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Caldwell County,
North Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Caldwell County, North Carolina History
When was Caldwell County, NC Created?
Caldwell County was created on January 11, 1841 from Burke County and Wilkes County.
What is the County Seat of Caldwell County, NC?
The County Seat is located in Lenoir also, the county government website is www.caldwellcountync.org.
What counties are adjacent to Caldwell County, NC?
Bordering Counties are Watauga County, Wilkes County, Alexander County, Catawba County, Burke County, Avery County .
Caldwell County, NC Vital Records
Where can find Caldwell County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Caldwell County vital records can be found at the North Carolina Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in North Carolina for current fees and application process.
Birth, death and marriage certificates also may be obtained at the Caldwell County Register of Deeds (ROD) office. Divorce certificates may be obtained from the Caldwell County clerk of court.
You can search online for Caldwell County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or you can download an application for North Carolina Birth Certificate, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificate Application to mail.
The North Carolina State Archives has the following vital records: Death Certificates, 1913-1975 (Statewide Index: 1913-1979); microfilmed Indexes to Births and Deaths (except Wake, Durham); Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 (not required by law); Cohabitation Records, 1866-1867; microfilmed Marriage Registers and Indexes; microfilmed Marriage Licenses for many of the counties See Also North Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- Caldwell County Marriage Records, 1878-1882 (North Carolina State Archives)
- North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Marriage Records
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Marriage Project
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Births & Deaths Records
- Social Security Death Index
- North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
- North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1800-2000
- North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909-1975
- North Carolina, Death Collection, 1908-2004
Caldwell County, NC Census Records
What Caldwell County, NC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules which can guide in looking into your family tree. Federal Population Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Caldwell Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Caldwell Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Caldwell Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. The Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also North Carolina Census Records Research Guide
Caldwell County, NC Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Caldwell County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Caldwell County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in North Carolina courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless North Carolina residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Caldwell County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also North Carolina Courthouse Records Research Guide.
- Caldwell County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 216 Main St NW, Lenoir, NC 28645
- Phone: (828) 759-3503
- Caldwell County Register of Deeds
- Address: 905 W. Avenue, N.W., PO Box 2200, Lenoir, NC 28645
- Phone: (828) 757-1399
- Birth Records: 1914
- Marriage Records: 1841
- Death Records: 1914
- Land Records: 1840
- Caldwell County Clerk of Court
- Phone: (828) 759-8403
- Probate Records: 1830
- Court Records: 1838
- Divorce Records: call court clerk for details
- North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
- Caldwell County Tax Assessor / Collector
- Guide to Research Materials in the North Carolina State Archives: Caldwell County Records
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Court Records
- County Records in the North Carolina State Archives
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Wills & Estate Records
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Deed Records
- North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970
- BLM Land Records
Caldwell County, NC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Caldwell County, NC?
A list of Caldwell County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See also a list of Statewide North Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Caldwell County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2476, Lenoir, NC 28645-2476
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and History—State Library Building; Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614 ; Phone: (919) 807-7310
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835
Where can I connect with other Caldwell County, NC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- North Carolina Genealogy Network Community (plus.google.com)
- State of North Carolina Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Caldwell County, NC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Caldwell County. A majority of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Professional Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a payment. This is merely a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Caldwell Co. NC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- North Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- North Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 – 1977) (genealogybank.com)
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Obituary Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Search North Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Caldwell Co. NC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- Caldwell Co., North Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Caldwell County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Cemeteries & Photos (usgwarchives.net)
- Caldwell Co., North Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Caldwell Co., North Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Church Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Bible Records (usgwarchives.net)
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Caldwell Co. NC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Biographies & Collections (usgwarchives.net)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Caldwell Co. NC General and History Websites
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Annals of Caldwell County (search.ancestry.com)
- A History of Caldwell County, North Carolina (carolana.com)
- Caldwell County, North Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Caldwell Co. NC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- North Carolina Digital Collections (digital.ncdcr.gov)
- Caldwell County, North Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – North Carolina – Counties – Caldwell (cyndislist.com)
- Caldwell County North Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Caldwell Co. NCGenweb (ncgenweb.us)
- Caldwell County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Caldwell County USGenWeb Archives Project (usgwarchives.net)
- Caldwell Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Caldwell Co. NC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of North Carolina Links and Information
- Caldwell Co. D.O.T. Maps [Map 1] – [Map 2] – [Map 3] – [Thumbnail of Sheet Key]
- Map of Caldwell County, NC Municipalities and Townships
- 1895 Caldwell County Map (livgenmi.com)
Caldwell Co. NC Military Records
- North Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- Caldwell Co., NC GenWeb Archives Military Records (usgwarchives.net)
- North Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the North Carolina women and men who served. Perfect for Caldwell County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Caldwell Co. NC Schools & Directories
- North Carolina City Directories (search.ancestry.com)
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)