Matthews, North Carolina

Last updated

Matthews, North Carolina
Town
Matthewsbranchlibrary.jpg
Matthews Town Hall and library
Matthews, NC Town Flag.jpg
Flag
Matthews, NC Town Seal.png
Seal
Mecklenburg County North Carolina Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Matthews highlighted.svg
Location in Mecklenburg County and the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°07′10″N80°42′36″W / 35.11944°N 80.71000°W / 35.11944; -80.71000
CountryUnited States
State North Carolina
County Mecklenburg
Incorporated1879
Named after Edward Matthews [1]
Government
 • MayorJohn Higdon
 • Town ManagerBecky Hawke
Area
[2]
 • Total
17.19 sq mi (44.53 km2)
 • Land17.11 sq mi (44.33 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
[3]
745 ft (227 m)
Population
 (2020) [4]
 • Total
29,435
 • Density1,720.1/sq mi (664.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
Area code 704
FIPS code 37-41960 [5]
GNIS feature ID2406108 [3]
Website www.matthewsnc.gov
Downtown Matthews, North Carolina Downtown Matthews NC 1.jpg
Downtown Matthews, North Carolina

Matthews is a town in southeastern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of Charlotte. The population was 29,435 as of the 2020 census. [4]

Contents

History

In the early 19th century, the new settlement that would become Matthews was unofficially named "Stumptown" for the copious number of tree stumps left from making way for cotton fields. The community's name later changed to Fullwood, named after appointed area postmaster John Miles Fullwood. The establishment of a sawmill and the cotton and timber industry helped Fullwood change into a town. Prior to the first train arriving on December 15, 1874, Fullwood acted as a stagecoach stop between Charlotte and Monroe. The town was incorporated in 1879, and was renamed Matthews in honor of Edward Matthews, who was director of the Central Carolina Railroad, which would later become the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. [6] [7]

According to officials, the Matthews Alive Parade, part of a celebration held for the 31st time in 2023, was the largest Labor Day parade in the Southeastern United States. [8]

Geography

Matthews is located in southeastern Mecklenburg County at 35°7′1″N80°42′59″W / 35.11694°N 80.71639°W / 35.11694; -80.71639 (35.116851, −80.716409). [3] It is bordered to the northwest and southwest by the city of Charlotte and to the northeast by the town of Mint Hill. It is bordered to the southeast by the town of Stallings in Union County. Uptown Charlotte is 11 miles (18 km) to the northwest of the center of Matthews.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.2 square miles (45 km2), of which 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2), or 0.47%, are water. [2] The center of Matthews sits on a ridge which drains north toward McAlpine Creek and south toward its tributary Fourmile Creek. McAlpine Creek is a southwest-flowing tributary of Sugar River, which in turn flows south to meet the Catawba River in South Carolina.

U.S. Route 74 is the main highway through Matthews, leading northwest into Charlotte and southeast 14 miles (23 km) to Monroe. North Carolina Highway 51 runs through the northern part of Matthews, leading northeast into Mint Hill and west 10 miles (16 km) to Pineville. Interstate 485, the Charlotte Outerbelt, runs through the southern part of Matthews, with access from four interchanges.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 191—
1890 33575.4%
1900 37812.8%
1910 3964.8%
1920 310−21.7%
1930 45446.5%
1940 4867.0%
1950 58921.2%
1960 6093.4%
1970 78328.6%
1980 1,648110.5%
1990 13,651728.3%
2000 22,12762.1%
2010 27,19822.9%
2020 29,4358.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center in Matthews Presbyterian Hospital Matthews.jpg
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center in Matthews

2020 census

Matthews racial composition [10]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)20,89770.99%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)3,00410.21%
Native American 710.24%
Asian 1,4004.76%
Pacific Islander 120.04%
Other/Mixed 1,3504.59%
Hispanic or Latino 2,7019.18%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,435 people, 12,011 households, and 8,496 families residing in the town.

2006-2008

As of the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, there were 26,901 people, 11,349 households, and 7,904 families in the town. According to the Census Bureau of 2000, the population density was 1,557.1 inhabitants per square mile (601.2/km2). There were 138 housing units at an average density of 572.7 per square mile (221.1/km2). According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, The racial makeup of the town was 82.3% White, 10.1% African American or Black, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3.7% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.8% of other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 7,904 households, of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married/couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.4% of households were one person and 8.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 29.9% under the age of 19, 3.2% from 20 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 11% 65 or older. The median age was 40.3 years.

The median household income was $77,981 and the median family income was $88,600. Males had a median income of $65,909 versus $44,665 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,250. About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Matthews is in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. [11] [12] Schools in the Matthews city limits include Matthews Elementary, Crown Point Elementary, and Elizabeth Lane Elementary; Crestdale Middle; David W. Butler High School.

Elementary schools serving sections of Matthews include Matthews Elementary, [13] Crown Point, [14] Elizabeth Lane, [15] Mint Hill Elementary in Mint Hill, [16] and Providence Spring (outside of Matthews). [17]

Much of Matthews is zoned to Crestdale Middle School. [18] Portions of Matthews are zoned to Mint Hill Middle in Mint Hill, [19] as well as South Charlotte Middle School. [20] Most of Matthews is zoned to Butler High School, [21] while portions are zoned to Providence High School. [22]

Public charter schools include Matthews Charter Academy, Telra Institute and Socrates Academy. Religious schools nearby include Covenant Day School, Charlotte Christian School, Carmel Christian, Blessed Sacrament Academy, and Greyfriars Classical Academy.

Matthews is served by a branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. [23] The library is located on the first floor of the Matthews Town Hall and is one of the most active in the system.

Economy

Companies with headquarters in Matthews include:

Sports

Matthews is home to professional soccer club Stumptown Athletic, named after the suburb's nickname. It was founded in 2019 and plays in US Soccer's third division, the National Independent Soccer Association. Its home stadium is the 5,000 capacity Sportsplex at Matthews.

Notable people

Sister cities

Matthews is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "North Carolina Gazetteer" . Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Matthews, North Carolina
  4. 1 2 "P1. Race – Matthews town, North Carolina: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Factfinder". census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  6. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  203.
  7. ↑ "Our History - Matthews, NC". www.matthewsnc.gov. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ Jordan, Chase (September 1, 2023). "4 things to know about the annual Matthews Alive Festival over the Labor Day weekend". The Charlotte Observer .
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mecklenburg County, NC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Town of Matthews Zoning Map" (PDF). Town of Matthews. Retrieved February 14, 2023. - Compare to school district maps.
  13. ↑ "Matthews Elementary School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Crown Point Elementary School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Elizabeth Lane Elementary School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Mint Hill Elementary School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Providence Spring Elementary School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Crestdale Middle School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Mint Hill Middle School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ "South Charlotte Middle School" (PDF). Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Butler High School" (PDF). Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Providence High School" (PDF). Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools . Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Matthews branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County". Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Fortune 500 Companies". Charlotte Chamber Web Site. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  25. ↑ Jamar Adams Stats. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  26. ↑ Blackwood, Jr., J. Curtis. Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  27. ↑ Robert Blanton, Notre Dame, Safety - 247Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  28. ↑ Cierra Burdick 2011 High School Girls Basketball Profile - ESPN. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  29. ↑ Ty Buttrey Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  30. ↑ Dion Bryum Stats. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  31. ↑ Ferris, Jennifer. (April 16, 2015) Smoking Rule Tabled. North Carolina Health News. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Mecklenburg County Special Olympians to represent NC in national tourney | WCNC.com Charlotte". Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  33. ↑ Henderson, Bruce. (May 21, 2014). Former N.C. Rep. Jim Gulley dies. The Herald. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  34. ↑ Tomas Hillard-Arce | MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Pat Hogan". Indy Eleven . Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  36. ↑ Yates, James (September 16, 2009). "'Big Brother 11': Jordan Lloyd wins, goes on CBS 'Early Show'". Staten Island Advance. Advance Publications. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  37. ↑ David W. Butler (Matthews, NC) Alumni Pro Stats. Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
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