Discover the Smallest Town in North Carolina – Everyone Could Fit In an Elevator

North Carolina has a lot of charm, especially once you leave the large cities behind you. The state splits into three distinct sections from east to west: the coastal plains, piedmont, and mountains; each section of North Carolina has a distinct feel and character. Within each of these regions are some extremely small towns, all of which have a history that is worth knowing about. Today, we are going to be taking a look at the smallest town in North Carolina by population and learning how it became what it is today. Next, we will take a look at some of the other small towns in the state and touch on their populations and history really briefly. Let’s get started!

The Smallest Town in North Carolina

The smallest town in North Carolina is Dellview, a town located in Gaton County with a population of 6 people.

If you are looking for a place where everyone knows your name, you might want to visit Dellview, the smallest town in North Carolina. According to the 2020 census, Dellview has a population of 6 people, all of whom are relatives. The town is located in Gaston County, near the border with South Carolina. Dellview was incorporated in 1925 as a political gesture by two groups from the Dellinger family. The family’s goal was to protect their poultry farms from stray dogs.

Since then, the town has remained inactive, meaning it has no elected officials, no taxes, no police department, and no water or sewer system. Dellview is a quiet and rural community where the only paved road is Dellview Road, which forms the town’s northern border. If you want to visit Dellview, you might need a map, as it covers only 0.11 square miles of land. But don’t expect to find any shops, restaurants, or hotels there. Dellview is a town where every resident could fit in an elevator!

The History of Dellview, North Carolina

Dellview is a town that was, funny enough, born out of an argument over stray dogs. In 1925, two poultry farming families of the Dellinger name were fed up with the county law that forbade them from shooting dogs that trespassed on their land and attacked their chickens. They asked their relative, David R. Dellinger, who was a state representative, to help them create their own town where they could make their own rules.

Dellinger eventually introduced a bill to the General Assembly. As a result, North Carolina officially incorporated Dellview. The new name of the town came from a combination of Dellinger and View. The first thing the town did was to pass an ordinance that allowed the residents to shoot any stray dog on sight!

While the town was officially created, Dellview never grew into a thriving or active area. It had no taxes, no services, no elections, and no officials. It was just a way for the Dellingers to protect their farms. In 1978, the town failed to respond to a census survey, and the state declared it inactive. The town regained its status in 1980 after a petition but lost it again in 2000 after another census. Dellview remained the smallest town in North Carolina for decades. However, Fontana Dam surpassed it in 2010. Today, Dellview is still home to six people, all descendants of the original Dellingers. Fontana Dam has grown rapidly, losing its title as the smallest town once again to Dellview in 2020. Note, “rapidly” here means it now has 13 people.

Where is Dellview, North Carolina?

Dellview is a tiny town in Gaston County, North Carolina, that is not easy to find on a map. The town is located to the northwest of Cherryville, the largest community nearby, and north of Dellview Road, the community’s only paved road. Dellview has no water features within its boundaries and covers only 0.11 square miles of land. To the west of Dellview flows the Muddy Fork, a tributary of Buffalo Creek that eventually joins the Broad River in South Carolina. Dellview is about 40 miles west of Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina.

Like much of western North Carolina, Dellview is rural and far removed from the urban centers of the state, places like Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area.

Comparing Dellview and Charlotte

Dellview and Charlotte are both located in North Carolina, but they are worlds apart in terms of size and population. Dellview is the smallest town in the state, with a population of only six people and a land area of only 0.11 square miles. Charlotte is the largest city in the state, with a population of 874,579 people and a land area of 310.02 square miles. Therefore, that means that Charlotte has about 145,763 times more people and about 2,818 times more land than Dellview.

To put it another way, Dellview’s entire population could fit in a single car, while Charlotte’s population would need about 175,000 cars. Dellview’s entire land area could fit in a small park, while Charlotte’s land area would cover about 240 parks. Dellview and Charlotte are both part of North Carolina, but they represent the extremes of the state’s diversity and scale.

What is the Economy and Industry of the Region?

Gaston County, home to Dellview, features a low cost of living. The affordable lifestyle attracts many residents and businesses. The county’s largest industries are manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. These industries provide jobs and services for the county and the surrounding areas. Gaston County’s economy is also growing.

The county has a low unemployment rate, a high future job growth rate, and a competitive tax rate. The county’s income per capita and household income are lower than the national average, but they are increasing over time. Due to its proximity to Charlotte, many residents are moving out to the surrounding regions of the large city into places like Gaston and settling down with more land.

A List of the Smallest Towns in North Carolina

North Carolina is filled with small towns, and they only add to the state’s rural charm! Here is a list of the top 10 smallest towns in North Carolina, starting with the “largest” and going towards the smallest.

1. Orrum: Population 59. Located in Robeson County, in the coastal plain region. The town’s intended name was Orton. However, they selected a new name since there was already an Orton nearby.
2. Seven Springs: Population 55. Located in Wayne County, in the coastal plain region. Seven Springs began in 1787 as a resort town, and its name comes from the seven natural springs that flow throughout it.
3. Rex: Population 50. Located in Robeson County, in the coastal plain region. Rex was established in 1886 as a railroad stop. Its name comes from the Latin word for “king,” which the railroad company chose.
4. Hassell: Population 49. Located in Martin County, in the coastal plain region. The town’s incorporation was in 1899 as a farming community.
5. Falkland: Population 47. Located in Pitt County, in the coastal plain region. Authorities don’t know how the town’s name originates, but it may be due to a tavern operated by George Faulkner.
6. Lake Santeetlah: Population 38. Located in Graham County, in the Great Smoky Mountains. The town’s creation was in 1928, with the construction of a dam on the Cheoah River. The dam formed a lake that covers most of the town’s area.
7. Leggett: Population 37. Located in Edgecombe County, in the coastal plain region. Incorporated in 1899, it started as a railroad depot and a cotton mill.
8. Durdarrach: Population 34. Located in Hoke County, in the Sandhills region. The town’s history was established in 1907 as a lumber camp and a sawmill.
9. Fontana Dam: Population 13. Located in Graham County, in the Great Smoky Mountains. The town was built in 1942 to house the workers who constructed the Fontana Dam, the tallest dam in the eastern United States.
10. Dellview: Population 6. Located in Gaston County, near the border with South Carolina. The town was incorporated in 1925 as a political gesture by two poultry-farming families who wanted to shoot stray dogs on their land.