The 2020s have been a decade of challenges, adaptation, and local accomplishment for Caldwell County. The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in March 2020, prompting emergency responses including the opening of a field hospital by Samaritan’s Purse. The pandemic hit our community hard, forcing teachers and students into the world of remote learning and putting many events “on hold” for months. As the pandemic came to an end, community and cultural growth bloomed again with the Mitford Museum opening in Hudson (2021), events at the JE Broyhill Civic Center, and plays at the Hudson Uptown Building.
Samaritan’s Purse opened a field hospital at UNC Health Caldwell. Source: UNC Health Caldwell
Local government looked for ways to better serve its citizens. Caldwell County opened a new animal shelter (2023) and two new EMS bases (2020). Groundbreakings were held for a new EMS base in Cajah’s Mountain (2024) and a new state-of-the-art Health Sciences facility (2025) at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Granite Falls and Lenoir both opened splash pads (2025). Economic and infrastructure development progressed with the airport expansion groundbreaking (2025) and strategic land acquisitions in Rhodhiss (2023, 2025). Local leadership also saw historic milestones: Sheriff Alan Jones, the county’s longest serving Sheriff, retired after 17½ years of service (2024), and Kevin Bean was sworn in as the county’s 33rd Sheriff.
Sheriff Alan Jones Retirement Ceremony Source: Caldwell County Public Information Office Kierston Matheson Banks
Caldwell County’s youth and athletes achieved national recognition: West Caldwell’s JROTC earned national championships (2023, 2024, 2025), Ria Wright became a two-time state wrestling champion (2023, 2024), and the South Caldwell Girls Softball Team won the 4A State Championship (2025).
Our story is one of walking through valleys and reaching mountain tops. It reflects the land where we live. A land that starts at the Catawba River at 900 feet and rises to 5964 feet at Calloway Peak. We’re home to farmland and industry, baseball and mountain biking, boating in Lake Hickory and kayaking down Wilson Creek. At our southern end, we share Rhodhiss with Burke County, and in the north, our county encompasses the Blowing Rock, part of Grandfather Mountain, and Linn Cove Viaduct. Like the uniqueness of our terrain, we are a people with a long history of persevering and succeeding.
South Caldwell Girls Softball Team, the 4A State Championship Winners, 2025 Source: HighSchoolOT.com
A New Era
Sources: Gamewell History Museum; Caldwell County Health Department; and Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum.