Iredell County is a county located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 186,693. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

is Statesville, and its largest town is Mooresville. The county was formed in 1788, subtracted from Rowan County. It is named for

James Iredell James Iredell (October 5, 1751 – October 20, 1799) was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799. His son, James Iredell ...

, one of the first justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.Martin, Jonathan; Iredell County is included in the

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

–

Concord Concord may refer to: Meaning "agreement" * Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony) * Harmony, in music * Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...

– Gastonia, NC– SC

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

, as defined in 2013 by the Office of Management and Budget with data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Historical timeline

Prior to colonization, three Siouan-speaking tribes associated with a culture group called the Eastern Siouans probably inhabited the area that is now Iredell County. Broken into several smaller tribes, they were the

Catawba Catawba may refer to: *Catawba people, a Native American tribe in the Carolinas *Catawba language, a language in the Catawban languages family *Catawban languages Botany *Catalpa, a genus of trees, based on the name used by the Catawba and other N ...

, the Waccamaw Siouan, the Cheraw, the Winyaw, the Wateree and the Sugaree. The following list shows significant events and firsts in the history of the area that is now called Iredell County, North Carolina.Lewis, J.D.; Statesville Old U

* 1629–1712, Province of Carolina ruled by

Lords Proprietors A lord proprietor is a person granted a royal charter for the establishment and government of an English colony in the 17th century. The plural of the term is "lords proprietors" or "lords proprietary". Origin In the beginning of the European ...

under British rule * 1712–1776,

Province of North Carolina Province of North Carolina was a province of Great Britain that existed in North America from 1712(p. 80) to 1776. It was one of the five Southern colonies and one of the thirteen American colonies. The monarch of Great Britain was repre ...

and

Province of South Carolina Province of South Carolina, originally known as Clarendon Province, was a province of Great Britain that existed in North America from 1712 to 1776. It was one of the five Southern colonies and one of the thirteen American colonies. The monar ...

created from Province of Carolina * 1734,

Bladen County Bladen County ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

formed from New Hanover County * 1730–1750 first Scots-Irish and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

immigrants seeking good soil, game, and proximity to fresh water had settled the area of modern-day Iredell County * 1750,

Anson County Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,055. Its county seat is Wadesboro. History The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Ba ...

formed from Bladen County * 1750–1776, Lord Granville and later his son issued Granville Grants of land in the

Granville District The Granville District (or Granville's district) was an approximately 60-mile wide strip of land in the North Carolina colony adjoining the boundary with the Province of Virginia, lying between north latitudes 35° 34' and 36° 30'. From 1663 unti ...

, which included the area that later became Iredell County but was then Anson and later Rowan Counties * 1750,

Fourth Creek Congregation The community of the Fourth Creek Congregation was a group of Scots-Irish Presbyterians who first arrived in the Province of North Carolina in the mid to late 1730s and established a congregation by 1750 under pastor John Thompson in Anson Coun ...

established * 1753, Rowan County created from a portion of Anson County * 1754–1763,

Fort Dobbs ''Fort Dobbs'' is a 1958 American Western film, the first of three directed by Gordon Douglas to star Clint Walker. The other two were: ''Yellowstone Kelly'' in 1959 and ''Gold of the Seven Saints'' in 1961. Released by Warner Brothers and ba ...

(named after Governor Arthur Dobbs) was erected as a defense facility during the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...

(1754–63). Today, the location of Fort Dobbs is a North Carolina State Historic Site. * 1761,

Coddle Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Session House and Cemetery Coddle Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Session House and Cemetery is a historic Associate Reformed Presbyterian church located near Mooresville in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States. The first church building was cons ...

established in what became Mooresville * 1765, Centre Presbyterian Church established in what became Mooresville * 1773, William Sharpe creates map of 4th Creek Congregation * 1775, Bethany Presbyterian Church (north of Fourth Creek on Fifth Creek) and Concord Presbyterian Church (west of Fourth Creek) established as offshoots of the Fourth Creek Congregation * 1775, Aug 1,

Rowan County Regiment The Rowan County Regiment was originally established in about August 1, 1775 as a local militia in Rowan County in the Province of North-Carolina. When the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorized thirty-five existing county militias to be o ...

North Carolina Militia North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

established; most Iredell residents that saw service while in North Carolina, served in this Regiment; for a time in 1775 and 1782 the Regiment was divided into 1st and 2nd Rowan County Regiment * 1775–1783, North Carolina contributes 30,000 to 36,000 men during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, including the Continental Army, local North Carolina County Regiments of militia, and other State Troops * 1776, Jul 4

United States Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ( ...

signing * 1777, State of North Carolina began issuing State Land Grants from land that came from Lord Granville estate in the

* 1778, Aug, Adlai Osborne compiles Tax List of Rowan County to raise money for the upcoming Revolutionary War, including Capt Caldwell's, Capt Nichols', Capt Falls', and Capt Purviance's Districts that would become part of Iredell County in 1788 * 1780, Jun 20, Battle of Ramsour's Mill nearby in what is today

Lincolnton, North Carolina Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,486 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River. The city i ...

, many Rowan County soldiers were killed at this battle * 1787, New Sterling ARP Church established in Buffalo Shoals area that would become New Sterling * 1788, Nov 3, Iredell County was incorporated in 1788 when it was formed from adjacent Rowan County. It is named for Honorable

, Sr. (1751–1799), Attorney General of North Carolina during the Revolutionary War, Supreme Court Justice, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1788. Its county seat is Statesville. * 1789, November 21, North Carolina admitted to the Union as the 12th state * 1789,

location chosen by the legislature as county seat of Iredell County, named Statesville * 1790s, McKendree United Methodist Church established in Mooresville * 1790, Aug 13, first 26 lots sold in Statesville * 1794, Grassy Knob Baptist Church established near what would become Union Grove in northern Iredell County * 1800, U.S. Census shows 11 heads of household, including 68 free white persons and 27 slaves in "States Ville" * 1801, first post office established in Statesville * 1805, Mount Mourne post office established * 1819, 2nd County Courthouse built in Statesville * 1847, The only major cession of Iredell territory to another county was that to Alexander County, created in early 1847 from Iredell, Burke, and Wilkes counties. * 1854, fire burns 2nd County Courthouse and court house records * 1858, The arrival of the

Western North Carolina Railroad Western North-Carolina Railroad Company was incorporated under act of North Carolina on February 15, 1855.Interstate Commerce Commission. ''Southern Ry. Co.'', Volume 37, Interstate Commerce Commission Valuation Reports, November 6, 1931, p. 215 ...

in 1858, soon followed by the

Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio Railroad The Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio Railroad Company in North Carolina was incorporated under act of Tennessee on February 26, 1852, and under act of North Carolina on February 15, 1855, as Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio Railroad Company.Interstate Com ...

* 1861–1865,

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

* 1866, Freedom United Presbyterian Church and Logan Presbyterian Church, first free black churches, established in Statesville * 1868, May 1, Tom Dooley hung in Statesville * 1891, Aug 27, The railway accident on the Bostian Bridge killed 23 people on August 27, 1891, west of

Statesville, North Carolina Statesville is a city in and the county seat of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and it is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. Statesville was established in 1789 by an act of the North Carolina Legislature. The population was r ...

, when a Richmond & Danville Railroad train derailed.Bill Moose: In: ''Encyclopedia of North Carolina,'' edited by William S. Powell, 2006 * 1891 third U.S. Post Office and County Courthouse built in Statesville * 1899, fourth Iredell County Courthouse built in Statesville * 1900s, Industries producing tobacco, liquor, and herbs (Statesville's Wallace Herbarium was one of the largest such facilities in the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries) were later supplemented by the production of livestock, dairy products, and breeder chickens, of which the county remains a leading producer. * 1924, Ole Time Fiddlers' Convention in Union Grove started by H.P. VanHoy to benefit local school * 1954, cowboy town of Love Valley created by Jeter Andrew Barker * 1974, about, National Balloon Rally/Fest in Troutman * The

North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame Mooresville is a large town located in the southwestern section of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 50,193 at the 2020 United States Census making it ...

in Mooresville (known as "Race City USA")

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.9%) is water. Iredell County is located within the

Piedmont it, Piemontese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

Region of central North Carolina. The northwestern section of the county contains the Brushy Mountains, a deeply eroded spur of the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the world, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsy ...

far to the west. The highest point in Iredell County, Fox Mountain, is in the Brushies; it rises to 1,760 feet. Although the "Brushies", as they are often called locally, are not high in the normal sense, they do rise prominently above the surrounding countryside. The remainder of Iredell County consists of gently rolling countryside occasionally broken by low hills and small river valleys. The county's largest river, the

, forms much of its western border. Lake Norman, North Carolina's largest manmade lake, is the most prominent geographic feature of southern Iredell County; it is often called North Carolina's "inland sea". Iredell County is an important transportation center for the state, as Interstate 77 and

Interstate 40 Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...

cross in northeast Statesville. This has given birth to the county's slogan "Crossroads for the Future." Residents have easy access going south on I-77 to Charlotte; north on I-77 to

Elkin, North Carolina Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township. The population was 4,083 at the 2020 census. Geography Elkin is ...

and

Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is ...

; east on I-40 to

Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...

Greensboro Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...

and

Raleigh Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...

; and west along I-40 to

Hickory, North Carolina Hickory is a city located primarily in Catawba County, with formal boundaries extending into Burke and Caldwell counties. The city lies in the U.S. state of North Carolina. At the time of the 2020 census, Hickory's population was 43,490. Hickor ...

and

Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...

. The northern third of Iredell county is highly

rural In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descri ...

and contains no large towns. Due to the thinly populated nature of this portion of the state, it is one of the select places in North Carolina where the speed limit on Interstate Highways exceeds 65 mph, as Interstate 77 north of Statesville has a speed limit of 70 mph. Iredell County is one of the longest counties in the state and stretches for nearly fifty miles north to south from Yadkin County in the north to Mecklenburg in the south.

State and local protected areas/sites

* Fort Dobbs State Historic Site *

Happy Oaks Recreation Park Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. Si ...

Lake Norman State Park Lake Norman State Park, formerly Duke Power State Park, is a North Carolina state park near Troutman, Iredell County, North Carolina in the United States. The park is on the northern shore of Lake Norman at the mouth of Hicks Creek. The park ...

* Rimrock Preserve * Stumpy Creek Park

Major water bodies

* Back Creek * Beaver Creek * Beaverdam Creek * Buffalo Shoals Creek *

Catawba River The Catawba River originates in Western North Carolina and flows into South Carolina, where it later becomes known as the Wateree River. The river is approximately 220 miles (350 km) long. It rises in the Appalachian Mountains and drains into ...

* Dutchman Creek * Fifth Creek * Fourth Creek * Hick Creek * Kinder Creek * Lake Norman * Little Rocky Creek * Lookout Shoals Lake * Morrison Creek * Norwood Creek * Olin Creek * Rocky Creek * Rocky River * Snow Creek *

South Yadkin River The South Yadkin River is a long river that flows through Alexander, Davie, Iredell, Rowan, and Wilkes counties of North Carolina. The mouth is located north of High Rock Lake, where the South Yadkin River meets the Yadkin River. Major citi ...

* Third Creek

Adjacent counties

Yadkin County Yadkin County is located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,214. Its county seat is Yadkinville. Yadkin County is included in the Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also inc ...

– north (created from Surry County in 1850) * Davie County – east (created from Rowan County in 1836) * Rowan County – east (created from

in 1753) * Cabarrus County – southeast (created from Mecklenburg County in 1792) * Mecklenburg County – south (created from

in 1762) * Lincoln County – southwest (created from Tryon County in 1779) *

Catawba County Catawba County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 160,610. Its county seat is Newton, and its largest city is Hickory. The county is part of the Hickory– Lenoir– Morganton, NC Metrop ...

– southwest (created from Lincoln County in 1842) * Alexander County – west (created from Caldwell, Iredell, and Wilkes Counties in 1847) * Wilkes County – north (created from Surry County and parts of

Washington District The Washington District is a Norfolk Southern Railway line in the U.S. state of Virginia that connects Alexandria, Virginia, Alexandria and Lynchburg, Virginia, Lynchburg. Most of the line was originally built from 1850 to 1860 by the Orange and ...

in 1777)

Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Major infrastructure

* City of Statesville Regional Airport * Davis Regional Heliport, Near Statesville. * Iredell County is served by two railroads,

Alexander Railroad The Alexander Railroad Company is a Class III shortline railroad operating in North Carolina. The railroad has of track that runs northwest from Statesville to Taylorsville, North Carolina. History The Alexander Railroad began operations ...

and Norfolk Southern Railway. * Lake Norman Airpark (14A), Near Mooresville.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 186,693 people, 68,145 households, and 49,635 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 159,437 people, and 59,593 households in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 277.8 people per square mile (82/km²). there were 69,325 housing units at an average density of 90 per square mile (35/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 12.3%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.5% Native American, 2.2%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 1.68% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.6% from two or more races. 7.0% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. According to the 2000 census data, there were 47,360 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males. , the median income for a household in the county was $50,058. Males had a median income of $34,590 versus $24,031 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the county was $26,348. About 6.2% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Iredell County is governed by the Board of Commissioners, consisting of five commissioners elected at-large, which requires each to attract a majority of the votes. The Iredell County Commissioners (2016–present) are James Mallory (Chairman), Marvin Norman, Tommy Bowles, Jeff McNeely and Gene Houpe, all Republicans. Iredell County is a member of the Centralina Council of Governments. The

Register of Deeds Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...

of Iredell County is Ronald "Duck" Wyatt (Republican), appointed in 2016. The Register of Deeds serves as custodian and manager of a large number of land records and vital records. Iredell County is part of prosecutorial District 22A with Alexander County. The Iredell County Courthouse is located in the county seat of

. The District Attorney is Sarah Kirkman. The Senior Resident Superior Court Judge is Joe Crosswhite. The Chief District Court Judge is Dale Graham. James Lee (Jim) Mixson III has served as Iredell County's Clerk of Superior Court since 2012. Clerks of Superior Court in North Carolina also serve as Probate Judges in addition to their administrative duties. Since 1952, Iredell county voting records show a strong Republican majority. Before 1952, however, Iredell was part of the Democratic "

Solid South The Solid South or Southern bloc was the electoral voting bloc of the states of the Southern United States for issues that were regarded as particularly important to the interests of Democrats in those states. The Southern bloc existed especial ...

" and voted for no Republican presidential candidate after Reconstruction except

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...

in 1928. In 1964, the year that national civil rights legislation was passed, it was one of 13 North Carolina counties to vote for Barry Goldwater. In the past 17 elections, the only Democrat to carry Iredell County was

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...

in 1976, who was a native son of Georgia and the South.

Law enforcement

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office was founded in 1789, in the year after the county was formed from Rowan County. The Sheriff of Iredell County is Darren E. Campbell (Republican), elected in December 2014. He succeeded Phillip Redmond, who was first elected in 1994. One of the most famous prisoners held by Sheriff William Franklin Wasson in the Iredell County jail was

Tom Dula Thomas C. Dula (June 23‚ 1844 – May 1, 1868) was a former Confederate soldier who was convicted of murdering Laura Foster. National publicity from newspapers such as ''The New York Times'' turned Dula's story into a folk legend. Although Lau ...

, who was hung on May 1, 1868 in Statesville.

Economy

Farming is still a major source of income for many Iredell County residents.

Dairy farming Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed (either on the farm or at a dairy plant, either of which may be called a dairy) for eventual sale of a dairy product. Dairy farming has a history th ...

has been particularly popular in Iredell County since the early 1800s, in both the northern and southern sections of the county. However, the rapid population growth and development in southern Iredell County is putting increasing pressure on farmlands, and many farms in this section are giving way to shopping centers, housing developments, and large corporate office parks. Iredell County is a major hub of

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...

racing, with many race shops located in the county (mostly around Mooresville). Universal Technical Institute operates NASCAR Technical Institute under licensing agreements. The school offers racing-related instruction to prepare the student for their job search in the racing industry. Many NASCAR drivers live around Mooresville and Lake Norman. Although northern Iredell County has retained much of its rural character, the southern half of the county is experiencing rapid

suburbanization Suburbanization is a population shift from central urban areas into suburbs, resulting in the formation of (sub)urban sprawl. As a consequence of the movement of households and businesses out of the city centers, low-density, peripheral urba ...

and population growth, largely due to the immense popularity of the Lake Norman area for residents of nearby Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city. Lowe's has its corporate headquarters in Mooresville.

Education

The county is served by two traditional public school districts: Iredell-Statesville Schools (ISS) and Mooresville Graded School District (MGSD). The county is also served by several public charter schools

Iredell Statesville School District

The following schools were in the Iredell—Statesville School District as of 2018:, * High Schools:

Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership The Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership (CCTL) is an early college High School program in Iredell County, North Carolina. Founded in 2005, CCTL has been recognized as a school for "Innovation and Excellence," a distinction given t ...

Mitchell Community College Mitchell Community College is a public community college with its main campus in Statesville, North Carolina and a second campus in Mooresville, North Carolina. Mitchell provides classes all year round on both campuses with many degree choices. ...

, Career Academy and Technical School,

Lake Norman High School Lake Norman High School is located in Mooresville, North Carolina. The school is a part of the Iredell-Statesville school system. The name of the school comes from nearby Lake Norman. Lake Norman High School was built to relieve over-crowding ...

, Monticello (combined elementary, middle, and high school, 4–12),

North Iredell High School North Iredell High School is public high school located in Olin, North Carolina. North, as it is called locally, was established in 1966 as part of the consolidation of high schools in Iredell County. It is part of the Iredell-Statesville Schools ...

, Pressly (combined elementary, middle, and high school, K–12), South Iredell High School, Statesville Senior High School, Visual and Performing Arts Center at Statesville High at Statesville High School,

West Iredell High School West Iredell High School is a public high school located in Statesville, North Carolina. It is part of the Iredell-Statesville Schools district. About The students of "West", as it is known throughout the county, are currently 76% Caucasian, 18% ...

, Mount Mourne IB (combined middle and high schools, 6–8, 9–12 is at South Iredell High School), Northview IB (combined middle and high schools, 6–8, 9–12 is at South Iredell High School) * Middle Schools: Woodland Heights, East Iredell, Lakeshore, North Iredell, Statesville, Troutman, West Iredell * Elementary Schools: Celeste Henkel, Central, Cloverleaf, Coddle Creek, Cool Spring, East Iredell, Harmony, Lake Norman, Lakeshore, N. B. Mills, Scotts, Sharon, Shepherd, Third Creek, Troutman, Union Grove, Woodland Heights

Mooresville Graded School District

The following schools were in the

Mooresville Graded School District The Mooresville Graded School District is a public school district located in Mooresville, North Carolina. It was established in 1905. The school district is notable for early adaption of an academically successful digital learning program which p ...

, as of 2018: * High Schools: Mooresville Senior High, N.F. Woods Advanced Technology and Arts Center * Middle Schools: Mooresville Intermediate, East Mooresville Intermediate, Mooresville Middle * Elementary Schools: Park View Elementary, South Elementary, Rocky River Elementary

Public charter schools

The following public charter schools existed in 2018: *

Pine Lake Preparatory Pine Lake Preparatory (PLP) is a public charter school located in Mooresville, North Carolina, educating students in grades K– 12. PLP was founded in 2006 and started with Kindergarten, first, and second grades, and opened its doors to 1,300 s ...

* Langtree Charter Academy * American Renaissance School * Iredell Charter Academy

Private schools

* Statesville Christian School * Woodlawn School

Higher education

The following current and historical institutions of

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after comple ...

were located in Iredell County: * Clio's Nursery of Arts and Sciences (1778) * Concord Female Seminary, Female Seminary in Statesville (1832) * Crowfield Academy (operated from 1760–1788) * Ebenezer Academy (1821) * Mitchell College, Statesville:

was originally founded in 1856 in Statesville, North Carolina, as Concord Female College. The school was purchased by Robert and Roxanna Simonton around 1872 and renamed Simonton Female College. It became Mitchell College in 1917. * Olin High School (1857) * Snow Creek Academy (1849) * Statesville/Clio Academy, Muschat's Academy (1814)

Communities

Map of Iredell County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

* Statesville (county seat, established in 1789)

Towns

* Davidson (established in 1837, mostly in Mecklenburg County) * Harmony (Post Office established in 1883) * Love Valley (established in 1954) * Mooresville (largest town, Post Office established in 1871) * Troutman (Post Office established in 1872)

Census-designated places

* Lake Norman of Iredell * Stony Point (town in both Alexander and Iredell Counties, Post Office established in 1826)

Unincorporated communities

As of 2019, the

unincorporated communities An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in the county include: * Amity Hill (Post Office established in 1851) * Barium Springs (Post Office established in 1889) * Houstonville (Post Office established in 1813) * Mount Mourne (Post Office established in 1805) *

Olin Olin may refer to: People Organizations * OLIN, American landscape architecture firm * Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis * Olin College, an undergraduate engineering college in Massachusetts * Olin Corporation, a chemica ...

(Post Office established in 1856) *

Scotts Scotts or Scott's may refer to: Businesses and brands *Scott's (restaurant), in London *Scott's Food & Pharmacy, an American supermarket chain *Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, an American multinational corporation *Scott's Porage Oats, a Scottish bre ...

(Post Office established in 1894, called Scott's Crossroads in 1873) * Turnersburg (Post Office established in 1858, originally called Turnersburgh) * Union Grove (established in 1867)

Townships

By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, all counties in North Carolina were divided into townships. Previous to that time, the subdivisions in Iredell County were Captain's Districts. While the Captain's Districts referred primarily to the militia, it served also for the election precinct, the tax listing and tax collecting district. The following townships were created in 1868: * Barringer *

Bethany Bethany ( grc-gre, Βηθανία,Murphy-O'Connor, 2008, p152/ref> Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܥܢܝܐ ''Bēṯ ʿAnyā'') or what is locally known as Al-Eizariya or al-Azariya ( ar, العيزرية, " laceof Lazarus"), is a Palestinian town in the West B ...

* Chambersburg *

Coddle Creek Coddle Creek is a stream/river that rises near Mooresville in Iredell County, North Carolina. It flows through most of northwestern Cabarrus County, North Carolina where it empties into Rocky River near Harrisburg, North Carolina Harrisburg, a ...

* Cool Springs * Davidson * Eagle Mills * Fallstown * New Hope *

* Sharpesburg * Shiloh * Statesville * Turnersburg * Union Grove

Historical populated places

In the 1700s and 1800s, before there were many towns in what became Iredell County, property was identified by stream, rivers, or adjacent landowners. The following is a list of the streams, rivers, and creeks in Iredell County. * Back Creek (R) * Bear Branch * Beaver Dam Creek (R) * Brotherton Branch * Brushy Creek * Buffalo Branch * Buffalo Shoals Creek/aka 8 Miles Shoals Creek *

* Cavin Creek *

(R) * Davidson's Creek (M) * Drop Off Creek * Duck Creek * Dutchman's Creek * Elk Shoal's Creek * Eupetic Springs * Fifth Creek (R) * Five Mile Branch * Fourth Creek (R) * Glade Creek * Gregory Branch * Hunting Creek * Island Creek * Kerr Branch * Knowden's Ford * Little Dutchman's Creek * Little River * Little Rocky Branch * Long Branch * North Fork of the Yadkin River * Norwood(s) Creek * Oil Mill Branch * Old Camp Creek * Old House Creek * Olin Creek, aka Middle Fork of Rocky Creek * Porter's Branch * Rock Cut, Deep Cut * Rocky Creek * Rocky River (M) * South Branch * South Fork of Grassy Creek, aka Yadkin River *

(A) * Speaks Creek * Third Creek (R) * Turkey Foot Branch * West Rocky River (M) * Withrow's Creek (R) *

Yadkin River The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, p ...

(R) (D) * Young's Creek :(R)--Portions in Rowan County :(D)--Portions in Davie County :(M)--Portions in Mecklenburg County :(A)--Portions in Alexander County The table below lists towns and post offices (PO) that no longer exist or that were once in Iredell County but are now in another county:

Notable people

* Jeter Andrew Barker, Jr. (1924–2011), military veteran, contractor, philanthropist, and founder of the old-west town Love Valley * Hutchins Gordon Burton (aft. 1774–1836), 22nd Governor of North Carolina, died while visiting relatives in Iredell County * Thomas C. "Tom" Dula aka Dooley (1848–1868), tried, convicted, and hanged for murder in

Bobby Dale Earnhardt Bobby Dale Earnhardt (born September 1, 1987) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 66 Toyota Camry for MBM Motorsports. Racing career Earnhardt raced in the ...

(b. 1987), NASCAR racing driver * Rev. James Hall, D.D. (1744–1826), Presbyterian minister * Edward Harris (1763–1813), lawyer, politician and judge * Daisy Hendley Gold (1893–1975), author and journalist * James Iredell, Sr. (1750–1799), County namesake * Mildred Maxine (Jenkins) Miller (1932–2011), local historian, author, and President of the Genealogical Society of Iredell County''The Heritage of Iredell County, 1980'', published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 28677, , 642 pages with index''The Heritage of Iredell County, NC Vol II, 2000'', published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 29866, LC # 00-110956, 574 pages with index * Homer Maxwell Keever (1905–1979), local teacher, historian and author * Rev. Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews (abt. 1751–1830), revolutionary Lieutenant, Presbyterian minister, and politician * Anderson Mitchell (1800–1876), US Congressman from North Carolina * Col Adlai Osborne (1744–1814), lawyer, public official, plantation owner, educational leader, Revolutionary War officer of the 2nd Rowan County Regiment *

Rufus Reid (planter) Rufus Reid (1797–1854) was an American plantation owner, businessman and politician from North Carolina. Biography Early life Rufus Reid was born in 1797 in Catawba Springs Lincoln County, North Carolina. His father, Captain John Reid, ...

(1797–1854), planter and builder of Mount Mourne plantation, politician * William Sharpe (1742–1818), Revolutionary War patriot, lawyer, politician, author of the Fourth Creek Congregation map in 1773 * Adam Torrence, Sr. (1732–1780), Revolutionary War patriot killed at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill, owner of Torrence Tavern where the

Battle of Torrence's Tavern The Battle of Torrence's Tavern (also referred to as the Skirmish at Torrence's Tavern or the Battle at Tarrant's Tavern) was a minor engagement of the American Revolutionary War that took place in what was the western portion of Rowan County, ...

took place * Wilfred D. Turner (1855–1933), ninth Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina *

Zebulon Baird Vance Zebulon Baird Vance (May 13, 1830 – April 14, 1894) was the 37th and 43rd governor of North Carolina, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina, and a Confederate officer during the American Civil War. A prolific writer and noted public speake ...

(1830–1894), Governor of North Carolina, lived and owned a home in Statesville (currently, a museum run by the DAR)

References

Bibliography

* Keever, Homer M.; ''Iredell Piedmont County'', with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mild red Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, copyright, November 1976, by Homer M. Keever. * ''The Heritage of Iredell County, 1980'', published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 28677, , 642 pages with index * ''The Heritage of Iredell County, NC Vol II, 2000'', published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 29866, LC # 00-110956, 574 pages with index

External links

Iredell County government official website
* * {{authority control 1788 establishments in North Carolina Populated places established in 1788 Charlotte metropolitan area