Caldwell was formed in 1841 from Burke and Wilkes. It was named in honor of Joseph Caldwell, the first president of the University of North Carolina He strongly advocated a public school system and a railroad across the center of the State from Morehead City to Tennessee. It is in the west central section of the State and is bounded by Alexander, Catawba, Burke, Avery, Watauga and Wilkes counties. The present land area is 471.60 square miles and the 2000 population was 77,386. The court was ordered to be held at the store of George Powell near the house of George Smith, Jr., until a courthouse was erected. Commissioners were named to select a site as near the center as possible, acquire land and a town, and erect a courthouse. Lenoir, named in honor of William Lenoir, is the county seat.