Dellview, North Carolina

Dellview, North Carolina
—  Town  —
Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°23′12″N 81°24′46″W / 35.38667°N 81.41278°W / 35.38667; -81.41278
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Gaston
Area
– Total	0.11 sq mi (0.3 km2)
– Land	0.11 sq mi (0.3 km2)
– Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	978 ft (298 m)
Population (United States Census, 2010)
– Total	13
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	704
FIPS code	37-16820[1]
GNIS feature ID	2406373 [2]

Dellview is an inactive incorporated town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 13 (2010 Census figures), it was the smallest municipality in the state, and arguably the smallest incorporated town in the United States. Its population is currently 11, and was at one point as low as 10.^[3]

Dellview is located in the Muddy Creek Watershed. The town collects no taxes from its residents, almost all of whom are relatives. Dellview also doesn't request any state money. The town has no police department, nor a water or sewer system.^[4] Since it is inactive, the town has no elected officials or municipal elections,^[5] and is now governed by Gaston County.

Dellview Road, the community's only paved road, forms the town's northern border. North of it lies the town of Cherryville.^[6]

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.^[7]

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.^[8] For many years, the town of Dellview enjoyed the distinction of being the smallest incorporated community in the state.^[3][7]

References

1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dellview, North Carolina. US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
3. ^ ^{a b} Gaston County: Municipalities
4. ^ Gaston County: Natural Resources: Muddy Creek Watershed
5. ^ Gaston County Municipal elections: Dellview
6. ^ Gaston County planning maps: Dellview (PDF)
7. ^ ^{a b} Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library: Local History Articles by Robert Ragan
8. ^ Census.gov : Geographic Boundary Changes (37 North Carolina)

External links

• Dellview Mitigation Plan 2005-06
• A pictorial of Dellview here http://dellview.sitesled.com/

Coordinates: 35°23′12″N 81°24′46″W / 35.38667°N 81.41278°W / 35.38667; -81.41278