North Carolina

Caldwell

80,652
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Caldwell

Caldwell, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 6,317. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 80,652.

Its recorded population peaked at 83,029 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Stoneman's Raid — Lenoir NC, and 20 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202080,652
201083,029
200077,415
199070,709
198067,746
197056,699
196049,552
195043,352
194035,795
193028,016
192019,984
191020,579
190015,694
189012,298
188010,291
18708,476
18607,497
18506,317
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Caldwell

Military engagements that took place in Caldwell, North Carolina.

Stoneman's Raid — Lenoir NC
1865

Historic places in Caldwell

National Register of Historic Places listings in Caldwell, North Carolina.

Lenoir Cotton Mill-Blue Bell Inc. Plant
Lenoir
Clover Hill
Patterson
Lenoir Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Lenoir
Fountain, The
Yadkin Valley
Patterson School Historic District
Legerwood
Lenoir Downtown Historic District
Lenoir
Poe, Edgar Allan, House
Lenoir
Fort Defiance
Lenoir
Lenoir High School
Lenoir
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

CatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayClevelandColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidsonDavieDuplinDurhamEdgecombeForsythFranklinGastonGates
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Everything a full report reveals about Caldwell County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Caldwell County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Caldwell

When does Caldwell first appear in the US census?
Caldwell, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 6,317.
What is the population of Caldwell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Caldwell had a recorded population of 80,652.
When did Caldwell's population peak?
Caldwell's recorded population peaked at 83,029 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Caldwell?
1 documented military engagement took place in Caldwell, including Stoneman's Raid — Lenoir NC.
How many historic places are in Caldwell?
20 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Caldwell, North Carolina.
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