I Know Where To Find Love
Love Valley is a small town located in a remote valley in the Brushy Mountains of northwestern North Carolina. Its creation in 1954 marked the fulfillment of a dream for founder Andy Barker. Barker developed two visions as a young man—he wanted to build a Christian community, and he wanted to be a cowboy. In 1954 he combined those visions to create an Old West-style village in the hills of northwestern Iredell County. The town was chartered in 1963.
Modeled after the Old West towns seen in countless Hollywood films, Love Valley boasts a saloon, general store, hitching posts, and rodeos. Automobiles are not allowed (there is a parking area where you can leave you vehicle) inside the town limits; people still use horses and horse-drawn vehicles to travel in the town. A small, nondenominational Christian church sits on a hill overlooking the town, thus emphasizing Barker's vision of a Christian utopia.
The town garnered its share of controversy in the 1960s and 1970s, including around the "Love Valley Rock Festival", which local farmers complained brought drug addicts and other "troublemakers" to the area. However, over the last two decades the town has settled down considerably and is now known as a popular gathering spot for horse-lovers and horseback riding. There are miles of horseback riding trails in the surrounding Brushy Mountains.
To read about the Love Valley Rock Festival and who performed there:
Love Valley is located in northwestern Iredell County. It is 16 miles north of Statesville, the Iredell County seat, and 23 miles southeast of Wilkesboro by road through the Brushy Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.62 square miles, of which 5,366 square metres (1.3 acres), or 0.33%, are water. The town's area drains southwest to Snow Creek, part of the South Yadkin River watershed.
As of the census of 2010, there were 90 people (though estimates as of 2016 say 104 people), 17 households, and 9 families residing in the town. The population density was 450.0 people per square mile. There were 31 housing units at an average density of 154.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 100% White.
There were 17 households out of which 11.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.76 and the average family size was 2.20. (When I see numbers like this, I ask myself what happened to the .24% .80% of the person(s).)
In the town, the population was spread out with 6.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 30.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males. (The same question applies here as well.)
The median income for a household in the town was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $25,313. Males had a median income of $0 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,848. There were 15.4% of families and 31.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 50.0% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
They have several campgrounds to choose from, cabins for rent and host a variety of events throughout the year. They have parades, rodeos, a chili-fest cook-off, and a Chuck-Wagon ride like the old days of the west. Dozens of horse trails to choose from.
It's like stepping back in time. It definitely ain't New York City! Check out the video. If you are looking for a destination for a different kind of vacation, this would be the place to have an experience.
Andy Barker passed away in the summer of 2011. Even so, the vision he saw and created lives on today.
In Love Valley, love is everywhere the eye can see.