Dellview, North Carolina

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Dellview is an inactive incorporated town in the U.S. state of North Carolina. With a population of 16 (1990 Census figures), it was the smallest municipality in the state, and arguably the smallest incorporated town in the United States. It currently has a population of 11 and was at one point, as low as 10.[1] Since it is inactive, the town collects no taxes, has no elected officials (or municipal elections)[2], and is now governed by the county of Gaston. Dellview is located in the Muddy Creek Watershed. All of the community's residents are related[3]. Dellview Road, the community's only paved road, forms the town's north border; north of it lies the town of Cherryville[4].

[edit] History

Dellview was incorporated as a town in 1925 as a political gesture. Gaston County law prohibited the shooting of stray dogs that crossed onto a citizen's land. The law was disliked by two families of the Dellinger name, who were both poultry farmers. They complained that stray dogs were raiding their chicken coops on their farms, which neighbored each other. To remedy the situation, the Dellingers petitioned fellow kinsman David R. Dellinger, who was a North Carolina State Representative, to propose a bill to the General Assembly for incorporating the Dellingers farms into a town known as "Dell"view (Dellview is the clipped form of Dellenger merged with the word "view"). The bill passed, formally incorporating the town in 1925. Immediately thereafter, the town leaders passed an ordinance allowing for the citizens to shoot any stray dog that crosses onto their property. [5]

No one for Dellview responded to a Census Mapping Survey in 1978, and as a result, the town was declared inactive, and thereby the governing rights were transferred fully back to Gaston County. In 1980, the decision was reversed after a citizen petitioned, but the town was declared inactive once again on the Census 2000[6]. For many years, the town of Dellview enjoyed the distinction of being the smallest incorporated community in the state. [1] [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Gaston County:Municipalities
  2. ^ Gaston County: Elections: Dellview
  3. ^ Gaston County: Natural Resources: Muddy Creek Watershed
  4. ^ Gaston County planning maps: Dellview (PDF)
  5. ^ a b Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library: Local History Articles by Robert Ragan
  6. ^ Census.gov : Geographic Boundary Changes (37 North Carolina)

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Gaston County, North Carolina
County seat: Gastonia
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Towns
CDP
Unincorporated
community

Coordinates: 35°23′19″N 81°24′35″W / 35.38861, -81.40972

A pictorial of Dellview here http://dellview.sitesled.com/
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