Valdese, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valdese, North Carolina
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Main Street (US 70)
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Location of Valdese, North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| County | Burke | ||
| Incorporated | 1920 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 7.87 sq mi (20.39 km2) | ||
| • Land | 7.86 sq mi (20.36 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,194 ft (364 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,689 | ||
| • Density | 596.56/sq mi (230.35/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
28690
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| Area code(s) | 828 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-69520 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2406784 | ||
Valdese (/ˈvældis/ VAL-dees) is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,689 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. One of the largest Waldensian congregations in the United States was founded in the town in the late nineteenth century, now known as the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. The town was settled by immigrants from the Cottian Alps in the Piedmont region of Italy.
History
Settled in 1893 by a group of Waldensians from Northern Italy, the town was incorporated in 1920. The story of the town's founding is told in the outdoor drama From This Day Forward, which has been performed annually in Burke County since 1968.
In addition to Waldensian Presbyterian Church, the Jean-Pierre Auguste Dalmas House and Valdese Elementary School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Valdese News, a newspaper serving Burke County, was published there from 1938 through 1950.
Geography
Valdese is located in eastern Burke County. It is bordered to the east by the town of Rutherford College. The Valdese town limits extend north to Rhodhiss Lake on the Catawba River, then follow the land along the southern side of the lake for 4 miles (6 km) to the west.
U.S. Route 70 passes through the town as Main Street, leading west 7 miles (11 km) to the center of Morganton, the county seat, and east 14 miles (23 km) to Hickory. Interstate 40 runs along the southern border of the town, providing access from exits 111 and 112.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2), of which 0.012 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.17%, is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,816 | — | |
| 1940 | 2,615 | 44.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,730 | 4.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,941 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,182 | 8.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,364 | 5.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,914 | 16.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,485 | 14.6% | |
| 2010 | 4,490 | 0.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,689 | 4.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,097 | 87.37% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 77 | 1.64% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.02% |
| Asian | 160 | 3.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 10 | 0.21% |
| Other/Mixed | 183 | 3.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 161 | 3.43% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,689 people, 1,545 households, and 1,104 families residing in the town.
The town has a large Italian-American and Hmong-American community. The town has an Italian-based flag, Italian restaurants and bakeries are in abundance in the Valdese area, and in addition to an Italian immigrant and second and third-generation Italian-American community, there is a large Hmong-American (Southeast Asian ethnic group whom has origins in Laos, Thailand, China, and Vietnam, and Xieng Khouang Market Place, a Hmong/Southeast Asian based store, is located in Valdese proper. There is also an ethnic Lao community in the Asheville-Hickory-Vardese area.
Notable people
- Hugh Blackwell, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- Bill Cline, CFL player
- Doug Cline, AFL linebacker for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers
- J. Bazzel Mull, Christian minister and religious broadcaster in East Tennessee
- Stanley Pons, electrochemist
- Tyler Shatley, NFL offensive guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- George Shuffler, bluegrass musician
- Alabama Pitts, professional athlete, convicted felon
Sister city
Valdese has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:
Torre Pellice, Italy
See also
In Spanish: Valdese para niños
