Caroleen, North Carolina

Caroleen is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States.^[2] Its population was 560 as of the 2020 census.^[3] Caroleen has a post office with ZIP code 28019.^[4][5] U.S. Route 221 Alternate passes through the community.

Caroleen, North Carolina
Unincorporated community
Caroleen Show map of North Carolina Caroleen Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 35°16′52″N 81°47′29″W
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Rutherford
Area [1]
• Total	1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
• Land	1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	860 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	560
• Density	505.87/sq mi (195.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28019
Area code	828
GNIS feature ID	2628617[2]

History

Caroleen is located on the Second Broad River. It was named in honor of Caroline, wife of industrialist Simpson B. Tanner Sr.

The Post Office Department ruled that Caroline was too similar to Carolina to be acceptable, so the name Caroleen was selected instead.

The communities of Avondale and Henrietta, founded in 1887 and named for Tanner's mother-in-law Henrietta McRae Spencer, lie directly south.^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	560		—
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

Notable person

Smoky Burgess – Major League Baseball player, 9-time All-Star and 1960 World Series champion^[8]