Caldwell County, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 164 people per square mile (63/km²). There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.74% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.46% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.49% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 30,768 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,739, and the median income for a family was $41,665. Males had a median income of $28,820 versus $21,850 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,353. About 7.60% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Blowing RockBlowing Rock, North CarolinaBlowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...
- Cajah's MountainCajah's Mountain, North CarolinaCajah's Mountain is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,683 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Cedar RockCedar Rock, North CarolinaCedar Rock is a village in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 315 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cedar Rock is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
- CollettsvilleCollettsville, North CarolinaCollettsville is a small unincorporated community in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Housing:...
- GamewellGamewell, North CarolinaGamewell is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,644 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gamewell is located at ....
- Granite FallsGranite Falls, North CarolinaGranite Falls is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,612 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- HudsonHudson, North CarolinaHudson is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- LenoirLenoir, North CarolinaLenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
- SawmillsSawmills, North CarolinaSawmills is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,921 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- NorthlakesNorthlakes, North CarolinaNorthlakes is a census-designated place in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,390 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- RhodhissRhodhiss, North CarolinaRhodhiss is a town in Caldwell and Burke counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 366 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
Notable people
- Claude BakerClaude BakerW. Claude Baker Jr. is an American composer of contemporary classical music.Claude Baker attained a B.M. degree, magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in 1970. He subsequently studied composition at the Eastman School of Music with Samuel Adler and Warren Benson, and holds M.M. and D.M.A...
, composer - Etta BakerEtta BakerEtta Baker was an American Piedmont blues guitarist and singer from North Carolina, United States.-Biography:...
, musician - William Horton Bower, US Congressman
- Jim BroyhillJim BroyhillJames Thomas "Jim" Broyhill is a Republican former U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of North Carolina. He represented much of the Foothills region of the state in the House from 1963 to 1986, and served in the Senate for four months in 1986.He was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, the...
, US Congressman and US Senator - Claudia ChurchClaudia ChurchClaudia Church is an American country singer whose hits include "What's the Matter With You Baby" and "Home in My Heart ".-Biography:...
, country music artist - Eric ChurchEric ChurchKenneth Eric Church is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me that year...
, country music artist - Clinton A. CilleyClinton A. CilleyClinton Albert Cilley was a North Carolina lawyer and judge, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions as an officer in the Union Army at the Battle of Chickamauga in the American Civil War....
, mayor of Lenoir and Medal of Honor recipient - Dr. Linda Combs, U.S. government official
- Rick HendrixRick HendrixRichard Binghames Hendrix Jr. , better known by the name Rick Hendrix, is an American entertainment promoter and songwriter of southern gospel, country music and pop music...
, Grammy Award winning producer, writer - William LenoirWilliam Lenoir (general)William Lenoir was an American Revolutionary War officer and prominent statesman in late 18th-century and early 19th-century North Carolina. Both the City of Lenoir, North Carolina and Lenoir County, North Carolina are named for him. Additionally, Lenoir City, Tennessee is jointly named for him...
, soldier and statesman - Kary MullisKary MullisKary Banks Mullis is a Nobel Prize winning American biochemist, author, and lecturer. In recognition of his improvement of the polymerase chain reaction technique, he shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Michael Smith and earned the Japan Prize in the same year. The process was first...
, scientist and Nobel laureate - William C. NewlandWilliam C. NewlandWilliam Calhoun "Will" Newland was an attorney who served a term as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina .A Democrat, Newland had previously served as mayor of his hometown, Lenoir, North Carolina, and was elected to terms in the North Carolina Senate and in the North Carolina House of...
, NC Lt. Governor - George W. Petrie Jr., Major, United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(Retired), a Green Beret, first man on the ground on the Son TaySon TaySơn Tây is an urban district and city in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It was the capital of Son Tay province before merging with Ha Dong province in 1965...
Raid to rescue prisoners of warOperation Ivory CoastOperation Ivory Coast was a failed rescue mission conducted in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War by United States Special Operations Forces and other elements of the U.S. Military....
held in North VietnamNorth VietnamThe Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in 1970; Caldwell County's most decorated soldier of the Vietnam war; planned and coordinated the Evacuation of Saigon, last U.S. Army Special Forces Officer to leave South Vietnam during the Fall of SaigonFall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
, April 30, 1975; two time recipient of the Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. - James PritchettJames PritchettJames Pritchett was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Matt Powers on the long-running soap opera The Doctors. He was born in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1922...
, actor - Larry SmithLarry Smith (NASCAR)Larry Smith , born in Lenoir, North Carolina, United States, was a former NASCAR driver. He made his debut in the 1971 World 600 in the #92 Ford, finishing 22nd. He would go on to run three more races that year, acquiring one top-ten finish...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Dr. Vaughn Starnes, Considered the foremost pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon in the world, he made history performing the first successful 'living related' lung transplant.
- Four Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players:- Johnny AllenJohnny Allen (baseball)John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....
- Lindsay DealLindsay DealFred Lindsay Deal , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield for the 1939 Brooklyn Dodgers.-External links:...
- Charlie CozartCharlie CozartCharles Rhubin Cozart was a Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in five games, all in relief, for the Boston Braves in 1945. The 25-year-old rookie left-hander was a native of Lenoir, North Carolina....
- Rube WalkerRube WalkerAlbert Bluford "Rube" Walker was an American Major League Baseball catcher and longtime pitching coach....
- Johnny Allen
- Madison BumgarnerMadison BumgarnerMadison Bumgarner is an American baseball pitcher with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" and 225 pounds and has a 90–95 MPH fastball...
, drafted 10th by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball DraftThe 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
, graduate of South Caldwell High School and a member of the Caldwell County Post 29 American Legion baseball team. - Eric ChurchEric ChurchKenneth Eric Church is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me that year...
, Musician