Editing Alexander County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Alexander County
 | seal                 = Alexander county seal north carolina.gif
 | state                = North Carolina
 | founded              = 1847
 | named for            = William Julius Alexander<ref name="Named for">{{cite web|url= https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/alexander-county-1847/#:~:text=A%20western%20Piedmont%20county%2C%20Alexander,first%20Supreme%20Court%20Chief%20Justice.|title= Alexander County (1847)|publisher= www.northcarolinahistory.org|access-date= June 13, 2022}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Taylorsville
 | city type            = community
 | largest city         = [[Bethlehem, Alexander County, North Carolina|Bethlehem]]
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 263.64
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 259.99
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.65
 | area percentage      = 1.39
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 36444
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 36473 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 140.17
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.92|-81.18|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = alexandercountync.gov
 | ex image             = Alexander Co. Courthouse 001 (22116495546).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Alexander County Courthouse 
 | district             = 5th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | motto                = "A wonderful place to live, work and play."
 | flag                 = File:Alexander County Flag.gif
}}

'''Alexander County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] established in the U.S. state of [[North Carolina]] in 1847. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 36,444.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Taylorsville, North Carolina|Taylorsville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="NCPedia">{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/alexander|title=Alexander County, North Carolina|website=NCPedia|author=Vocci, Robert Blair|year=2006|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101153918/https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/alexander|url-status=live}}</ref> Alexander County is part of the [[Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton metropolitan area|Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Alexander County was formed in 1847 from portions of what were then [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]] (formed in 1788 from [[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan County]]), [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]] (formed from [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke County]] in 1841), and [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]] (formed from [[Surry County, North Carolina|Surry County]] and [[Washington County, Tennessee|Washington District]] in 1771).

Alexander County was named for William Julius Alexander who was a [[Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives|Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons]]. This Piedmont area was settled primarily by farmers, many of [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] descent, as well as German descent in the southern section of Alexander County.<ref name="Crouse">{{cite book|last=Crouse|first=Andrew Leonhardt|title=Historical Sketches of Alexander County, North Carolina, Friendship Lutheran Church, Hopewell Reformed Church, and Charity Baptist Church, and of the Bowman and Fry Families|year=1905|location=Hickory, North Carolina|url=https://www.rintoulbowman.com/showfolio.php?mediaID=1171&index=7|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101154025/https://www.rintoulbowman.com/showfolio.php?mediaID=1171&index=7|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Martin">{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Jonathan|title=Alexander County (1847)|url=http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/648/entry|work=North Carolina History Project|publisher=John Locke Foundation|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101153935/https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/alexander-county-1847/|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Alexander County Map in 1854.jpg|thumb|Alexander County, North Carolina Map from 1854]]
The county was established by two acts of the [[North Carolina General Assembly]], one ratified on January 15 and one ratified on January 18, 1847. These acts were not to take effect until it was determined that Caldwell County would have 5,000 people in it. On August 10–11, 1847, the first sale of land in the county seat (Taylorsville) took place. Taylorsville is the namesake of either [[John Louis Taylor]], Carolina agriculturist and political philosopher, or General [[Zachary Taylor]], the twelfth president of the United States.
With the proceeds from the sale, the county built the first courthouse on the present site.<ref name="White">{{cite book|title=A History of Alexander County, North Carolina|author=White, William E.|year=1926|url=https://alexandercountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/William-E-Whites-History-of-Alexander-County.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007061104/http://alexandercountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/William-E-Whites-History-of-Alexander-County.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2019|editor=Taylorsville Times}}, Alternate:  {{cite web|url=https://barnesoxford.org/1926-history-of-alexander-county-nc-by-w-e-white/|title=A History of Alexander County, North Carolina|website=Barnes Oxford Foundation|access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref>

When the [[American Civil War]] began in 1861, Alexander County was fourteen years old. The court house records in Taylorsville were destroyed by troops under Major General [[George Stoneman]] in a raid on Easter Sunday in 1865.<ref name="Alexander" />

The [[Alexander Railroad]] based in [[Taylorsville, North Carolina|Taylorsville]] began in 1946, with one connection to [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] in [[Statesville, North Carolina]]. The short line rail system operates between Taylorsville and Statesville.

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q491584|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Alexander County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|263.64|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|259.99|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.65|sqmi}} (1.39%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Alexander County is located within the Foothills region of [[western North Carolina]]. The county's main geographic feature is the [[Brushy Mountains (North Carolina)|Brushy Mountains]], a deeply eroded spur of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] to the west. The "Brushies," as they are called locally, rise from 300 to {{convert|1000|ft|m}} above the surrounding countryside, and dominate the county's northern horizon. The highest point in Alexander County is Hickory Knob in the Brushies; it has an elevation of {{convert|2560|ft|m}} above sea level. Barrett Mountain, an isolated mountain ridge, is in the western part of the county. The remainder of Alexander County's terrain consists of gently rolling countryside. The county's largest river, the [[Catawba River|Catawba]], forms its southern border.

Within Alexander County is the unincorporated town of [[Hiddenite, North Carolina|Hiddenite]], the location of a [[mining|mine]] that yields [[emerald]]s, [[sapphire]]s, and its namesake stone "hiddenite," a variety of [[spodumene]].

The county is served by US Highway 64, a controlled-access roadway connecting Taylorsville with Lenoir and Statesville. NC Highways 90, 16, and 127 also serve the county. Interstate 40 and 77 are 30 minutes from the majority of county residents. The [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]] is an hour's drive from most parts of the county. The area is also served by the Hickory Regional Airport (30 minutes) and the Statesville Airport (20 minutes). The [[Alexander Railroad]] Company is an active short-line rail system operating between Taylorsville and Statesville, and connecting with [[Norfolk Southern]].

===State and local protected area===
* [[Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Catawba River]]
* [[Cub Creek (North Carolina)|Cub Creek]]
* [[Duck Creek (North Carolina)|Duck Creek]]
* [[Elk Shoals Creek (North Carolina)|Elk Shoals Creek]]
* [[Grassy Creek (Elkin Creek tributary)|Grassy Creek]]
* [[Lake Hickory (North Carolina)|Lake Hickory]]
* [[Lookout Shoals Lake (North Carolina)|Lookout Shoals Lake]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2007 |title=Lookout Shoals Lake Perspective |url=https://p-cd.duke-energy.com/-/media/pdfs/community/lookout-shoals.pdf?rev=063151e074d048b599cc83e8e07ab301 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=p-cd.duke-energy.com}}</ref>
* [[Little River (North Carolina)|Lower Little River]]
* [[Little River (North Carolina)|Middle Little River]]
* [[Mill Creek (North Carolina)|Mill Creek]]
* [[Rink Lake (North Carolina)|Rink Lake]]
* [[Rock Creek (North Carolina)|Rock Creek]]
* [[Rocky Creek (North Carolina)|Rocky Creek]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=South Yadkin River |url=https://www.deq.nc.gov/water-quality/planning/bpu/catawba/catawba-plans/2010-plan/3-03040102-south-yadkin-river-2010/download |access-date=June 15, 2023 |website=www.deq.nc.gov |page=2}}</ref>
* [[Shuford Pond (North Carolina)|Shuford Pond]]
* [[Snow Creek (North Carolina)|Snow Creek]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[South Yadkin River]]
* [[Spring Creek (North Carolina Creek)|Spring Creek]]
* [[Third Creek (North Carolina)|Third Creek]]
* [[Wallace Creek (North Carolina)|Wallace Creek]]
* [[White Creek (North Carolina)|White Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]] – north
* [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]] – east
* [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County]] – south
* [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|16}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC-Truck|16|dab1=Taylorsville}} ([[North Carolina Highway 16#Taylorsville truck route|truck route]])
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|90}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|127}}

===Major infrastructure===
* The county is served by one railroad, the [[Alexander Railroad|Alexander Railroad Company]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 5220
|1860= 6022
|1870= 6868
|1880= 8355
|1890= 9430
|1900= 10960
|1910= 11592
|1920= 12212
|1930= 12922
|1940= 13454
|1950= 14554
|1960= 15625
|1970= 19466
|1980= 24999
|1990= 27544
|2000= 33603
|2010= 37198
|2020= 36444
|estyear=2023
|estimate=36473
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 11, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003185009/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 11, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 11, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 11, 2015|archive-date=December 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37003.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234649/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37003.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alexandercountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Alexander County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Alexander County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37003&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 21, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 30,893
| 84.77%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1,919
| 5.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 111
| 0.3%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 390
| 1.07%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 1
| 0.0%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 1,294
| 3.55%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 1,836
| 5.04%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 36,444 people, 14,169 households, and 10,232 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> there were 33,603 people, 13,137 households, and 9,747 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|129|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 14,098 housing units at an average density of {{convert|54|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.00% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.63% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.34% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.84% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 13,137 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,684, and the median income for a family was $45,691. Males had a median income of $29,857 versus $21,868 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,507. About 5.90% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.20% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
Alexander is currently a powerfully Republican county in Presidential elections. The only Democrat to carry the county in the past nineteen Presidential contests has been [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, although [[Barry Goldwater]] won the county by a mere thirty-eight votes in 1964. In contrast, [[Hillary Clinton]] in 2016 obtained barely twenty percent of the county's vote. The county did vote mainly Democratic during the [[Third Party System]], but [[Populist movement (United States, 19th Century)|Populist]] sentiments in the 1890s have meant the county has supported the party only five times since 1896.
{{PresHead|place=Alexander County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 14, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|16,404|4,060|213|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|15,888|4,145|203|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,893|3,767|611|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,253|4,611|332|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,790|5,167|297|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,928|4,618|54|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,242|4,166|84|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,748|3,955|1,027|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|6,764|4,849|2,013|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,968|4,148|38|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,502|3,581|24|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,376|4,546|187|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,661|5,287|27|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,865|2,468|173|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,379|1,834|2,203|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,760|3,722|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,175|3,956|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,767|2,710|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,597|2,665|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,314|2,057|452|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,971|2,282|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,217|2,739|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,451|3,262|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,952|2,953|28|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,605|1,722|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,437|2,291|20|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,643|2,045|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,187|954|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|523|852|497|North Carolina}}

Alexander County is a member of the regional [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Western Piedmont Council of Governments]].

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Alexander County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Alexander County with municipal and township labels]]

===Town===
* [[Taylorsville, North Carolina|Taylorsville]] (county seat, since 1847): First post master was Alexander C. McIntosh. Post office since November 26, 1847. Formerly called James Cross Roads in Iredell County prior to 1847.

===Townships===
By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, counties were divided into non-functioning county subdivisions called townships. There are eight [[township (United States)|townships]] in Alexander County:<ref name='Constitution'>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncleg.net/library/Documents/Constitution_1868.pdf|title=North Carolina Constitution of 1868|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508200806/https://www.ncleg.net/library/Documents/Constitution_1868.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LewisPO">{{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Towns/Alexander_POs_Sorted.htm|title=Alexander County Post Offices|author=Lewis, J.D.|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101154016/https://www.carolana.com/NC/Towns/Alexander_POs_Sorted.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

* Ellendale
* Gwaltneys
* Little River
* Millers
* Sharpes
* Sugar Loaf
* Taylorsville
* Wittenburg

===Census-designated places===
* [[Bethlehem, Alexander County, North Carolina|Bethlehem]] (largest community)
* [[Hiddenite, North Carolina|Hiddenite]]: First postmaster was Quintis C. Patterson. Post office since February 10, 1888.
* [[Stony Point, North Carolina|Stony Point]]: First postmaster was John A. Murchison. Post office since October 21, 1847; also in Iredell County.

===Unincorporated communities===
Unincorporated communities in Alexander County include:<ref name="LewisPO" />
* [[Drumstand, North Carolina|Drumstand]]: Site of Drumstand community building<ref name="Plan">{{cite web|url=https://alexandercountync.gov/pdf/comprehensive-plan.pdf|title=Alexander County Comprehensive Plan|date=April 21, 2008|publisher=Alexander County Board of Commissioners|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101153936/https://alexandercountync.gov/pdf/comprehensive-plan.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ellendale, North Carolina|Ellendale]]: First postmaster was William S. McLeod. Post office from July 1, 1880, to January 30, 1904.
* [[Little River, North Carolina|Little River]]: First postmaster was Burton Reid. Post office from November 10, 1852, to September 15, 1906. 1841 to 1847 part of Caldwell County, part of Burke County before 1841.
* [[Millersville, North Carolina|Millersville]]<ref name="Plan" />
* [[Sugar Loaf, North Carolina|Sugar Loaf]]<ref name="Plan" />
* [[Vashti, North Carolina|Vashti]]: First postmaster was Humphrey T. Cambell. Post office from February 12, 1886, to March 31, 1903.
* [[Wittenburg, North Carolina|Wittenburg]]: The first postmaster was Joseph B. Bradburn. Post office from May 31, 1848, to March 15, 1909. Before 1847, part of Caldwell County.

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Alexander County.<ref name="PopEstCities">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711040810/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division}}</ref>

'''†''' = ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Rank
! Name
! Type
! Population<br/>(2020 census)
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 1
|[[Bethlehem, Alexander County, North Carolina|Bethlehem]]
| CDP
| 4,491
|- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;"
| 2
|'''†''' [[Taylorsville, North Carolina|Taylorsville]]
| Town
| 2,320
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 3
|[[Stony Point, North Carolina|Stony Point]]
| CDP
| 1,146
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 4
|[[Hiddenite, North Carolina|Hiddenite]]
| CDP
| 507
|}

==Historic post offices and other sites==
Historical post offices that were part of Alexander County include:<ref name="LewisPO" />
* Mount Pisgah: First postmaster was Reuben O. Bennett. Post office from April 9, 1849, to April 15, 1909.
* Elk Shoal: First postmaster was Ephraim M. Alexander. Post office from March 5, 1852, to November 26, 1852. Post office changed to Elk Shoal #2 on September 27, 1858, with David M. Moore as post master. Became part of Iredell County in 1868. Changed to Elk Shoal #3 in 1881 and became part of Alexander County. New postmaster was Nicholas L. Norton on August 4, 1881. Post office discontinued on January 15, 1901.
* York Collegiate Institute: First postmaster was Richard W. York. Post office from December 13, 1855, to April 2, 1859. Name was changed to Montane Female Academy on April 2, 1859, with Thaddeus L. Troy as postmaster until November 28, 1859, when the name was changed back to York Collegiate Institute with Harrison L. Smith as postmaster.   Post office discontinued on December 4, 1903.
* Salem Grove: First postmaster was William W. Teague. Post office lasted from August 7 to 9, 1872.
* Jumping Run: First postmaster was James F. Gryder. Post office from August 15, 1871, to October 15, 1872.
* Cedar Run: First postmaster was John H. Ellis. Post office from February 9, 1876, to September 14, 1903.
* Little River: First postmaster was Burton Reid. Post office from November 10, 1952, to September 15, 1906. Formerly in Burke County before 1841 and Caldwell County in 1841.
* Mount Bethel: First postmaster was Adam P. Bohick. Post office from May 8, 1876, to March 15, 1913.
* Barnetts Mountain: First postmaster was David L. Mitchell. Post office from December 29, 1876, to April 13, 1881.
* Kilby: First postmaster was Leander R. Goforth. Post office from May 3, 1880, to May 15, 1905.
* Pilgrim: First postmaster was William E. Millsope. Post office from June 30, 1880, to October 15, 1882.
* Bentley: First postmaster was William W. Teague. Post office from January 24, 1881, to September 30, 1941.
* Hedrick: First postmaster was Edward L. Hedrick. Post office from October 7, 1881, to September 30, 1903.
* Broad Shoals: First postmaster was Thomas Little.   Post office from October 31, 1881, to November 15, 1904.
* Grade: First postmaster was John P. Brewer. Post office from June 11, 1882, to May 15, 1900. Originally Iredell County and became Alexander County in 1888.

===Other historic sites===
[[File:Lucas Mansion - full frontal.jpg|thumb|Lucas Mansion in Hiddenite]]
* Old Jail Museum: 1919 jail in Taylorsville, now a museum<ref name="Plan" />
* [[Lucas Mansion]]: Restored turn of the century home of James "Diamond Jim" Lucas in Hiddenite Center<ref name="Plan" />
* Friendship Church: Lutheran and Evangelical church organized in 1833, near Taylorsville<ref name="Crouse" />
* Linney's Mill: Built in 1790 by Richard Cook. Located on the northeast corner of Alexander County, it is still operational.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linneysmill.com/|title=Linney's Mill|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101153956/http://linneysmill.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Little River Baptist Church: first association meeting in 1771 (in what became Alexander County in 1847), church erected in 1786, originally called "Old Meeting House"<ref name="Alexander">{{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/alexander_county_nc.html|title=Alexander County, North Carolina|author=Lewis, J.D.|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101154006/https://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/alexander_county_nc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Alexander County, North Carolina]]
* [[List of Highway Historical Markers in Alexander County, North Carolina]]
* [[:Category:People from Alexander County, North Carolina]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Alexander County|editor=Powell, William S.|publisher=Encyclopedia of North Carolina (University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill, NC|year=2006}}
* {{cite book|editor=Allen, Sara C. Allen|title=The Heritage of Alexander County, North Carolina|year=1985}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/alexander_county_nc.html|title=Alexander County, North Carolina|author=Lewis, J.D.|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina|access-date=June 3, 2019}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528670}}
* {{Official website|https://alexandercountync.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Alexander County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Wilkes County, North Carolina|Wilkes County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Alexander County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alexander County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Charlotte metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Western North Carolina]]