Cornelius, North Carolina

Cornelius is a suburban town located along Lake Norman in northern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States. It is a major suburb of Charlotte and part of its metropolitan area. The population was 31,412 at the 2020 census,<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 24,866 in 2010.

History

The Cornelius area has been settled since at least the 1750s.<ref name = nrhpinv>Template:Cite web</ref> Potts Plantation was established near Cornelius in 1753. The town of Cornelius, the second youngest of Mecklenburg County's six incorporated towns, was founded in 1893, but not incorporated until March 4, 1905. The town's origin has been traced by many historians to a dispute over cotton weighing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cornelius has experienced explosive growth during the 2000s, swelling from under 2,600 in the 1990 census to over 31,000 in the 2020 census. The greatest percentage growth was 364% between the 1990 and 2000 censuses, but in absolute terms the population has nearly tripled from under 12,000 in 2000 to the low to mid 30,000s today.

Potts Plantation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.<ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref>

Geography

Cornelius is located along Lake Norman in northern Mecklenburg County. The town lies approximately Template:Convert north of Charlotte,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at an elevation of Template:Convert. It is bordered to the north and east by the town of Davidson and to the south by the town of Huntersville.

Interstate 77 crosses the middle of the town, passing west of the original town center, and with access from Exit 28, Catawba Avenue. I-77 leads south Template:Convert to Charlotte and north Template:Convert to Statesville. U.S. Route 21 runs parallel to I-77 from Catawba Avenue to the south. North Carolina Highway 115 passes through Cornelius as its Main Street, leading north Template:Convert to the center of Davidson and Template:Convert to Mooresville, and leading south Template:Convert to the center of Huntersville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert, or 3.53%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/> While the western side of the town drains directly to Lake Norman, a large impoundment on the Catawba River, the eastern side drains toward the Rocky River, a southeast-flowing tributary of the Pee Dee River.

Demographics

2020 census

Cornelius racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	25,017	79.64%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,957	6.23%
Native American	42	0.13%
Asian	757	2.41%
Pacific Islander	5	0.02%
Other/Mixed	1,327	4.22%
Hispanic or Latino	2,307	7.34%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 31,412 people, 12,307 households, and 7,853 families residing in the town.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2"/> there were 11,969 people, 5,113 households, and 3,374 families living in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,716 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 91.65% White, 5.62% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.

Of the 5,113 households 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.0% of households were one person and 5.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

According to Claritas Market Statistics,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the median household income in 2010 was $83,789.

Schools and libraries

School system

The citizens of Cornelius, NC, attend the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Elementary schools include Cornelius Elementary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and JV Washam Elementary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Middle schools include Bailey Middle School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> William A. Hough High School is the zoned high school.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hough opened in August 2010 and currentlyTemplate:When serves over 2,000 students.

Private schools

• Grace Covenant Academy
• New Beginnings Christian Academy
• Phoenix Montessori Academy

Libraries

Cornelius is served by a branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The library is located in the heart of Cornelius, on Catawba Avenue just east of exit 28 on I-77. Template:Coord

Notable people

• Erika Brown, Olympic swimmer<ref>Erika Brown. swimcloud.com. Retrieved January 15, 2022.</ref>
• Vicky Bruce, professional women's soccer player<ref>Vicky Bruce - Women's Soccer - Davidson College Athletics. Retrieved October 28, 2020.</ref>
• Kevin Conway, professional stock car racing driver<ref>Kevin Conway. Motor Sport Magazine Database.</ref>
• Amber Cope, NASCAR driver<ref>Soble, Stacey. (October 4, 2011). With Millennium's Help, Twin Stylists Pursue their NASCAR Dream. Salon Today. Retrieved December 14, 2019.</ref>
• Jerry K. Crump, soldier in the United States Army; received Medal of Honor during the Korean War<ref>Cpl. Jerry K. Crump Bronze Portrait Statue - Cornelius Veterans Memorial. Retrieved August 17, 2020.</ref>
• Blaine Donahue, professional stock car racing driver
• Christian Elder, NASCAR driver<ref>(August 18, 2007). Christian Stuart Elder Obituary. Star Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2019.</ref>
• Mark Fields, NFL cornerback<ref>Mark Fields, William Amos Hough, Cornerback. 247sports.com.</ref>
• Erik Jones, NASCAR driver
• Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame NBA basketball player (resident)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Steve Letarte, sportscaster and former NASCAR crew chief<ref>Slater, Darryl. (April 2, 2006). From Sweeping Floors to Making Sweeping Changes. Daily Press. Retrieved December 14, 2019.</ref>
• Joey Logano, NASCAR driver (resident)
• Leilani Munter, former professional race car driver and environmental activist<ref>Leilani Munter - Women of Motorsports. Zimbio.</ref>
• Ricky Rudd, NASCAR driver<ref>(September 18, 2018). Allison & Rudd To Be Honored By N.C. Auto Racing HoF. Speed Sport. Retrieved December 14, 2019.</ref>
• Daniel Steedman, soccer player<ref>Daniel Steedman - Charlotte Soccer Academy. chrl.ussoccerda.com.</ref>
• Jeff Tarte, politician<ref>Meet Senator Tarte - Jeff Tarte. jefftarte.com.</ref>
• Thom Tillis, politician and businessman
• Brian Voss, PBA and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame bowler
• Scot Walters, NASCAR driver<ref>Driver Scot Walters Career Statistics. racing-reference.info.</ref>
• Hoyt Wilhelm, MLB pitcher and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

External links

• Template:Official
• Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce
• Visit Lake Norman