Cleveland County | |
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Motto(s): "Live, Work and Play in Cleveland County" | |
Coordinates: 35°20′N81°34′W / 35.33°N 81.56°W | |
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
Founded | 1841 |
Named for | Benjamin Cleveland |
Seat | Shelby |
Largest community | Shelby |
Area | |
• Total | 468.18 sq mi (1,212.6 km2) |
• Land | 464.25 sq mi (1,202.4 km2) |
• Water | 3.93 sq mi (10.2 km2) 0.84% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 99,519 |
• Estimate (2022) | 100,670 |
• Density | 214.37/sq mi (82.77/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 10th |
Website | www |
Cleveland County is a county located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the western Piedmont, on the southern border of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,519. [1] Its county seat is Shelby. [2] Cleveland County comprises the Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area. [3]
The county was formed in 1841 from parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties. It was named for Benjamin Cleveland, a colonel in the American Revolutionary War, who took part in Patriot victory at the Battle of King's Mountain. From 1841 to 1887 "Cleaveland" was the spelling used; the present spelling was adopted in 1887. [4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 468.18 square miles (1,212.6 km2), of which 464.25 square miles (1,202.4 km2) is land and 3.93 square miles (10.2 km2) (0.84%) is water. [5]
Cleveland County is part of the South Mountains, a sub-range of the Blueridge Mountains that runs through the county's northwest corner. [6] In the south east corner of the county is Crowders & Kings Mountains, part of a small narrow ridge that sits above the very near surrounding area. They are part of a very old remnant of The Appalachians and used to be much larger. [7] Overall Cleveland County is very hilly, and even mountainous in certain parts, though not to the extreme as counties to the west or north.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 10,396 | — | |
1860 | 12,348 | 18.8% | |
1870 | 12,696 | 2.8% | |
1880 | 16,571 | 30.5% | |
1890 | 20,394 | 23.1% | |
1900 | 25,078 | 23.0% | |
1910 | 29,494 | 17.6% | |
1920 | 34,272 | 16.2% | |
1930 | 51,914 | 51.5% | |
1940 | 58,055 | 11.8% | |
1950 | 64,357 | 10.9% | |
1960 | 66,048 | 2.6% | |
1970 | 72,556 | 9.9% | |
1980 | 83,435 | 15.0% | |
1990 | 84,714 | 1.5% | |
2000 | 96,287 | 13.7% | |
2010 | 98,078 | 1.9% | |
2020 | 99,519 | 1.5% | |
2022 (est.) | 100,670 | [1] | 1.2% |
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12] 1990–2000 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [1] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 70,163 | 70.5% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 20,034 | 20.13% |
Native American | 222 | 0.22% |
Asian | 854 | 0.86% |
Pacific Islander | 23 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed | 4,184 | 4.2% |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,039 | 4.06% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 99,519 people, 30,599 households, and 21,410 families residing in the county.
At the 2010 census, [16] there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile (80 people/km2). There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 units per square mile (34 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74% White, 21% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Of any race, 3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
There were 37,046 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,283, and the median income for a family was $41,733. Males had a median income of $30,882 versus $21,995 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,395. About 10.10% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
Cleveland is a typical "Solid South" county in its voting patterns. It was Democratic until 1968 when the county voted for American Independent Party candidate George Wallace. In 1972, the county voted overwhelmingly for Richard Nixon, and since then, Cleveland has become a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry Cleveland County was Jimmy Carter in 1980.
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Cleveland County is a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission regional council of governments. [18] [19]
Cleveland County Schools has 29 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade, comprising five high schools, two alternative schools, four middle schools, two intermediate schools (grades 5 and 6), and sixteen elementary schools. [20] It was formed from the 2004 merger of Kings Mountain City Schools, Shelby City Schools and the former Cleveland County Schools. [21] [22]
By the requirement of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, Cleveland County was divided into 11 townships. However, the county later dissolved all townships and is now a single nonfunctioning, nongovernmental county subdivision called Cleveland. The townships that previously existed in the county were:
The 2000 disappearance of Asha Degree, a Shelby girl, was discussed on television shows including America's Most Wanted , The Oprah Winfrey Show , Good Morning America , and The Montel Williams Show. [27]
Parts of the 2012 movie The Hunger Games were filmed in Cleveland County. [28]
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 238,267, making it the 8th-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Monroe. Union County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Transylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census the population is 32,986. Its county seat is Brevard.
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,359. Its county seat is Dobson, and its largest community is Mount Airy.
Rutherford County is a county in the southwestern area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,444. Its county seat is Rutherfordton. Rutherford County comprises the Forest City, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.
McDowell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,578. Its county seat is Marion.
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,193. Its county seat is Marshall. Madison County is part of the Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,810, making it the most populous "Lincoln County" in the United States. Its county seat is Lincolnton.
Jackson County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,109. Since 1913, its county seat has been Sylva, which replaced Webster.
Gaston County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 227,943. The county seat is Gastonia. Dallas served as the original county seat from 1846 until 1911.
Forsyth County is located in the northwest Piedmont of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 382,590, making it the fourth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Winston-Salem. Forsyth County is part of the Winston-Salem, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, NC, Combined Statistical Area. Portions of Forsyth County are in the Yadkin Valley wine region.
Caldwell County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,652. Its county seat is Lenoir. Caldwell County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Burke County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 87,570. Its county seat is Morganton.
Brunswick County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693. Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.
Lenoir is a city in and the county seat of Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,263 at the 2020 census. Lenoir is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the northeast are the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hibriten Mountain, located just east of the city limits, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range.
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States and is located in the westernmost part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, located approximately 50 miles away from the city. As of the 2010 census, the town's population was 4,647. It is home to Gardner–Webb University. The town is named after the natural spring found on the university's property, which feeds a small lake.
Grover is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 708 at the 2010 census.
Polkville is a small town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 545 at the 2010 census.
Shelby is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County, North Carolina. It lies near the western edge of the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area. The population was 21,918 at the 2020 census.
Kings Mountain is a small suburban city within the Charlotte metropolitan area in Cleveland and Gaston counties, North Carolina, United States. Most of the city is in Cleveland County, with a small eastern portion in Gaston County. The population was 10,296 at the 2010 census.
North Carolina Highway 226 (NC 226) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Traveling north–south through Western North Carolina, it connects the cities and towns of Grover, Shelby, Marion, Spruce Pine and Bakersville. It also a scenic byway in the South Mountains area and connects with the summer colony of Little Switzerland, via NC 226A.