Valdese, North Carolina

Valdese is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,490 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory - Lenoir - Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. One of the largest Waldensian congregations in the United States was founded in the town in the late nineteenth century, now known as the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. The town was settled by immigrants from the Cottian Alps in the Piedmont region of Italy.HistoryIn addition to Waldensian Presbyterian Church, the Jean-Pierre Auguste Dalmas House and Valdese Elementary School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The Valdese News, a newspaper serving Burke County, was published there from 1938 through 1950.GeographyValdese is located in eastern Burke County at . It is bordered to the east by the town of Rutherford College. The Valdese town limits extend north to Rhodhiss Lake on the Catawba River, then follow the land along the southern side of the lake for 4mi to the west.