McDowell County was named for Joseph McDowell, . McDowell County is one of 100 counties in North Carolina. The estimated population in 2004 was 43,285. This was an increase of 2.69% from the 2000 census. In 2002, the per capita personal income in McDowell County was $20,951. This was an increase of 12.2% from 1997. The 2002 figure was 68% of the national per capita income, which was $30,906.

Old Fort was named for a fort "Davidson's Fort" built in the 1770s to protect settlers from Cherokee raids, The latitude of Old Fort is 35.628N. The longitude is -82.18W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 1,440 feet. It is situated at the base of the Eastern Continental Divide.

Copied from the Public Laws of the State of North Carolina, Passed by the General Assembly at its Session 1871-72. Begun and held in the City of Raleigh , on the Twentieth Day of November, 1871. Theo. N. Ramsay, State Printer and Binder. Digitized by Google Books

Chapter LXX

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TOWN OF CATAWBA VALE IN THE COUNTY OF M’DOWELL

SECTION 1. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact, That the town of Catawba Vale, in the county of McDowell, be and the same is hereby incorporated by the name and style of the town of Catawba Vale, and be subject to all the provisions contained in the one hundredth and eleventh chapter of the revised code, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of this state, also subject to the general law in relation to corporations.

SEC. 2. That the corporate limits of said town shall be as follows: Beginning at a stake one half mile north of the depot of the Western North Carolina Railroad Company, running east, one mile to a stake or natural object; thence south one and a half miles; thence west one and a half miles; thence north one and a half miles, thence east one-half mile to the beginning, which shall be the corporate limits of said town.

SEC.3. That the officers of said incorporation shall consist of a mayor, five commissioners and marshal; that S. Worthen, mayor, J.H. Bondman, J.C. Haight, O.A. Steadman, A.D. Haight, S.S. Mooney, commissioners, and W.V. Spencer, marshal, shall constitute the board of officers until the time for the regular election of officers of municipal corporations, at which time an election shall be held as prescribed by law in like cases.

SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the board, consisting of the above named commissioners, to meet within twenty days after the ratification of this act, and take the same oath that is prescribed in the constitution for state officers.

SEC. 5. That said commissioners shall have power to pass all by-laws, rules and regulations for the good government of the corporation, not inconsistent with the laws of this state or of the United States.

SEC. 6. That the commissioners shall have power to levy a tax, not to exceed seventy-five cents on the poll, nor twenty-five cents on the one hundred dollars worth of property.

SEC. 7. The commissioners shall have power to appoint their officers, require bonds when the same may be deemed necessary, in such amounts as may be deemed expedient to ensure the faithful performance of their respective duties, bonds of not less than two hundred dollars.

SEC. 8. That the mayor, before entering upon his duties, shall take the same oath as justice of the peace, and the same shall be registered upon the books of the corporation.

SEC. 9. There shall be a secretary appointed by the commissioners, who shall keep a true and correct record of all the proceedings of the board of commissioners and acts of the mayor.

SEC. 10. That the marshal, before entering into office, shall go before some person authorized to administer an oath, and take the oath usually taken by constables.

SEC. 11. That all laws coming in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 12. This act shall be in force from and after its ratification.

Ratified the 25^th day of January, A.D. 1872