi to Hickory and west 16 mi to Morganton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.4 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,679 people, 822 households, and 558 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,472 people, 597 households, and 416 families residing in the town. The population density was 657.4 PD/sqmi. There were 626 housing units at an average density of 279.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.73% White, 1.15% African American, 0.54% Native American, 4.42% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 597 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,028, and the median income for a family was $43,542. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $22,765 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,835. About 6.0% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Hildebran, North Carolina


text:
Icard, North Carolina

Icard is a census-designated place (CDP) in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,664 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Icard is located in eastern Burke County. It is bordered to the east by the town of Hildebran.

U.S. Route 70 is the main local road through the town, leading east 8 mi to Hickory and west 13 mi to Morganton. Interstate 40 parallels US-70, with access to Icard from Exit 116.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.9 sqkm, of which 0.02 km2, or 0.25%, is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,452 people, 929 households, and 673 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,734 people, 1,121 households, and 784 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 696.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,198 housing units at an average density of 305.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.89% White, 0.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.79% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 1,121 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,804, and the median income for a family was $42,853. Males had a median income of $25,060 versus $22,675 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,784. About 1.6% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The town is served by the Burke County Public Schools system. Some schools in or near the town include:
 * East Burke Middle School
 * East Burke High School
 * Hildebran Elementary School
 * Icard Elementary School

title: Icard, North Carolina


text:
Morganton, North Carolina

Morganton is a city in and county seat of Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 17,474 at the 2020 census. Morganton is approximately 75 mi northwest of Charlotte and 57 miles (92 km) east of Asheville.

Morganton is one of the principal cities in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

An influx of European settlers over the Blue Ridge Mountains led Morganton to become the first chartered town in western North Carolina in 1784.

On April 17, 1865 there was a small skirmish fought in Morganton, as part of Stoneman's 1865 raid through North Carolina.

Public welfare facilities, such as the North Carolina School for the Deaf: Main Building and Western North Carolina Insane Asylum, were first authorized by the state legislature in the late 19th century.

In the early 20th century, textile mills were developed in the Piedmont as industry left union-dominated areas of the Northeast United States. During the century, however, these industrial jobs gradually moved offshore.

In the late 20th century, Morganton and Burke County, was still largely rural and with big poultry farms, which became locations for industrial-scale poultry processing plants. These jobs attracted many new immigrants to the state from Central America, leading to an increase in the Latino population in the area.

In 2006, an explosion at Synthron, a paint additive chemical manufacturer in Morganton, left 13 injured and one dead.

Geography
Morganton is located in central Burke County in the Catawba River valley in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is part of Appalachia. According to the United States Census Bureau, Morganton has a total area of 49.6 km2, all land.

Climate
Morganton has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and is located in hardiness zone 7b.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,474 people, 6,181 households, and 3,907 families residing in the city.

The median household income is $47,715 with an owner-occupied housing rate of 51.6%.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,918 people, 7,618 households, and 4,117 families residing in the city. The population density was 953.0 PD/sqmi. There were 7,313 housing units at an average density of 402.6 /sqmi. The racial composition of the city was: 75.67% White, 12.76% Black or African American, 11.16% Hispanic or Latino American, 1.99% Asian American, 0.55% Native American, 0.81% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 6.64% some other race, and 1.58% two or more races.

There were 7,618 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,836, and the median income for a family was $42,687. Males had a median income of $29,118 versus $24,723 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,906. About 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
State-operated facilities in Morganton include Broughton Hospital (a psychiatric hospital), the North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the second campus of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Other employers include furniture manufacturing facilities and tourists traveling on Interstate 40 to attractions in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Founded in 2015, the Industrial Commons is an incubator in Morganton for regional co-ops and service programs working to revive the textile and furniture industries in the area.

Events and venues
Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church hosts an annual Parish Food Festival in the first week of November.

The Morganton Festival takes place the weekend after Labor Day, featuring local vendors and live music.

The City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium is a public auditorium that hosts performances and events.

Morganton hosts summer concerts on the Burke County Courthouse Square, featuring local and regional performers.

Parks and recreation

 * Catawba Meadows Park is very close to downtown Morganton and has several baseball diamonds, beach volleyball courts, and other facilities.
 * Martha's Park in downtown Morganton features a splash pad, playground, and picnic area.
 * Freedom Park, adjacent to Freedom High School in Morganton, is a 30-acre park with multiple sports practice facilities (sand volleyball, football, soccer, baseball/softball), lighted tennis court, picnic shelters with grills, and a one-mile lighted track.

Golf courses

 * Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club

Colleges and universities

 * Western Piedmont Community College
 * Foothills Higher Education Center, occupied by Western Piedmont Community College's Division of Continuing Education and serves as a satellite campus for certain courses of study offered by Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College, Montreat College and Western Carolina University.

Public schools

 * Freedom High School
 * Robert L. Patton High School
 * Table Rock Middle School
 * Liberty Middle School
 * Walter R. Johnson Middle School
 * Glen Alpine Elementary School
 * Mull Elementary School
 * Hillcrest Elementary School
 * Chesterfield Elementary School
 * W. A. Young Elementary School
 * Burke Alternative School
 * College Street Academy
 * Salem Elementary School
 * Forest Hill Elementary School
 * Oak Hill Elementary School
 * Burke Middle College
 * Mountain View Elementary School
 * East Burke High School
 * Draughn High School

Private schools

 * Morganton Day School
 * Silver Creek Adventist School

Charter schools

 * New Dimensions Charter School

Specialized STEM schools

 * North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Special education

 * North Carolina School for the Deaf
 * North Liberty Middle School

Other institutions

 * J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

Radio

 * WCIS / 760 AM / Religious
 * WMNC / 1430 AM / Country
 * WMNC / 92.1 FM / Country
 * WHGW / 100.3 FM / Religious

Print

 * The Morganton News Herald is a daily newspaper (circulation 12,000).
 * The Paper is a community-owned weekly newspaper dedicated exclusively to covering Burke County news, founded in 2023.

Highways

 * Interstate 40
 * U.S. Route 70
 * U.S. Route 64

Notable people

 * W. Ted Alexander, member of the North Carolina Senate
 * Alphonso Calhoun Avery, jurist, military officer, and politician
 * Isaac E. Avery, most remembered for the blood-stained note he wrote to his father before dying at Gettysburg during the American Civil War
 * William Waightstill Avery, North Carolina politician and lawyer; brother of Isaac E. Avery
 * Etta Baker, guitarist and singer of the Piedmont Blues
 * Johnny Bristol, musician and Motown producer
 * Donald Brown, former CFL defensive back
 * Tod Robinson Caldwell, governor of North Carolina from 1871 to 1874
 * Joe Cheves, professional golfer and member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
 * Warren Daniel, North Carolina State Senator
 * Kony Ealy, NFL defensive end
 * Robert C. Ervin, North Carolina Superior Court judge
 * Sam Ervin, U.S. senator from 1954 to 1974, notable during the Joseph McCarthy hearings and Watergate hearings
 * Kerri Gardin, WNBA player
 * Alfreda Gerald, vocalist and recording artist
 * Leon Johnson, former NFL running back for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and San Diego Chargers
 * Gray Leadbetter, racing driver
 * Dwayne Ledford, offensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Bill Leslie, TV anchor WRAL News, New Age recording artist
 * Chad Lawson, classical and jazz pianist
 * Billy Joe Patton, amateur golfer and member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
 * Woody Rich, former MLB player for the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves
 * Tommy Giles Rogers Jr., lead singer and keyboardist for the metal band Between the Buried and Me
 * Siiickbrain, singer and model
 * Frankie Silver, the first white woman to be capitally executed in North Carolina
 * Paige Summers, model
 * Isaac M. Taylor, physician and academic; father of musician James Taylor
 * Gladys Avery Tillett, political organizer, active in UNESCO and Equal Rights Amendment activism

title: Morganton, North Carolina


text:
Rutherford College, North Carolina

Rutherford College is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,341. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town was named for the college that was once located there, Rutherford College, which operated from the 1850s until the 1930s. The campus was later purchased by Valdese General Hospital.

Geography
Rutherford College is located in eastern Burke County. It is bordered by Valdese to the west and Connelly Springs to the east.

U.S. Route 70 passes east–west through the southern part of town, and Interstate 40 passes through the southernmost section of the town, with access from exit 113. Morganton, the county seat, is 9 mi to the west, and Hickory is 12 mi to the east. The town is 65 mi east of Asheville, 66 mi northwest of Charlotte, and 184 mi west of the North Carolina state capital of Raleigh.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.9 sqkm, all of it land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,226 people, 534 households, and 358 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,293 people, 541 households, and 381 families residing in the town. The population density was 568.0 PD/sqmi. There were 570 housing units at an average density of 250.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93.74% White, 0.39% African American, 0.31% Native American, 4.25% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.

There were 541 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,579, and the median income for a family was $42,206.

Notable people

 * Arthur Talmage Abernethy (1872–1956), journalist, minister, scholar; first North Carolina Poet Laureate
 * Charles Laban Abernethy (1872–1955), lawyer, congressman from North Carolina
 * Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1882–1973), folklorist, lawyer

title: Rutherford College, North Carolina


text:
Salem, North Carolina

Salem is a census-designated place (CDP) in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,218 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Gilboa Methodist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Geography
Salem is located in central Burke County. It is bordered to the north by the city of Morganton, the county seat.

U.S. Route 64 (Burkemont Avenue) is the main road through the community, leading north into Morganton and southwest 29 mi to Rutherfordton. Interstate 40 passes along the northern edge of the CDP, with access from Exit 103 (US-64).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.1 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,356 people, 890 households, and 444 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,923 people, 918 households, and 678 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 692.3 PD/sqmi. There were 962 housing units at an average density of 227.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.86% White, 15.91% African American, 0.48% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.

There were 918 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 153.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 147.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,050, and the median income for a family was $45,430. Males had a median income of $28,672 versus $21,913 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,506. About 9.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

 * Salem Elementary School
 * Robert Logan Patton High School
 * Liberty Middle School

title: Salem, North Carolina


text:
Valdese, North Carolina

Valdese is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,689 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. One of the largest Waldensian congregations in the United States was founded in the town in the late nineteenth century, now known as the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. The town was settled by immigrants from the Cottian Alps in the Piedmont region of Italy.

History
Settled in 1893 by a group of Waldensians from Northern Italy, the town was incorporated in 1920. The story of the town's founding is told in the outdoor drama From This Day Forward, which has been performed annually in Burke County since 1968.

In addition to Waldensian Presbyterian Church, the Jean-Pierre Auguste Dalmas House and Valdese Elementary School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Valdese News, a newspaper serving Burke County, was published there from 1938 through 1950.

Geography
Valdese is located in eastern Burke County. It is bordered to the east by the town of Rutherford College. The Valdese town limits extend north to Rhodhiss Lake on the Catawba River, then follow the land along the southern side of the lake for 4 mi to the west.

U.S. Route 70 passes through the town as Main Street, leading west 7 mi to the center of Morganton, the county seat, and east 14 mi to Hickory. Interstate 40 runs along the southern border of the town, providing access from exits 111 and 112.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 km2, of which 0.03 km2, or 0.17%, is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,689 people, 1,545 households, and 1,104 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,485 people, 1,886 households, and 1,180 families residing in the town. The population density was 823.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,992 housing units at an average density of 365.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.53% White, 1.05% African American, 0.22% Native American, 3.99% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.25% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.91% of the population.

There were 1,886 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $41,411. Males had a median income of $27,482 versus $22,429 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,965. About 8.3% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

There is also an Occitan-speaking community.

Notable people

 * Hugh Blackwell, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
 * Bill Cline, CFL player
 * Doug Cline, AFL linebacker for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers
 * J. Bazzel Mull, Christian minister and religious broadcaster in East Tennessee
 * Stanley Pons, electrochemist
 * Tyler Shatley, NFL offensive guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars
 * George Shuffler, bluegrass musician

Sister city
Valdese has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:
 * 🇮🇹 Torre Pellice, Italy

title: Valdese, North Carolina


text:
Concord, North Carolina

Concord is the county seat and most populous city in Cabarrus County, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 105,240. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second-most populous city in the Charlotte metropolitan area and is the 10th-most populous city in North Carolina and 287th-most populous city in the U.S.

The city was a winner of the All-America City Award in 2004. Located near the center of Cabarrus County in the Piedmont region, it is 20 mi northeast of Uptown Charlotte. Concord is the home to some of North Carolina's top tourist destinations, including NASCAR's Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills.

History
Concord, located in today's rapidly growing northeast quadrant of the Charlotte metropolitan area, was first settled about 1750 by German and Scots-Irish immigrants. The name Concord means "to bring into harmony". This name was chosen after a lengthy dispute between the German Lutherans and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians over where the county seat should be located. Concord is considered a relatively old town by US standards, as it was incorporated in 1806. Today, markers identifying the original town limits can be seen in the downtown area.

As county seat, Concord became a center of trade and retail for the cotton-producing region, especially on court days. The downtown would be crowded with farmers and townfolk, in addition to lawyers and their clients. During the antebellum era, wealth was built by planters through the cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop; the work was done by enslaved African Americans.

Based on wealth from cotton as a commodity crop and through textile manufacturing, Concord's white planters and business owners built some significant homes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; they range along North and South Union Street and Edgewood Avenue. Within the North Union Historic District is Memorial Garden. Located on 3 acre, the garden winds through the 200-year-old cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church.

Located in the Piedmont, Concord became a site of industrialization with cotton mills in the late 19th century. Among the owners of the new mills in the area were men of the rising black middle-class in Wilmington, North Carolina, such as Warren Clay Coleman, John C. Dancy (appointed as collector of customs at the port), and others, who organized Coleman Manufacturing Company in 1897. They built and operated what is believed to have been the first cotton mill owned by blacks in the nation. They hoped to promote economic security for people of color. However, the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898, with white attacks on black areas of the city, caused many deaths, as well as destroying homes and businesses built by blacks since the Civil War. In 1900, Dancy was among more than 2000 blacks who left the city permanently after the riot. He moved to Washington, DC, appointed as the federal Recorder of Deeds, and had served until 1910. The mill operated under black ownership through 1904, hitting difficult times after Coleman died. The brick mill building was later taken over by Fieldcrest Cannon. It was enlarged and added on to, nearly doubling its square footage.

From the time of incorporation in the late 1700s through the 1970s, Concord's jurisdiction was centered around the downtown area. Since then, most annexations have taken place west of the center-city area toward Charlotte. Portions of the city limit boundary adjoin the Cabarrus/Mecklenburg County line.

Geography
Concord is located in western Cabarrus County, and has a total area of 64.04 sqmi, of which 64.00 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi (0.06%) is water.

Concord is located northeast of Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina. Concord is the second-largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. It is positioned about halfway between Charlotte and Salisbury. Several other smaller cities and towns are located close to Concord, including Kannapolis, China Grove, Landis, Mount Pleasant, Harrisburg, Midland, and Locust.

Climate
Concord has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The city is located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, which is characterized by rolling hills and forest.

The average high temperature in the winter is 43 F, and the average daily low temperature is 29 F. In the summer the average temperature is 79 F, and the average daily high temperature is 88 F. It is not unusual for summer daytime temperatures to reach in the mid to upper 90s and occasionally exceed 100 F. It is typical for winter temperatures to fall into the teens at night, but temperatures generally warm to above freezing during the day. Summer months are characterized as having cool to warm nights with very warm to hot temperatures during the day.

The area receives a generous amount of rainfall at 43.8 in per year, with February and April being the two driest months. Rainfall in the winter is lighter but more frequent, whereas rainfall in the summer is heavier but less frequent. Thunderstorms, both light and strong, are common in the spring and summer months. The sun shines 70 percent of the time in summer and 55 percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from the southwest, with the average highest wind speed of 9 mph in spring.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 105,240 people, 30,660 households, and 21,013 families residing in the city.

2010 census
At the 2010 census, Concord's population is 79,066. Of those persons claiming to be of one race, the racial breakdown is 70.4% white, 17.8% black or African American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 6.4% of other races. Persons of two or more races are 2.3%. Persons belonging to the Hispanic or Latino race are 12.3%. There are 32,130 housing units in Concord. Of those housing units, 90.7% are occupied, and 9.3% are vacant.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 55,977 people, 20,962 households, and 14,987 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,085.3 PD/sqmi. There were 22,485 housing units at an average density of 435.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 78.83% White, 15.10% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.35% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.80% of the population.

In 2000, there were 20,962 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.

In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

Also in 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $46,094, and the median income for a family was $53,571. Males had a median income of $37,030 versus $26,044 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,523. About 5.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Religion
The earliest settlers were mainly immigrants, German Lutherans and German Reformed Protestants, and Scots or Scotch Irish Presbyterians, who began settling in Cabarrus County in the 1750s. In 1773, the Zion (Organ) Church community and the St. Johns Church community of about sixty families commissioned two men, Christopher Rintelmann from Zion Church and Christopher Lyerly from St. Johns Church, to travel to London to seek permission from King George III to acquire a preacher (and a schoolteacher) from Hanover, Germany.

Adolphus Nussmann was chosen by the Consistory of Hanover and became the first Lutheran preacher in North Carolina. He served five churches from Salisbury to Concord, and subsequently established twenty congregations and five schools in the greater Concord, Cabarrus, and Rowan county areas.

Today the county has wide religious diversity, as well as strong overall religious affiliation rates. According to the 2000 Religion Report, more than 63% of area residents are affiliated with a local religious body. Concord is home to many churches including a Jewish congregation, Temple Or Olam and several Islamic worshiping communities including The Islamic Center of Concord.

Economy
Concord has a diverse economy comprising shipping and transportation, banking, manufacturing, motorsports, and various service sectors.

Employers
Concord has many small businesses and several large employers such as Atrium Health, Cabarrus County Schools, Shoe Show, Inc., Celgard LLC, Connextions, Roush Fenway Racing, Sysco Foods, S&D Coffee, and Motor Racing Network, as well as CT Communications (also known as Concord Telephone), before being acquired by Windstream in 2007. The city is home to the international headquarters for ACN Inc.

According to the city's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Shopping
Downtown shopping features merchants offering antiques, fine collectibles, arts and crafts, and a seasonal farmers market. Concord is also home to the large retail venue Concord Mills, and Charlotte Motor Speedway. These two are the primary economic driving forces of the city.

National Register of Historic Places
The Cabarrus County Courthouse was completed in 1876. A 16 ft marble Civil War monument, dedicated in 1892, is located on the front lawn. The courthouse was recognized for its significance and listed in 1974 on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic courthouse now is the home of the Cabarrus Arts Council, the Davis Theater and Historic Cabarrus.

The Barber-Scotia College, Boger-Hartsell Farm, McCurdy Log House, Mill Hill, North Union Street Historic District, Odell-Locke-Randolph Cotton Mill, Reed Gold Mine, South Union Street Courthouse and Commercial Historic District, South Union Street Historic District, Spears House, Stonewall Jackson Training School Historic District, and Union Street North-Cabarrus Avenue Commercial Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Motorsports
Concord is the home to Charlotte Motor Speedway, a NASCAR Research and Development Office (which also is the headquarters for research for touring and sportscar racing operations), and several professional race teams, including Hendrick Motorsports, RFK Racing, Legacy Motor Club, and Chip Ganassi Racing. The speedway opened in 1959 by owner Bruton Smith, who is a native of Oakboro, North Carolina. Smith's company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc., owns Charlotte Motor Speedway. The company also owns and operates a dragstrip and dirt track facility adjacent to the speedway. Concord is also home to Windshear, Inc., a firm that owns a state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility used to test the aerodynamics of vehicles (mostly motorsports vehicles).

Attractions

Concord is home to several notable attractions. This includes two malls, a museum, a family resort, a NASCAR track, and an arena and events center that can be used for multiple purposes for the entire county.

 * Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
 * Carolina Mall
 * Charlotte Motor Speedway
 * Concord Mills
 * Great Wolf Lodge
 * zMax Dragway

Parks and recreation
In 2000, Concord's city council implemented the "Partnerships for Stronger Neighborhoods" program. This program is designed to enhance the lives of residents in the neighborhoods in the city, increasing the quality of both life and events for those calling Concord home. As part of the program, some city staff members have volunteered to be appointed as liaisons to work directly with neighborhoods that participate in the program. Through this effort, strong communication is established between city government and its citizens. There are currently 45 neighborhoods participating in the program, which contributes to making Concord one of the most sought-after communities for homebuyers in the regional real estate market. Choices are diverse, offering modest homes to multimillion-dollar estates.

The City of Concord provides its neighborhoods with three recreational centers, eight parks, four sport complexes, an aquatics center featuring open swimming and swim lessons, Lake Fisher, with 3 mi of lakefront and 534 acre providing boating, fishing, greenways and bike paths. There is also the championship 18-hole Rocky River Golf Club (a Dan Maples design) owned and operated by the City and managed by a contracted company.

Private recreational opportunities are available, including the West Cabarrus YMCA and the Sportscenter. The West Cabarrus YMCA opened in the fall of 2003. The Sportscenter is a privately owned athletic and recreational facility.

Government

Concord has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected for four year terms, with no term limits. As a single body, the city council holds most of the power in the city government. For example, they have the power to pass ordinances, make resolutions, adopt plans, and establish the budget for the city. The mayor is ex officio chairman of the city council, and only votes in case of a tie. In addition to leadership roles, the mayor represents the city at special events and public appearances. The council appoints a professional city manager to manage and implement the decisions of the city council. In general, the municipal government structure consists of the mayor, seven city council members, and the appointed city manager. The current mayor of Concord is William C. "Bill" Dusch, and the current city manager is Lloyd Payne was appointed on April 1, 2018 following the retirement after 20 years of W. Brian Hiatt. Dusch was elected as mayor in 2017, following the retirement of previous mayor, J. Scott Padgett who served as mayor for 16 years.

The Concord city government offers a variety of services to its citizens. Six are required by North Carolina General Statute - fire, police, solid waste, street maintenance, water, and wastewater. Additional services that the city offers are electrical distribution, parks and recreation, stormwater system, transportation (streets maintenance and planning), economic development, planning and zoning, community development programs, environmental protection, a transit system, and operation of a regional airport. The operating budget for fiscal year 2012 totaled $207,724,003. The government generates its revenue from sources such as real property tax, sales tax distributions from the State, water and wastewater service fees, electrical utility fees, business privilege licenses, federal or state grants, investments, and other fees (such as parks and recreation, aviation, zoning, etc.). The revenues are distributed back to the community in the form of services.

Education
Educational opportunities include public and private schools in elementary, secondary, and higher education. Publicly, the area in Concord is served by the Cabarrus County Schools system. There are 12 elementary schools in Concord, seven middle schools, and five high schools. Local private schools include Cannon School and Concord First Assembly Academy.

Higher education

 * Rowan–Cabarrus Community College
 * Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
 * Barber-Scotia College

Highways
Interstate 85 links Concord directly to Greensboro and Durham to the northeast and Charlotte, Greenville, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia to the southwest. Interstate 85 is eight lanes (four northbound, four southbound) through the city. Interstate 485 is located southwest of Concord and parallels the Cabarrus - Mecklenburg County line for several miles, providing access to the Charlotte area. US Highway 29 and US Highway 601 travel through Concord en route to other parts of the Carolinas. US 29 serves as an alternative to Interstate 85 for much of the distance between Charlotte and Greensboro.

Bus
Concord has a local bus system known as CKRider that provides service to Concord and Kannapolis. The system also links to Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) via an express service as well as at regular service connection points. Greyhound also serves the area.

Rail
There is one railroad line that runs through Concord. It is owned by North Carolina Railroad. There are several industrial facilities served by this railroad line. There are no passenger stations located in Concord, but Amtrak has stations located in the adjacent cities of Kannapolis and Charlotte.

Air
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (JQF) is an airport publicly owned and operated by the city of Concord. It is designated as a reliever facility for Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Charlotte Douglas provides Concord with a major domestic/international gateway. Concord-Padgett Regional Airport aviation activity consists of charter aircraft, limited commercial flights, flight schools, and private aircraft. The types of aircraft using the facility range from Cessna 150, to Beechcraft Bonanza, to Grumman Gulfstream IV, to Airbus A319-100, to Airbus A320-200. In 2013 Allegaint Air began providing commercial air service from Concord-Padgett Regional to cities in Florida and New Orleans.

Notable people

 * The Avett Brothers (Scott and Seth Avett), Grammy Nominated bluegrass-rock musicians
 * Carol Barbee, television and movie actress, writer, and producer
 * Joshua Boger, founder and CEO (retired), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX), S&P 500 company
 * Leaky Black, college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels
 * Warren Clay Coleman, born into slavery, he became a successful businessman in Concord, and in 1896 was a founder of the first African-American owned and operated textile mill in the country
 * Jackie Fargo, former professional wrestler
 * Bill Fetzer, college football, basketball, and baseball coach
 * Billy Goodman, professional baseball player for Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox
 * Jay Graham, collegiate and NFL running back, current assistant coach at Florida State
 * Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr., North Carolina senator
 * Jody Hill, film director, screenwriter, producer, actor
 * Jimmy Hitchcock, former NFL cornerback
 * Nikita Koloff, retired WCW professional wrestler
 * Lance Lewis, former NFL wide receiver
 * Gaston Bullock Means, political figure, detective, part of Harding administration's "Ohio Gang"
 * Blanche Taylor Moore, convicted murderer
 * Jessica Moore, anchor and reporter, KSNV, WCBS-TV
 * Wendell Moore Jr., Played college basketball for Duke University, NBA player for Minnesota Timberwolves
 * Mike Morton, linebacker for the North Carolina Tar Heels and four NFL teams
 * Clarence L. Partee, classical guitarist
 * Israel Pickens, third Governor of Alabama and North Carolina congressman
 * Bradley Pinion, NFL punter for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Robert D. Raiford, radio personality John Boy and Billy Big Show
 * Lamont Reid, former NFL and CFL cornerback
 * Rachel Reilly, reality television personality (winner of Big Brother 13)
 * Bill Staton, professional pool player and restaurateur
 * Corey Seager, former professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and now with the Texas Rangers
 * Kyle Seager, professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners
 * Ish Smith, NBA player, played collegiately at Wake Forest
 * Clayton Spencer, 8th President of Bates College
 * Silda Wall Spitzer, First Lady of New York from January 2007 until March 2008
 * Kerry Teague, NASCAR driver
 * Elizabeth Threatt, model and actress
 * Daniel Truhitte, played Rolfe in The Sound of Music
 * Skeet Ulrich, actor
 * Gene Verble, professional baseball player
 * Bubba Wallace, NASCAR driver
 * Kenyan Weaks, Basketball Player

Sister cities
Concord has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

 * 🇮🇪 Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
 * 🇧🇸 Freeport, Bahamas
 * 🇮🇹 Siena, Tuscany, Italy

title: Concord, North Carolina


text:
Harrisburg, North Carolina

Harrisburg is a town in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States. It is a northeastern suburb of Charlotte. In the 2020 census, the population was 18,967.

Geography
Harrisburg is located in southwestern Cabarrus County. It is bordered to the north by Concord and to the west by Charlotte in Mecklenburg County.

North Carolina Highway 49 passes through the center of Harrisburg, leading northeast 57 mi to Asheboro and southwest 13 mi to the center of Charlotte. Charlotte Motor Speedway is 3 mi north of the center of town, within the Concord city limits.

The town of Harrisburg has a total area of 11.15 sqmi, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,967 people, 4,865 households, and 4,164 families residing in the town.

2017 census estimate
At the 2017 census estimate, there were 15,728 people and 4,573 households in the town, with 3.16 persons per household. The population percent change between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2017, was 17.9%. The racial makeup of the town was 72.2% White, 16.1% African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.4% Asian, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino and 2.8% from two or more races. There were 926 Veterans.

In 2016, the median age of all people in Harrisburg was 37.1.

In 2016, there were 4,573 households in Harrisburg, with the median property value being $245,400. The homeownership rate was 89.1%. The national average was 63.6%. The median income for a household in the town was $88,865 and the per capita income was $32,310.

Government
Harrisburg has a council–manager form of government. The Town Council is elected on a non-partisan basis every two years, and members serve staggered four-year terms with no term limits. The mayor is elected separately for a four-year term and is ex officio chair of the Town Council. The Town Council has eight members from the community and appoints a town manager to oversee day-to-day operations.

While the Town Council is responsible for passing ordinances, the town's budget, and other policies, all decisions can be overridden by the North Carolina General Assembly, since North Carolina municipalities do not have home rule. While municipal powers have been broadly construed since the 1960s, the General Assembly still retains considerable authority over local matters.

Education
The percent of people over 25 with a high school diploma or higher was 95.6% and 44.0% for those with a bachelor's degree or higher. Local schools include Harrisburg Elementary School, Hickory Ridge Elementary School, Hickory Ridge Middle School and Hickory Ridge High School.

The largest universities by graduates near Harrisburg are, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. The most common bachelor's degree concentrations are General Business Administration and Management, General Psychology and General Biological Studies.

Notable people

 * Austin McDaniel (born 1994), racing driver
 * Gordon Tottle (1925– 1987), professional ice hockey player

title: Harrisburg, North Carolina


text:
Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Mount Pleasant is a town located in eastern Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,652. The town center is located at the crossroads of Mount Pleasant Road and North Carolina Highway 73. NC Highway 49 skirts the town to the north on its way from Charlotte to Asheboro.

History
The First Congregational Church, Lentz Hotel, Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute Historic District, and Mount Pleasant Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.6 sqkm, all land.

Education
The town is home to Mount Pleasant Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, which serve most of the families of eastern Cabarrus County.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,671 people, 649 households, and 460 families residing in the town.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 1,259 people, 473 households, and 353 families living in the town. The population density was 900.7 PD/sqmi. There were 521 housing units at an average density of 372.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93.09% White, 5.88% African American, 0.32% Asian, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24%.

Of the 473 households 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.6% of households were one person and 9.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median household income was $48,207 and the median family income was $55,568. Males had a median income of $36,900 versus $25,357 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,556. About 2.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people
Mount Pleasant is the hometown of The Avett Brothers, a folk band formed by brothers Scott and Seth Avett.

title: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina


text:
Cajah's Mountain, North Carolina

Cajah's Mountain is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,823 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Cajah's Mountain was incorporated as a town in 1983.

Geography
Cajah's Mountain is located in southern Caldwell County. It is bordered to the north by Lenoir, the county seat. Cajah Mountain's highest elevation 1530 ft, is at the southern end of the town next to Connelly Springs Road, the major north–south road through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.8 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,722 people, 1,184 households, and 753 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,683 people, 996 households, and 726 families residing in the town. The population density was 877.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 341.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.19% White, 3.17% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 996 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,566, and the median income for a family was $43,462. Males had a median income of $31,156 versus $21,168 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,909. About 8.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Cajah's Mountain, North Carolina


text:
Cedar Rock, North Carolina

Cedar Rock is a village in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 300 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Cedar Rock is located in east-central Caldwell County northeast of Lenoir, the county seat. The village surrounds the Cedar Rock Country Club and climbs the northern slopes of the Brushy Mountains.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.0 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 301 people, 109 households, and 86 families residing in the village.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 315 people, 123 households, and 110 families residing in the village. The population density was 283.2 PD/sqmi. There were 126 housing units at an average density of 113.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.41% White, 0.32% Asian, 1.27% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 123 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 87.0% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.8% were non-families. 9.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 15.9% from 25 to 44, 41.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $116,686, and the median income for a family was $128,975. Males had a median income of $90,950 versus $40,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $66,022. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

title: Cedar Rock, North Carolina


text:
Gamewell, North Carolina

Gamewell is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,051 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Gamewell was incorporated as a town June 23, 1981.

Geography
Gamewell is located in southwestern Caldwell County. It is bordered on the northeast by the city of Lenoir, the county seat. U.S. Route 64 passes through the town, leading northeast into Lenoir and southwest 10 mi to Morganton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.0 km2, all land. Gamewell is located in the valley of Lower Creek, a southwestward-flowing tributary of the Catawba River.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,702 people, 1,545 households, and 1,112 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,644 people, 1,501 households, and 1,116 families residing in the town. The population density was 458.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,615 housing units at an average density of 203.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.10% White, 3.92% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 1,501 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,225, and the median income for a family was $43,167. Males had a median income of $26,654 versus $22,039 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,536. About 7.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Gamewell, North Carolina


text:
Granite Falls, North Carolina

Granite Falls is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,722 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The name Granite Falls comes from the waters that splash over the granite boulders spanning Gunpowder Creek. In 1791, pioneer Andrew Baird began operating an iron works beside Gunpowder Creek, and in doing so, became owner of all the land now occupied by the Town of Granite Falls. The community would start to form from that point. Granite Falls was incorporated as a town in 1899. Before its incorporation, Granite Falls went by many other names such as Baird's Forge, Catawba View, Lovelady, and Granite.

Geography
Granite Falls is located near the southern border of Caldwell County. It is bordered to the south by the town of Rhodhiss, to the southwest by Lake Rhodhiss on the Catawba River (Lake Hickory), and to the west by the town of Sawmills. The center of town is located on a ridge between the Catawba River to the west and Gunpowder Creek, a tributary of the Catawba, to the east.

U.S. Route 321 (Hickory Boulevard) is a four-lane highway that passes through the eastern side of town; it leads 6 mi southeast to the center of Hickory and 10 mi northwest to Lenoir, the Caldwell County seat. US 321 Alternate runs through the center of Granite Falls as North and South Main Street.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.6 km2, of which 13.5 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 0.84%, is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,965 people, 1,799 households, and 1,344 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,612 people, 1,758 households, and 1,211 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,080.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,849 housing units at an average density of 433.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.06% White, 2.34% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.95% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.07% of the population.

There were 1,758 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,596, and the median income for a family was $47,064. Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $21,374 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,750. About 5.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

92% of larceny calls to police in Granite Falls are related to the local Walmart.

High school

 * South Caldwell High School (Hudson address)

Middle school

 * Granite Falls Middle School

Elementary schools

 * Baton Elementary School
 * Dudley Shoals Elementary School
 * Granite Falls Elementary School
 * Sawmills Elementary School

Alternative school

 * Gateway School (grades 6–12)

Media

 * Kicks 103.3, Kicks 103.3, local radio station
 * WJRI, News Talk 1340 WJRI, local radio station
 * WKGX, AM 1080 WKGX, local radio station
 * WYCV AM 900, local radio station

Notable people

 * Madison Bumgarner – MLB pitcher, 3x World Series Champion and 2014 World Series MVP
 * Eric Church – country music singer-songwriter
 * Jack Curtis – former MLB player
 * Donnie Kirkpatrick – college football coach
 * Cyndee Peters – American-Swedish gospel singer and author
 * Edgar V. Starnes – politician and real estate investor
 * Amy H. Sturgis – author, speaker, and scholar of science fiction/fantasy studies and Native American studies
 * Maxie Williams – former NFL player

title: Granite Falls, North Carolina


text:
Hudson, North Carolina

Hudson is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Hudson originated as a sawmill camp, with timber being the initial attraction to the area. Among early settlers to Hudson, were the Hudson brothers, Monroe and Johnny. The name Hudson was selected honoring these two brothers as the name of the community. "Hudsonville" would come into being in 1880, with the "ville" being dropped in 1889 due to mail confusion with Hendersonville. In 1905, Hudson was incorporated as a town.

In 1904, businessman B.B. Hayes of the textile business came to Hudson and established the first big industry, the Hudson Cotten Mill (known as Shuford Mills). The Hudson Cotton Manufacturing Company was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Overview
Hudson is located in the foothills region of Western North Carolina. Located in an area once known mainly for its furniture industry, industries in Hudson today include Kincaid Furniture, Shurtape Technologies, BeoCare, and Sattler Outdura. According to the 2010 census, Hudson has a population of approximately 3,800 people. During the day this jumps to over 11,000 due to those who work in town and those who attend school at Caldwell Community College and other surrounding schools.

Hudson's landmarks, most of which are located near the main street area, include the Hudson Uptown Building (known as the "HUB", site of the former Hudson Elementary school, now an event space), local businesses along main street, and Caldwell Community College from US 321.

The town has two parks. Redwood Park features a playground, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, several ballfields, and a dog park. The Hickman Windmill Park & Depot Museum features the Historic Hudson Depot and Red Caboose, as well as a 19th century windmill. Music is often performed in the park, most notably Pickin' in the Park during summer months which later evolved into the Hudson Hometown Concert Series.

On clear days, Hudson offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including Grandfather Mountain. These views can be seen over Hudson Middle School directly off the US Highway 321 Hudson exit. Hudson also hosts Caldwell County's oldest continuous event, The Butterfly Festival, which is held the first Saturday every May with attendance of between 8,000–10,000 people.

Geography
Hudson is located in southern Caldwell County. It is bordered to the north by the city of Lenoir, the county seat, and to the south by the town of Sawmills. U.S. Route 321, a four-lane highway, runs along the eastern edge of the town, leading northwest into Lenoir and southeast 11 mi to Hickory. US 321 Alternate passes through the center of the town as Main Street.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Hudson has a total area of 9.7 km2, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,780 people, 1,527 households, and 1,048 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,078 people, 1,324 households, and 933 families residing in the town. The population density was 839.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,400 housing units at an average density of 381.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.40% White, 0.13% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 1.10% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 1,324 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,562, and the median income for a family was $42,000. Males had a median income of $29,949 versus $22,727 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,519. About 3.7% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

High schools

 * Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
 * Caldwell Early College High School
 * South Caldwell High School

Middle school

 * Hudson Middle School

Elementary school

 * Hudson Elementary School

Private school

 * Heritage Christian School

Independent school

 * Moravian Prep

Higher education

 * Appalachian Center at Caldwell (located on Hudson Campus of CCC&TI)
 * Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute

Media

 * WHKY, 1290 WHKY TalkRadio, local radio station
 * WJRI, Just Right Radio 100.5 FM/1340 AM WJRI, local radio stations
 * WKGX, Classic Hits 104.5 FM/1080 AM WKGX, local radio stations
 * WKVS, Hot New Country KICKS 103.3 FM WKVS, local radio station
 * WAIZ, "63 Big Ways", AM 630, local radio station featuring 1950s and 1960s oldies

Notable people

 * Madison Bumgarner – MLB pitcher, 3x World Series Champion, 2014 World Series MVP
 * Linda Combs – former U.S. federal government official
 * Jan Karon – New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Mitford series of novels
 * Bob McCreary – former NFL player and furniture business entrepreneur

title: Hudson, North Carolina


text:
Lenoir, North Carolina

Lenoir is a city in and the county seat of Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,263 at the 2020 census. Lenoir is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the northeast are the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hibriten Mountain, located just east of the city limits, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range.

Lenoir is one of the principal cities in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Lenoir was established in 1841 and incorporated in 1851. The city was named for Revolutionary War general and early North Carolina statesman William Lenoir, who settled north of present-day Lenoir. His restored home, Fort Defiance, is a tourist attraction.

Early history
The original settlement of Lenoir was known as Tucker's Barn, after a Tucker family that settled on the north side of Lower Creek around 1765. The homestead eventually served as a voting precinct, a muster ground, a store, and a place for celebrations. When Caldwell County was formed in 1841, a commission was appointed to choose a location for the county seat. One member proposed the south side of Lower Creek (today, the Whitnel area) because of its view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, since most of the county's population was on the north side of Lower Creek, the Tucker's Barn site was chosen, where Lenoir is today.

American Civil War
During Gen. Stonemans final raid in 1865 during the American Civil War, Lenoir was raided both on March 30th and April 15th, in which confederate soldiers and citizens of Lenoir were locked inside the old St. James Episcopal Church building located downtown.

Along with this; multiple Civil War companies were formed with men from Lenoir & Caldwell County, with the likely most renowned being Company F "Hibriten Guards" and Company I "Caldwell Guards" of the 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, at the Battle of Gettysburg the Hibriten Guards suffered a one hundred percent loss rate with all eighty-seven of it's men & officers being wounded.

National Register of Historic Places locations
In addition to Fort Defiance, the Caldwell County Courthouse, Lenoir Downtown Historic District, Lenoir Grammar School, Lenoir High School, Mary's Grove, and Edgar Allan Poe House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Lenoir is southeast of the center of Caldwell County, and is bordered to the south by the towns of Hudson and Cajah's Mountain, and to the southwest by the town of Gamewell.

The city is at the intersection of U.S. Highways 64 and 321. US 64 leads east 42 mi to Statesville and southwest 15 mi to Morganton, while US 321 leads north 27 mi to Boone and southeast 17 mi to Hickory.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lenoir has a total area of 50.9 km2, all land. The city is in the valley of Lower Creek, between the Brushy Mountains to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Lower Creek flows southwest to the Catawba River valley.

Climate
Lenoir has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with cool to mild winters and warm, humid summers. Due to the city's proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains, temperatures tend to be slightly cooler than areas to the east.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,352 people, 7,340 households, and 4,539 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,793 people, 6,913 households, and 4,569 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,013.7 PD/sqmi. There were 7,461 housing units at an average density of 450.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 80.88% White, 14.71% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.25% of the population.

There were 6,913 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,369, and the median income for a family was $37,280. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $21,895 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,697. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The Broyhill Furniture company, one of the largest furniture companies in the United States and part of Heritage Home Group (KPS Capital Partners), recently closed its headquarters in Lenoir. Furniture in general has historically been one of the city's largest employers. The Bernhardt, Kincaid, and Fairfield furniture companies are based in or around Lenoir. In the 1990s, these companies began changing their business models to reflect consumer trends, and closed several of Lenoir's furniture factories. Recent consolidations of area furniture facilities (Thomasville, Taylorsville, North Wilkesboro, etc.) have netted modest gains in positions in the industry around Lenoir. The medical and education sectors are now the area's largest employers.

Google, Inc. has a server farm, or "data center", in Lenoir. There was controversy over the nature, amount, and potential benefits of economic development incentives that the City of Lenoir, Caldwell County, and the State of North Carolina gave Google in 2007 to induce the company to build the server farm. The less celebrated benefits of the investment have been construction employment and spending, a small-time server farm investment just outside downtown, Dacentec, as well as local charitable and educational endeavors by Google.

Wholesale nurseries, shipping large balled and burlap plants to landscapers in metropolitan areas, have been a strong source of employment in Lenoir over the last 75 years. Local nurseries employ around two percent of the local population.

Parks and recreation

 * 5.3 mile Greenway system
 * Mack Cook Stadium
 * Mulberry Recreation Center
 * T. Henry Wilson Athletic Park
 * T.H. Broyhill Walking Park
 * Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex
 * J.E. Broyhill Park
 * Martin Luther King Center
 * Zack's Fork Mountain Bike Trail

Teams

 * Lenoir Youth Soccer Association / Lenoir Force (LYSA Force), a travel soccer team in Lenoir
 * Caldwell County Youth Football League
 * Post 29 Youth Baseball
 * Carolina Express Basketball

Recreation

 * The Lenoir Aquatic and Fitness Center is open to the public and features an Olympic size swimming pool, indoor junior size swimming pool, water slides, racquetball courts, exercise equipment, a steam and weight room, locker rooms, covered shelters, and a walking and mountain bike training system.
 * The 18-hole Lenoir Golf Club in Lenoir features 6,385 yards of golf, with a course rating of 71.3 and a slope rating of 125, on Bermuda grass. The course opened with nine holes in 1928, was redesigned by Donald Ross in 1945, and was expanded to 18 holes in 1961.

Hiking

 * Nearby Hibriten Mountain has a 5.4 mi hiking trail, climbing 740 ft on a gated-gravel road.

High schools

 * Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
 * Caldwell Early College High School
 * Hibriten High School
 * South Caldwell High School
 * West Caldwell High School

Middle schools

 * Gamewell Middle School
 * William Lenoir Middle School

K–8 schools

 * Happy Valley School
 * Kings Creek School
 * Oak Hill Charter School

Elementary schools

 * Davenport A+ School
 * Gamewell Elementary School
 * Lower Creek Elementary School
 * Valmead Elementary School
 * West Lenoir Elementary School
 * Whitnel Elementary School

Alternative schools

 * Horizons Elementary
 * Gateway School

College

 * Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is the community college serving Caldwell County

Media

 * WKVS, Kicks 103.3 FM, local country music radio station
 * WJRI, Star 94.7 FM, 100.5 FM & 1340 AM, local adult hits radio station
 * WKGX, 104.5 FM, 99.5 FM & AM 1080, local classic hits radio station
 * W218BW, FM 91.5, translator for WETS, East Tennessee State University radio station
 * News-Topic, local newspaper in Lenoir and Caldwell Counties
 * The Presbyterian Layman, a publication of the Presbyterian Lay Committee independent of the denomination, is published in Lenoir.

Highways

 * [[Image:US 321.svg|20px]] US 321
 * [[Image:US 64.svg|20px]] US 64
 * [[Image:NC 18.svg|20px]] NC 18
 * [[Image:NC 90.svg|20px]] NC 90
 * [[Image:NC 268.svg|20px]] NC 268
 * [[Image:NC 268.svg|20px]] NC 268

Notable people

 * Johnny Allen – MLB pitcher, World Series Champion with the New York Yankees in 1932 and All-Star selection in 1938
 * Claude Baker – composer
 * Leonard Bolick – bishop of the ELCA North Carolina Synod
 * Jim Broyhill – former United States congressman for North Carolina from 1962 to 1986 and a U.S. senator from July 1986 to November 1986
 * Ervin M. Bruner – former Wisconsin State Assemblyman
 * Madison Bumgarner – MLB pitcher, three-time World Series Champion with the San Francisco Giants and 2014 World Series MVP
 * Linda Combs – former U.S. government official
 * Charlie Cozart – MLB pitcher for the Boston Braves
 * Lindsay Deal – MLB outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers
 * Nick Easton – former NFL offensive lineman
 * Bob Gibbons – high school basketball sports scout
 * Destin Hall – member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 87th district
 * Jan Karon – New York Times-bestselling author of the Mitford Series and the Father Tim novels
 * William Lenoir – Revolutionary War General and namesake of Lenoir
 * Harry Martin – former North Carolina Supreme Court justice
 * Bob McCreary – former NFL player and entrepreneur
 * Kary Banks Mullis – biochemist and Nobel laureate; inventor of the Polymerase chain reaction
 * James Pritchett – actor who played the central character of Dr. Matt Powers on The Doctors soap opera for its entire 1963 to 1982 run
 * Larry Smith – former NASCAR driver
 * Carl Story – influential bluegrass musician
 * Magruder Tuttle – real admiral in the U.S. Navy
 * Rube Walker – MLB catcher, two-time World Series Champion with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
 * Verlon Walker – former MLB coach
 * Stephanie Powell Watts – author
 * Louis Round Wilson – University Librarian and first director of the library school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1901–1932
 * John G. Witherspoon – captain in the United States Coast Guard
 * George Younce – southern gospel vocalist, known for singing bass with The Cathedrals

Accolades
Lenoir was one of the recipients of the 2008 All-America City Award.

title: Lenoir, North Carolina


text:
Northlakes, North Carolina

Northlakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Northlakes is located at the southeastern end of Caldwell County. It is bordered to the southeast by Lake Hickory, a reservoir on the Catawba River. The river forms the Caldwell County line, with Burke and Catawba counties on the opposite side.

The city of Hickory is on the opposite side of Lake Hickory and also borders Northlakes to the west. The town of Granite Falls borders Northlakes to the northwest. Along the northern edge of the community is Gunpowder Creek, inundated to form an arm of Lake Hickory.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.9 km2, of which 3.9 km2 is land and 1.0 km2, or 21.24%, is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,543 people, 617 households, and 400 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census
At the time of the 2000 Census, there were 1,390 people, 511 households, and 429 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 932.2 PD/sqmi. There were 535 housing units at an average density of 358.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.27% White, 0.50% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 511 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.9% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $67,692, and the median income for a family was $67,237. Males had a median income of $56,429 versus $33,000 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,285. About 1.4% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Northlakes, North Carolina


text:
Sawmills, North Carolina

Sawmills is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 5,240. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named after the timber industry that formerly predominated in the area during its early history.

History
The community of Sawmills began in the late 1800s. The name "Sawmills" originates from the sawmills that were set up in the area due to the timber industry. The railroad system that ran through Caldwell County is one of the main reasons for the sawmills to locate in what would become the community of Sawmills. Sawmills was incorporated as a town in 1988. The nearby towns of Granite Falls and Hudson battling for potential business property in the area, is what led the Sawmills community to vote for incorporation.

Geography
Sawmills is located in southern Caldwell County, bordered by Hudson to the north and Granite Falls to the east. Lake Rhodhiss borders the town to the south.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sawmills has a total area of 17.2 sqkm, of which 0.02 sqkm, or 0.09%, is water.

Sawmills Veterans Park is located on Lake Rhodhiss, providing trails and recreational facilities such as baseball fields, a soccer field, playground, boat launch area, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,020 people, 1,959 households, and 1,417 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,921 people, 1,942 households, and 1,448 families residing in the town. The population density was 787.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,045 housing units at an average density of 327.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.55% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.

There were 1,942 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,391, and the median income for a family was $41,579. Males had a median income of $27,933 versus $20,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,597. About 4.3% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: Sawmills, North Carolina