Lenoir, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenoir, North Carolina
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Main Street in Downtown Lenoir
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| Motto(s):
"Where the High Country Begins"
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Location within the state of North Carolina
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| County | Caldwell | ||
| Named for | William Lenoir | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 20.83 sq mi (53.95 km2) | ||
| • Land | 20.82 sq mi (53.94 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,129 ft (344 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,352 | ||
| • Density | 881.25/sq mi (340.25/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
28633, 28645
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| Area code(s) | 828 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-37760 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404911 | ||
Lenoir (pronounced LE-nor) is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat, meaning it is where the local government is located. In 2020, about 18,352 people lived there.
Lenoir is nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. To the northeast, you'll find the Brushy Mountains, which are part of the Blue Ridge range. Just east of the city is Hibriten Mountain, marking the western end of the Brushy Mountains. Lenoir is also a main city in the larger Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area.
Contents
History of Lenoir
Lenoir was officially started in 1841 and became a city in 1851. The city was named after William Lenoir. He was a general in the American Revolutionary War and an important early leader in North Carolina. His old home, Fort Defiance, is still standing and is a popular place to visit.
Early Beginnings
The area where Lenoir now stands was first known as Tucker's Barn. This name came from the Tucker family, who settled there around 1765. Their home became a busy spot. People would gather there to vote, meet up, shop, and celebrate.
When Caldwell County was created in 1841, leaders needed to pick a county seat. Some thought the south side of Lower Creek would be good because of its views. But most people lived on the north side, so Tucker's Barn was chosen. This is where Lenoir is today.
Lenoir During the Civil War
During the American Civil War in 1865, Lenoir was raided twice by General Stoneman's soldiers. This happened on March 30 and April 15. During these raids, Confederate soldiers and citizens were locked inside the old St. James Episcopal Church downtown.
Many local men joined the war effort. Companies like the "Hibriten Guards" and "Caldwell Guards" were formed. They were part of the 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. At the Battle of Gettysburg, the Hibriten Guards lost all 87 of their men. Every soldier and officer was either wounded or killed.
Historic Places to Visit
Besides Fort Defiance, several other places in Lenoir are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Caldwell County Courthouse, the Lenoir Downtown Historic District, Lenoir Grammar School, Lenoir High School, Mary's Grove, and the Edgar Allan Poe House.
Geography and Climate
Lenoir is located in the southeast part of Caldwell County. It shares borders with the towns of Hudson and Cajah's Mountain to the south. To the southwest, it borders Gamewell.
Major roads like U.S. Highways 64 and 321 meet in Lenoir. US 64 goes east about 42 miles to Statesville and southwest 15 miles to Morganton. US 321 heads north 27 miles to Boone and southeast 17 miles to Hickory.
The city covers about 20.83 square miles of land. It sits in the valley of Lower Creek, between the Brushy Mountains to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Lower Creek flows southwest into the Catawba River valley.
Weather in Lenoir
Lenoir has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has cool to mild winters and warm, humid summers. Because it's close to the Blue Ridge Mountains, temperatures are often a bit cooler than in areas further east.
| Climate data for Lenoir, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1900-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
83 (28) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
102 (39) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
96 (36) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.1 (9.5) |
52.9 (11.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
70.1 (21.2) |
77.4 (25.2) |
84.3 (29.1) |
87.5 (30.8) |
86.0 (30.0) |
80.4 (26.9) |
71.1 (21.7) |
60.9 (16.1) |
52.1 (11.2) |
69.3 (20.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 38.2 (3.4) |
41.3 (5.2) |
48.2 (9.0) |
57.5 (14.2) |
65.6 (18.7) |
73.5 (23.1) |
77.1 (25.1) |
75.7 (24.3) |
69.6 (20.9) |
58.7 (14.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
40.8 (4.9) |
57.9 (14.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.3 (−2.6) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
36.2 (2.3) |
45.0 (7.2) |
53.9 (12.2) |
62.7 (17.1) |
66.7 (19.3) |
65.4 (18.6) |
58.9 (14.9) |
46.3 (7.9) |
35.7 (2.1) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
46.4 (8.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −7 (−22) |
−2 (−19) |
5 (−15) |
17 (−8) |
29 (−2) |
37 (3) |
46 (8) |
41 (5) |
32 (0) |
19 (−7) |
8 (−13) |
−18 (−28) |
−18 (−28) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 3.93 (100) |
3.33 (85) |
4.29 (109) |
4.44 (113) |
4.38 (111) |
4.73 (120) |
4.60 (117) |
4.48 (114) |
4.25 (108) |
3.63 (92) |
3.33 (85) |
4.27 (108) |
49.66 (1,262) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.3 (3.3) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.3 (5.8) |
4.1 (10.37) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Lenoir
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 446 | — | |
| 1880 | 422 | −5.4% | |
| 1890 | 673 | 59.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,296 | 92.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,364 | 159.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,718 | 10.5% | |
| 1930 | 6,532 | 75.7% | |
| 1940 | 7,598 | 16.3% | |
| 1950 | 7,888 | 3.8% | |
| 1960 | 10,257 | 30.0% | |
| 1970 | 14,705 | 43.4% | |
| 1980 | 13,748 | −6.5% | |
| 1990 | 14,192 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,793 | 18.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,228 | 8.5% | |
| 2020 | 18,352 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 18,352 people living in Lenoir. There were 7,340 households and 4,539 families.
Economy and Jobs
For a long time, furniture making was a very important industry in Lenoir. Big companies like Broyhill Furniture had their main offices here. Other furniture companies like Bernhardt, Kincaid, and Fairfield are also based in or near Lenoir.
In the 1990s, many furniture factories in Lenoir closed. This happened as companies changed how they did business. Today, the biggest employers in the area are in healthcare and education.
Google, Inc. has a large "data center" in Lenoir. This is a huge building filled with computers that store information for Google. The city and state offered incentives to Google to build here. This brought construction jobs and other benefits to the area.
Another important job source in Lenoir is plant nurseries. These nurseries grow large plants and trees. They ship them to landscapers in bigger cities. Nurseries have provided many jobs in Lenoir for over 75 years.
Parks and Fun Activities
Lenoir has many places for outdoor fun and sports.
- A 5.3-mile long Greenway system for walking and biking.
- Mack Cook Stadium
- Mulberry Recreation Center
- T. Henry Wilson Athletic Park
- T.H. Broyhill Walking Park
- Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex
- J.E. Broyhill Park
- Martin Luther King Center
- Zack's Fork Mountain Bike Trail
Sports Teams
- Lenoir Youth Soccer Association / Lenoir Force (LYSA Force) is a local travel soccer team.
- Caldwell County Youth Football League
- Post 29 Youth Baseball
- Carolina Express Basketball
Recreation Centers
The Lenoir Aquatic and Fitness Center is open to everyone. It has:
- An Olympic-size swimming pool
- An indoor junior-size swimming pool
- Water slides
- Racquetball courts
- Exercise equipment
- A steam room and weight room
- Locker rooms
- Covered shelters
- A walking and mountain bike training system
The Lenoir Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. It opened with nine holes in 1928 and was expanded in 1961.
Hiking Adventures
- Nearby Hibriten Mountain has a 5.4-mile hiking trail. It climbs about 740 feet on a gravel road.
Education in Lenoir
Lenoir has many schools for students of all ages.
High Schools
- Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
- Caldwell Early College High School
- Hibriten High School
- South Caldwell High School
- West Caldwell High School
Middle Schools
- Gamewell Middle School
- William Lenoir
K–8 Schools
- Happy Valley School
- Kings Creek School
- Oak Hill Charter School
Elementary Schools
- Davenport A+ School
- Gamewell Elementary School
- Lower Creek Elementary School
- Valmead Elementary School
- West Lenoir Elementary School
- Whitnel Elementary School
Alternative Schools
- Horizons Elementary
- Gateway School
College
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute serves students in Caldwell County.
Media and News
Lenoir has local radio stations and a newspaper to keep residents informed.
- WKVS, Kicks 103.3 FM, plays country music.
- WJRI, Star 94.7 FM, 100.5 FM & 1340 AM, plays adult hits.
- WKGX, 104.5 FM, 99.5 FM & AM 1080, plays classic hits.
- W218BW, FM 91.5, is a translator for WETS, a radio station from East Tennessee State University.
- The News-Topic is the local newspaper for Lenoir and Caldwell Counties.
Important Roads
These are the main highways that go through or near Lenoir:
US 321
US 321A
US 64
NC 18
NC 90
NC 268
Famous People from Lenoir
Many notable people have connections to Lenoir:
- Johnny Allen, a baseball pitcher who won the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1932.
- Claude Baker, a composer.
- Grant Barnette, an ultramarathon runner.
- Jim Broyhill, a former U.S. Congressman and Senator for North Carolina.
- Madison Bumgarner, a baseball pitcher who won three World Series with the San Francisco Giants. He was also the World Series MVP in 2014.
- Linda Combs, a former U.S. government official.
- Charlie Cozart, a baseball pitcher for the Boston Braves.
- Lindsay Deal, a baseball outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- Nick Easton, a former NFL football player.
- Bob Gibbons, a high school basketball scout.
- Destin Hall, a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
- Jan Karon, a best-selling author known for her Mitford Series.
- William Lenoir, the Revolutionary War General for whom the city is named.
- Harry Martin, a former North Carolina Supreme Court justice.
- Bob McCreary, a former NFL player and businessman.
- Kary Banks Mullis, a biochemist and Nobel Prize winner. He invented the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
- James Pritchett, an actor known for his role as Dr. Matt Powers on The Doctors soap opera.
- Larry Smith, a former NASCAR driver.
- Carl Story, an influential bluegrass musician.
- Magruder Tuttle, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
- Rube Walker, a baseball catcher who won two World Series with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Verlon Walker, a former MLB coach.
- Stephanie Powell Watts, an author.
- Louis Round Wilson, a university librarian and first director of the library school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- John G. Witherspoon, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard.
- George Younce, a southern gospel singer, known for singing bass with The Cathedrals.
Awards and Recognition
Lenoir was recognized with the All-America City Award in 2008. This award celebrates communities that work together to solve problems and improve local life.
See also
In Spanish: Lenoir (Carolina del Norte) para niños
