Cleveland County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cleveland County
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
_4.jpg)
Cleveland County Courthouse
|
|||
|
|||
| Motto(s):
"Live, Work and Play in Cleveland County"
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
|
|||
 North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
|||
| 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
(2023)
|
101,378  |
||
| • Density | 212.566/sq mi (82.0721/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 10th | ||
Cleveland County is a county in North Carolina, USA. It is located in the western part of the state. The county is found near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It also sits on the southern border of North Carolina.
In 2020, about 99,519 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Shelby. Cleveland County is part of a larger area that includes Shelby and Kings Mountain. This area is also part of the bigger Charlotte-Concord region.
Contents
A Look Back: History
Cleveland County was created in 1841. It was formed from parts of Lincoln and Rutherford counties. The county is named after Benjamin Cleveland. He was a colonel during the American Revolutionary War. Colonel Cleveland helped the Patriots win the Battle of King's Mountain.
For many years, the county's name was spelled "Cleaveland." But in 1887, the spelling was changed to "Cleveland," which is how it is spelled today.
Exploring the Land: Geography
Cleveland County covers about 468 square miles. Most of this area, about 464 square miles, is land. The rest, about 4 square miles, is water.
The county has many hills. Some parts, especially in the northwest, are mountainous. These are part of the South Mountains. This area is a smaller part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the southeast, you can find Crowders and Kings Mountains. These are old parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
Parks and Green Spaces
Cleveland County has several protected areas. These places are great for enjoying nature.
- Broad River Greenway
- City of Shelby Hanna Park
- Fallen Heroes Memorial at Raper-Roark Park
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Kings Mountain Gateway Trail
- South Mountains Game Lands (part)
Rivers and Lakes
Many rivers and creeks flow through Cleveland County.
- Benson Creek
- Broad River
- Buffalo Creek
- Hickory Creek
- Hilton Creek
- Kings Mountain Reservoir
- Little Buffalo Creek
- Little Persimmon Creek
- Persimmon Creek
- Suck Creek
Neighboring Counties
Cleveland County shares borders with several other counties:
- Burke County – to the north
- Lincoln County – to the east
- Gaston County – to the east
- York County, South Carolina – to the south
- Cherokee County, South Carolina – to the south
- Rutherford County – to the west
Main Roads
Several important highways run through Cleveland County. These roads help people travel easily.
I-85
US 29
US 74
US 74 Bus. (Kings Mountain)
US 74 Bus. (Shelby)
US 74 Bus. (to Rutherford County)
US 74 Byp. (Shelby Bypass)
NC 10
NC 18
NC 27
NC 150
NC 161
NC 180
NC 182
NC 198
NC 216
NC 226
Important Places
- Shelby–Cleveland County Regional Airport
Who Lives Here: People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 101,378 | 3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
|||
The population of Cleveland County has grown steadily over the years. In 2020, the census counted 99,519 people living in the county. There were about 30,599 households and 21,410 families.
People from many different backgrounds live in Cleveland County.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 70,163 | 70.5% |
| Black or African American (not 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% |
In 2010, the average age of people in the county was 36 years old. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old.
Learning and Schools: Education
Cleveland County has many schools for students of all ages.
Cleveland County Schools
Cleveland County Schools manages 29 schools. These schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade. There are five high schools, four middle schools, and sixteen elementary schools. This school system was formed in 2004. It combined the Kings Mountain City Schools, Shelby City Schools, and the original Cleveland County Schools.
Post-secondary
After high school, students can attend several colleges in the area:
- Ambassador Bible College in Lattimore, North Carolina
- Cleveland Community College
- Gardner–Webb University
Towns and Cities: Communities
Cleveland County has several cities, towns, and smaller communities.
Cities and Towns
- Kings Mountain (a small part is in Gaston County)
- Shelby (This is the county seat and the largest community.)
Other Communities
- Light Oak (This is a census-designated place.)
- Delight
- Double Shoals
- Hillsdale
- Toluca
- Woodbridge
- Zion
Famous Faces from Cleveland County
Many notable people have come from Cleveland County.
- Tamara P. Barringer, a former state legislator and judge
- Bobby Bell, a Hall of Fame football player
- Alicia Bridges, a disco singer
- Jonathan Bullard, an NFL football player
- W. J. Cash, a famous author
- Bill Champion, a Major League Baseball (MLB) player
- Morris Davis, a Colonel in the US Air Force
- Thomas Dixon Jr., a minister and author
- Manny Fernandez, a professional wrestler
- David Flair, a professional wrestler
- Alvin Gentry, an NBA basketball coach
- Don Gibson, a Country Music Hall of Fame member
- Pleasant Daniel Gold, a publisher and Baptist minister
- Kay Hagan, a US Senator from North Carolina
- Robert Harrill, known as The Fort Fisher Hermit
- Keith E. Haynes, a Maryland statesman and lawyer
- Norris Hopper, an MLB player
- Hatcher Hughes, a Pulitzer Prize winner
- Charlie Justice, an NFL football player
- Doug Limerick, a radio newscaster
- Patty Loveless, a country music singer
- Manteo Mitchell, an Olympic Silver Medalist in track and field
- Scottie Montgomery, an NFL football player
- Tim Moore (North Carolina politician), a state politician
- Travis Padgett, an Olympic track and field athlete
- Floyd Patterson, a heavyweight boxing champion
- Joanna Pearson, a writer
- Rodney Allen Rippy, a former child actor
- Earl Scruggs, a famous banjo player and composer
- Isaac Shelby, a soldier and governor
- Charlotte Smith, a WNBA basketball player
- Brandon Spikes, a professional football player
- Billy Standridge, a NASCAR driver
- Tim Steele, a race car driver
- David Thompson, a Hall of Fame basketball player
- Cliff Washburn, an NFL football player
- Tim Wilkison, a tennis player
- Tom Wright, an MLB player
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Cleveland (Carolina del Norte) para niños
