Map of Caldwell County, North Carolina

Caldwell County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,652. Its county seat is Lenoir. Caldwell County is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Caldwell County overview:
Name:	Caldwell County
FIPS code:	37-027
State:	North Carolina
Founded:	1841
Named for:	Joseph Caldwell
Seat:	Lenoir
Largest city:	Lenoir
Total Area:	474 sq mi (1,230 km²)
Land Area:	472 sq mi (1,220 km²)
Total Population:	80,652
Population Density:	170.9/sq mi (66.0/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−5 (Eastern)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−4 (EDT)
Website:	www.caldwellcountync.org

Caldwell County location map. Where is Caldwell County?

Caldwell County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Caldwell County. — Location of Caldwell County in the the United States.

Caldwell County location on the North Carolina map. Where is Caldwell County. — Location of Caldwell County in North Carolina.

History

The county was formed in 1841 from parts of Burke County and Wilkes County. It was named for Joseph Caldwell, presiding professor and the first president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A series of reductions to the county’s territory have taken place since its initial formation. In 1847, parts of Caldwell County, Iredell County, and Wilkes County were combined to form Alexander County. In 1849, parts of Caldwell County, Ashe County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County were combined to form Watauga County. In 1861, parts of Caldwell County, Burke County, McDowell County, Watauga County, and Yancey County were combined to form Mitchell County. Finally, in 1911 parts of Caldwell County, Mitchell County, and Watauga County were combined to form Avery County.

Caldwell County Road Map

Caldwell CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Caldwell County, North Carolina. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Caldwell CountyMap — Caldwell Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km), of which 472 square miles (1,220 km) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km) (0.6%) is water.

Caldwell County is divided into three distinct geographic sections: the Blue Ridge Mountains, which dominate the northern and western parts of the county; the gently rolling Piedmont country in the middle and southern parts of the county; and the Brushy Mountains, an isolated remnant of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The “Brushies”, as they are often called, run across much of Caldwell County’s eastern section. Hibriten Mountain, located within the city limits of Lenoir, the county’s largest city, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountain range. In the western part of the county is the Wilson Creek area.

National protected areas

Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
Pisgah National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas

Backbone Ridge State Forest
Grandfather Mountain State Park (part)
Tuttle Educational State Forest

Major water bodies

Beaver Creek
Blue Creek
Catawba River
Gunpowder Creek
Husband Creek
Johns River
Lake Hickory
Little Gunpowder Creek
Little King Creek
Lower Creek
Mill Creek
Mulberry Creek
Rhodhiss Lake
Rock Creek
Silver Creek
Upper Little River
Wilson Creek
Yadkin River

Adjacent counties

Watauga County – north
Wilkes County – northeast
Alexander County – east
Catawba County – southeast
Burke County – south
Avery County – west

Major highways

US 64
US 221
US 321, busiest highway in the county with an annual average daily traffic count of 39,000.
US 321A
NC 18
NC 90
NC 268

Major infrastructure

Caldwell County has one railroad, the Caldwell County Railroad which interchanges with the Norfolk Southern Railway in Hickory, North Carolina.
Foothills Regional Airport (partially in Burke County)