Cleveland County, North Carolina

Cleveland County is a county located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the western Piedmont, and 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]

Not to be confused with Cleveland, North Carolina.

Cleveland County
U.S. county
The west side of the old Cleveland County Courthouse, Shelby
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°20′N 81°34′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1841
Named forColonel Benjamin Cleveland
SeatShelby
Largest cityShelby
Area
 • Total468 sq mi (1,210 km2)
 • Land464 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water4.0 sq mi (10 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
100,359
 • Density216.3/sq mi (83.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.clevelandcounty.com

Cleveland County comprises the Shelby, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area. This is included in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area. In the late 19th and early 20th century, this was an area of textile mills.

History

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 the Battle of King's Mountain. From 1841 to 1887 "Cleaveland" was the spelling used; the present spelling was adopted in 1887.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 468 square miles (1,210 km2), of which 464 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4]

Cleveland County is part of the South Mountains, a sub-range of the Blueridge Mountains that runs through the county's northwest corner. 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. Overall Cleveland County is very hilly, and even mountainous in certain parts, though not to the extreme as counties to the west or north.

State and local protected areas
  • City of Shelby Hanna Park
  • Crowders Mountain State Park (part)
  • Fallen Heroes Memorial at Raper-Roark Park
  • John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
  • Kings Mountain Gateway Trail
  • Optimist Park
  • Palmer Park
  • Running Trail
  • Springs Area
  • Twin Trestle Trailhead

Adjacent counties

Major water-bodies
  • Benson Creek
  • Broad River
  • Buffalo Creek
  • Hilton Creek
  • Kings Mountain Reservoir
  • Little Buffalo Creek
  • Little Persimmon Creek
  • Long Branch
  • Nettle Branch
  • Persimmon Creek
  • Suck Creek

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
185010,396—
186012,34818.8%
187012,6962.8%
188016,57130.5%
189020,39423.1%
190025,07823.0%
191029,49417.6%
192034,27216.2%
193051,91451.5%
194058,05511.8%
195064,35710.9%
196066,0482.6%
197072,5569.9%
198083,43515.0%
199084,7141.5%
200096,28713.7%
201098,0781.9%
202099,5191.5%
2021 (est.)100,359[5]2.3%

2020 census
Cleveland County racial composition[6]
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 United States census, there were 99,519 people, 30,599 households, and 21,410 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census[7] of 2010, 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/km2). There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile (34/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.

Communities
Map of Cleveland County, North Carolina, showing municipalities and townships. The townships have been dissolved.[8]

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated community

Politics, law and government

Cleveland is a typical "Solid South" county in its voting patterns. It was Democratic until 1968 when a majority voted for George Wallace. In 1972 the county voted overwhelmingly for Richard Nixon, and since then Cleveland has become strongly Republican. The last Democrat to carry Cleveland County was Jimmy Carter in 1980.

United States presidential election results for Cleveland County, North Carolina[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 33,798 65.87% 16,955 33.05% 555 1.08%
2016 28,479 63.75% 14,964 33.50% 1,230 2.75%
2012 25,793 59.51% 17,062 39.37% 485 1.12%
2008 26,078 59.49% 17,363 39.61% 394 0.90%
2004 22,750 61.36% 14,215 38.34% 114 0.31%
2000 19,064 58.22% 13,455 41.09% 227 0.69%
1996 13,474 47.71% 12,728 45.07% 2,039 7.22%
1992 13,650 44.72% 13,037 42.71% 3,835 12.56%
1988 14,039 57.54% 10,321 42.30% 37 0.15%
1984 17,095 62.23% 10,288 37.45% 89 0.32%
1980 10,828 46.08% 12,219 52.00% 451 1.92%
1976 8,106 35.89% 14,406 63.78% 76 0.34%
1972 13,726 72.06% 4,994 26.22% 328 1.72%
1968 7,298 32.28% 5,661 25.04% 9,649 42.68%
1964 7,874 42.08% 10,836 57.92% 0 0.00%
1960 8,257 43.92% 10,545 56.08% 0 0.00%
1956 7,076 45.70% 8,408 54.30% 0 0.00%
1952 7,606 43.93% 9,709 56.07% 0 0.00%
1948 1,905 20.57% 6,039 65.21% 1,317 14.22%
1944 2,636 24.39% 8,170 75.61% 0 0.00%
1940 1,970 17.41% 9,346 82.59% 0 0.00%
1936 2,116 15.66% 11,393 84.34% 0 0.00%
1932 1,904 19.15% 8,016 80.60% 25 0.25%
1928 4,766 49.24% 4,914 50.76% 0 0.00%
1924 1,743 31.52% 3,749 67.81% 37 0.67%
1920 2,953 36.30% 5,181 63.70% 0 0.00%
1916 1,497 35.13% 2,764 64.87% 0 0.00%
1912 81 2.40% 2,351 69.66% 943 27.94%


Cleveland County is a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission[10][11] regional council of governments.

Education

Cleveland County Schools

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.[12] It was formed from the 2004 merger of Kings Mountain City Schools, Shelby City Schools and the former Cleveland County Schools.[13][14]

Post-secondary

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.[16][17]

Parts of the 2012 movie The Hunger Games were filmed in Cleveland County.[18]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cleveland County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Cleaveland County, North Carolina" Archived 2012-07-19 at archive.today, Mousely.com, Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  5. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cleveland County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau. "Guide to State and Local Census Geography" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2016. (updated for 2010 Census)
  9. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  10. Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (regional council) Archived 2014-07-07 at archive.today
  11. Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (NC Tomorrow) Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Schools". Cleveland County Schools. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  13. "Court affirms school merger approved by the State Board of Education". University of North Carolina School of Government. Summer 2003. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  14. "Moore Will Head Merged Schools, Parents Await First Changes to Cleveland County School System". The Charlotte Observer. January 14, 2004. p. 2B.
  15. "Contact ABC". Ambassador Bible College. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  16. http://www.shelbystar.com/articles/morning-49662-degree-america.html
  17. EndPlay (September 9, 2010). "'Good Morning America' Profiles Local Girl's Disappearance". WSOC. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  18. Pickens, Jessica. "Cleveland County, NC, a popular spot for filming movies, TV shows". Halifax Media Group. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  19. "Bill Champion's career statistics". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  20. "About Kay Hagan". United States Senate. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  21. "Tom Wright's career statistics". retrosheet.org. Retrieved September 8, 2008.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.