Caldwell County is a county in North Carolina, United States, on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ foothills. It had a population of 80,652 at the 2020 census and covers 474.61 square miles (1,229 km2), of which 471.89 square miles (1,222 km2) is land, centred near 35°58′N 81°31′W.
Lenoir is the county seat, and its postal code is 28645. The county has seven incorporated towns and a village, along with dozens of unincorporated communities. It sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 37027.
Towns & Villages in Caldwell County
Caldwell County has one city, six towns, and one village, plus a long list of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered through the county’s foothill valleys. In the table below, “Unincorp.” marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir | City · seat | 18,263 | 28645, 28633 |
| Granite Falls | Town | — | 28630 |
| Hudson | Town | — | 28638 |
| Sawmills | Town | — | 28645 |
| Cajah’s Mountain | Town | — | 28645 |
| Gamewell | Town | — | 28645 |
| Rhodhiss | Town | — | 28667 |
| Cedar Rock | Village | — | — |
| Collettsville | Unincorp. | — | 28611 |
| Patterson | Unincorp. | — | 28661 |
| Yadkin Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grandin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Legerwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Globe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dudley Shoals | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mulberry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Happy Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fort Defiance | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mortimer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edgemont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buffalo Cove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kings Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Finley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Draco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitnel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Lenoir | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valmead | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hartland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Herman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cloverdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Rock Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Piney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Warrior | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rufus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Joyceton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olivette | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Abingdon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smokey Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brown Mountain Beach | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Adako | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Charlesmont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grace Chapel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Northlakes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinehurst | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinewood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blowing Rock Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Berkshire Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cherokee Woods | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gamewell Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hampton Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heritage Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laurel Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mayfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Queens Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rambling Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Richland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spencer Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sycamore Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Town and Country | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tranquil Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tremont Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Auld Farm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bailey Camp | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beacon Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| British Woods | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Calico Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cloverhill Plantation | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Corola Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairway Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Falcon Crest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grand View Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Granville Terrace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Honey Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnson Development | Unincorp. | — | — |
| LeMar Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain View Development | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Lakes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakmont Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Farm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Petra Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pineburr | Unincorp. | — | — |
| The Forest at Blowing Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
Rhodhiss also has a slice of its town limits across the Catawba River in neighbouring Burke County, so its full population is not counted entirely within Caldwell. Rutherford College, a town mostly seated in Burke County, extends into southern Caldwell but is not included above since the bulk of its population and government sit outside the county.
ZIP Codes
- 28645 — Lenoir
- 28633 — Lenoir (unique/PO box ZIP)
- 28630 — Granite Falls
- 28638 — Hudson
- 28667 — Rhodhiss
- 28611 — Collettsville
- 28661 — Patterson
Cajah’s Mountain, Gamewell, and Sawmills sit within the Lenoir (28645) ZIP rather than carrying a ZIP code of their own.
Geography
Caldwell County sits where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Piedmont, so its terrain runs from rolling foothill valleys in the east to steep mountain slopes in the northwest, where Grandfather Mountain’s ridgeline forms part of the county line. The Catawba River and its reservoir, Lake Rhodhiss, cross the southeastern part of the county, and Wilson Creek, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, drains the mountainous northwest.
Caldwell County borders Watauga County to the north, Wilkes County to the northeast, Alexander County to the east, Catawba County to the southeast, Burke County to the south, and Avery County to the west.
Demographics
Caldwell County had a population of 80,652 at the 2020 census, for a density of about 171 people per square mile. Lenoir, the county seat, is by far the largest community; Granite Falls and Hudson are the next-largest towns. The county’s median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, consistent with its long-declining furniture- and textile-manufacturing base.
Economy & Local Life
Caldwell County was historically a national center of furniture manufacturing, home to Broyhill Furniture Industries, and the industry still employs a meaningful share of the workforce alongside healthcare (Caldwell UNC Health Care in Lenoir) and county and municipal government. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, based in Lenoir with a satellite campus in Watauga County, is a major regional trainer. Tourism tied to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Wilson Creek’s whitewater and hiking trails, and nearby Blowing Rock draws visitors to the county’s western end.
History
Caldwell County was formed in 1841 from parts of Wilkes and Burke counties and named for Joseph Caldwell, the first president of the University of North Carolina. Lenoir, the county seat, was named for General William Lenoir, a Revolutionary War officer. The county’s economy shifted from agriculture to furniture and textile manufacturing in the late 19th and 20th centuries, a legacy still visible in Lenoir’s historic furniture-district buildings.
Getting There
US 321 is the county’s main north-south corridor, connecting Lenoir to Hickory to the south and Blowing Rock and Boone to the north; US 64 and US 221 also cross the county, and NC 18, NC 90, and NC 268 link the smaller towns.
- Hickory — 15 miles south
- Boone — 25 miles north
- Morganton — 20 miles southwest
- Wilkesboro — 25 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Hickory Regional Airport; Charlotte Douglas International Airport, about 75 miles southeast, offers the nearest major air service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Caldwell County, North Carolina?
Caldwell County is in North Carolina’s foothills, on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Hickory and Boone.
What is the population of Caldwell County?
Caldwell County had a population of 80,652 at the 2020 census.
How big is Caldwell County?
The county covers 474.61 square miles (1,229 km2), of which 471.89 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Caldwell County?
Lenoir is the county seat.
How many towns are in Caldwell County?
Caldwell County has one city (Lenoir), six incorporated towns (Granite Falls, Hudson, Sawmills, Cajah’s Mountain, Gamewell, and Rhodhiss), and one village (Cedar Rock), plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Caldwell County?
The main ZIP codes are 28645 and 28633 (Lenoir), 28630 (Granite Falls), 28638 (Hudson), 28667 (Rhodhiss), 28611 (Collettsville), and 28661 (Patterson).
What was Caldwell County named for?
Caldwell County was named for Joseph Caldwell, the first president of the University of North Carolina, when it was formed in 1841.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.