North Carolina

Mitchell

14,903
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Mitchell

Mitchell, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 4,705. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,903.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,245 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 14 percent.

On the ground today, 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,903
201015,579
200015,687
199014,433
198014,428
197013,447
196013,906
195015,143
194015,980
193013,962
192011,278
191017,245
190015,221
189012,807
18809,435
18704,705
Source

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

Historic places in Mitchell

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

Dellinger Mill
Hawk
Peterson, John N., Farm
Poplar
Downtown Spruce Pine Historic District
Spruce Pines
Penland School Historic District
Penland
Church of the Resurrection
Little Switzerland
Mitchell County Courthouse
Bakersville
Penland Post Office and General Store
Penland
Willis, Henry, House
Penland
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

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 Mitchell County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Mitchell 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 Mitchell

When does Mitchell first appear in the US census?
Mitchell, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 4,705.
What is the population of Mitchell?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mitchell had a recorded population of 14,903.
When did Mitchell's population peak?
Mitchell's recorded population peaked at 17,245 in 1910.
How many historic places are in Mitchell?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mitchell, North Carolina.
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