Caldwell County, carved from the counties of Burke and Wilkes, was actually formed in Jan. 1841, several weeks after the bill was introduced in the legislature. The bill to establish the county was rejected in 1839 because a faction within the state legislature wished to form two Democratic counties instead of one Whig county. The bill was reintroduced by Representative Elisha P. Miller on Nov. 19, 1840. The bill of 1840 proposed to establish a county from Burke and Wilkes to be named Boone. It was first read and rejected on Dec. 5, 1840. It was read a second time and passed by the casting vote of the Speaker, Robert B. Gilliam on Dec. 14, 1840. There was confusion over the name, however, but when Charles Manley, Clerk of the House, suggested that the county be named for Dr. Joseph Caldwell, former President of the University of North Carolina and advocator of a public school system and railroad system stretching from Morehead City through the questioned county to Tennessee, the bill was ratified and signed on Jan. 11, 1841.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Caldwell County Board of Commissioners will hold two public hearings at their next meeting beginning at 6 p.m., Monday, December 7, in the City/County Chambers, on the first floor, of the Alden E. Starnes County Office Plaza, in Lenoir. The board will have a general public comment period on other issues beginning at 5:30 p.m. and will reconvene for the regular meeting at 6 p.m. During the 6 p.m. regular meeting, public hearings will be held on two new noise ordinances and amendments to the Watershed Ordinance. Being considered is a general noise ordinance across the county and a separate noise ordinance that regulates operating times of raceways, racetracks and drag strips in Caldwell County.

Proposed General Noise Ordinance for Caldwell County

Proposed Noise Ordinance for Operation of Racetracks, Raceways and Drag Strips in Caldwell County