Vale is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Lincoln County, North Carolina
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,810. Its county seat is Lincolnton. Lincoln County is included in the Charlotte-Concord- Gastonia, NC- SC Metropolitan Statist ...
, United States. Parts of Vale extend to western
Catawba County
Catawba County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,610. Its county seat is Newton, and its largest city is Hickory. The county is part of the Hickory– Lenoir– Morganton, NC Metrop ...
It lies at an elevation of 1028 feet (283 m). The area of Vale is nearly all rural, with farming the predominant industry.
By car, Vale is about 10 minutes from
Cherryville Cherryville may refer to one of the following places:
* Cherryville, British Columbia
* Cherryville, Missouri
* Cherryville, New Jersey
* Cherryville, North Carolina
* Cherryville, Oregon
* Cherryville, Pennsylvania
* Cherryville, South Australi ...
, 15 minutes from
Lincolnton, 30 minutes from
Hickory and
Morganton, and 55 minutes from
Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
. It is one hour from the Appalachian mountains and around four hours from the coast.
Vale has a
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional ser ...
. Its
ZIP code is 28168.
Vale is home to the annual Cat Square Christmas Parade, started in 1974, known as the "Best Little Christmas Parade in the Country". The parade festivities included electing the Mayor of Cat Square. The mayor is strictly a figurehead, with his or her only duty being to ride in the parade.
Reinhardt-Craig House, Kiln and Pottery Shop was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 2008.
Vale was the destination of 50 African American families during the
Great Migration. Most migrated from Half Acre Township in
Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County is a County (United States), county located in the Central Georgia, central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the population was 21,218. The county seat is ...
. They established three migration churches and three black elementary schools. They moved out of Vale by 1978 and were replaced by Mexican laborers.
Naïve painter
Minnie Reinhardt grew up in Vale.
References
*
Unincorporated communities in Lincoln County, North Carolina
Unincorporated communities in North Carolina
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