Demographics
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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.

POPULATION
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Total population   963            
 
 
Square miles (land)   1.25            
 
 
Population per square mile   769.43       165.25   79.56
 
 
GENDER
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
Male   460   47.8   49.0   49.1
 
 
Female   503   52.2   51.0   50.9
 
 
AGE
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
15 or younger   177   18.4   20.5   21.4
 
 
16-24   106   11.0   13.9   13.9
 
 
25-44   260   27.0   31.1   30.2
 
 
45-64   227   23.6   22.5   22.0
 
 
65+   193   20.0   12.0   12.4
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Average age (years)   40.48       36.32   36.22
 
 
RACE AND ETHNICITY
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
White   762   79.1   72.1   75.1
 
 
Black or African American   166   17.2   21.6   12.3
 
 
American Indian and Alaska native   2   0.2   1.2   0.9
 
 
Asian   1   0.1   1.4   3.6
 
 
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander   0   0.0   0.0   0.1
 
 
Some other race   8   0.8   2.3   5.5
 
 
Two or more races   24   2.5   1.3   2.4
 
 
Hispanic or Latino   16   1.7   4.7   12.5
 
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census; ePodunk
HOUSING UNITS
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Total housing units   496            
 
 
RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
Renter-occupied housing units   168   33.9   27.2   30.8
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Average number of household members   2.24       2.34   2.36
 
 
Average number of rooms   4.51       4.35   4.04
 
 
Average number of vehicles   1.11       1.32   1.19
 
 
Median year structure was built   1971       1975   1969
 
 
Median year householder moved in   1996       1998   1998
 
 
Median rent ($)   254       431   519
 
 
Median rent asked for vacant units ($)   231       440   469
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
Rent includes utilities   18   10.7   13.9   16.5
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Rent as a pct of household revenue   22.1       24.3   25.5
 
 
OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
Owner-occupied housing units   267   53.8   61.6   60.2
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Average number of household members   2.15       2.56   2.71
 
 
Average number of rooms   5.65       6.16   6.30
 
 
Average number of vehicles   1.84       1.61   1.64
 
 
Median year structure was built   1966       1979   1971
 
 
Median year householder moved in   1990       1991   1991
 
 
Median value ($)   46,400       95,800   111,800
 
 
    Number   Pct   Pct   Pct
 
 
With mortgage or contract to purchase   62   23.2   51.4   55.4
 
 
With second mortgage, equity loan   18   6.7   14.8   12.7
 
 
    Number       Number   Number
 
 
Median price asked for vacant housing ($)   22,500       97,500   89,600
 
 
Monthly cost, with mortgage ($)   700       985   1,088
 
 
Monthly cost, without mortgage ($)   197       254   295
 
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census; ePodunk