McDowell -- U.S. County in North Carolina Population (2000): 42151 Housing Units (2000): 18377 Land area (2000): 441.680458 sq. miles (1143.947086 sq. km) Water area (2000): 4.733570 sq. miles (12.259889 sq. km) Total area (2000): 446.414028 sq. miles (1156.206975 sq. km) Located within: North Carolina (NC), FIPS 37 Location: 35.686938 N, 82.038396 W Headwords: McDowell McDowell, NC McDowell County McDowell County, NC