North Carolina

McDowell

44,578
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About McDowell

McDowell, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 6,246. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 44,578.

Its recorded population peaked at 44,996 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of McDowell's Camp Jun 1780, Battle of McDowell's Camp (Cane Creek), Stoneman's Raid — Marion NC, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202044,578
201044,996
200042,151
199035,681
198035,135
197030,648
196026,742
195025,720
194022,996
193020,336
192016,763
191013,538
190012,567
189010,939
18809,836
18707,592
18607,120
18506,246
Source

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

Battles & engagements in McDowell

Military engagements that took place in McDowell, North Carolina.

Battle of McDowell's Camp Jun 1780
1780
Battle of McDowell's Camp (Cane Creek)
1780
Stoneman's Raid — Marion NC
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Old Fort NC
1865

Historic places in McDowell

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

Depot Historic District
Marion
Carson House
Marion
Lone Beech
Marion
Artz, Welsford Parker, House
Old Fort
Carson-Young House
Marion
Brown, Henry Seawell, and Mary Jane English, Farmstead
Ashford
Ledbetter, Albertus, House
Montford Cove
Old Fort Commercial Historic District
Old Fort
First Presbyterian Church
Marion
St. John's Episcopal Church
Marion
Main Street Historic District
Marion
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Other counties in North Carolina

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

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Everything a full report reveals about McDowell County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of McDowell 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 McDowell

When does McDowell first appear in the US census?
McDowell, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 6,246.
What is the population of McDowell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), McDowell had a recorded population of 44,578.
When did McDowell's population peak?
McDowell's recorded population peaked at 44,996 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in McDowell?
4 documented military engagements took place in McDowell, including Battle of McDowell's Camp Jun 1780, Battle of McDowell's Camp (Cane Creek), Stoneman's Raid — Marion NC.
How many historic places are in McDowell?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in McDowell, North Carolina.
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