Kannapolis, North Carolina Facts for Kids

Kannapolis is a city in North Carolina, a state in the United States. It's located in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, near Concord and Charlotte. Kannapolis is part of the larger Charlotte metropolitan area.

The city was officially formed in 1984. In 2020, about 53,114 people lived here, making it the 19th largest city in North Carolina. Kannapolis is famous for being the home of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, a minor league baseball team. It's also where the famous Earnhardt racing family comes from. The city is also home to the Haas F1 racing team headquarters.

In the center of Kannapolis, you'll find the North Carolina Research Campus. This is a special place where scientists and researchers work together. They focus on studying food, nutrition, and biotechnology.

Exploring Kannapolis: A City's Story

How Kannapolis Got Its Name

The name "Kannapolis" is linked to the Cannon Mills Corporation and its founder, James William Cannon. People used to call it "Cannon City" or "Cannapolis." The name "Kannapolis" is thought to come from the Greek words kanna (meaning reeds) and polis (meaning city). Some people believed it meant "City of Looms," because of the textile mills.

In 1906, J.W. Cannon bought over 1,000 acres of land. He built a new textile mill called Cannon Manufacturing. The mill started making products in 1908. By 1914, Cannon Manufacturing was known as the world's biggest maker of sheets and towels. Later, all the different mills were combined into the large Cannon Mills Company.

Where is Kannapolis?

Kannapolis is located where Cabarrus and Rowan counties meet. Most of the city is in Cabarrus County. Major roads like U.S. Route 29 and Interstate 85 pass near or through the city. These roads connect Kannapolis to other cities like Salisbury, Concord, Greensboro, and Charlotte.

The city covers about 34 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Kannapolis?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1990	29,696	—
2000	36,910	24.3%
2010	42,625	15.5%
2020	53,114	24.6%
2023 (est.)	59,321	39.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

The population of Kannapolis has grown over the years. In 2020, there were 53,114 people living in the city. This included about 17,248 households and 12,092 families.

Population Makeup in 2020

The table below shows the different groups of people living in Kannapolis in 2020.

Kannapolis racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	29,003	54.61%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	11,636	21.91%
Native American	159	0.3%
Asian	1,301	2.45%
Pacific Islander	23	0.04%
Other/Mixed	2,530	4.76%
Hispanic or Latino	8,462	15.93%

Arts and Fun in Kannapolis

Historic Places to Visit

Kannapolis has some buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Gem Theater, the Meek House, and the Harvey Jeremiah Peeler House. These places are important parts of the city's history.

Museums to Explore

Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports

Sports Teams and Racing

Kannapolis is a city that loves sports and racing!

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: This is a Class "A" baseball team. They are connected to the Chicago White Sox.
Stewart-Haas Racing: This is a NASCAR Cup Series racing team. It was started by Gene Haas.
Haas F1 Team: This is a Formula One racing team, also started by Gene Haas.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Kannapolis offers many places for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Public Parks and Greenways

The city has several public parks, sports fields, and greenways. These are great for playing sports, walking, or just enjoying nature.

Bakers Creek Park
Dale Earnhardt Plaza
Veterans Park
Vietnam Veterans Park (formerly, North Cabarrus Park)
Village Park
Walter M. Safrit Park

Private Clubs

The Club at Irish Creek (formerly, Kannapolis Country Club)
Kannapolis Recreation Park

Learning in Kannapolis

Schools for All Ages

Kannapolis City Schools is the main school system for the city. Parts of Kannapolis are also served by Cabarrus County Schools and the Rowan–Salisbury School System.

There are also private Christian schools like Faith Christian Academy (FCA). FCA uses different learning programs for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Colleges and Higher Learning

Shaw University has a campus in Kannapolis. They offer college and advanced study programs.
Ambassador Christian College also has a campus here. They offer degrees in theology.

North Carolina Research Campus

Aerial image of the North Carolina Research Campus

The North Carolina Research Campus is a large research center in Kannapolis. It covers about 350 acres. Scientists and researchers here work on important studies related to food, health, and new technologies.

Getting Around Kannapolis

Kannapolis is easy to reach because it's close to Interstate 85. This highway is about 20 miles northeast of Charlotte.

Public Transportation

Concord Kannapolis Area Transit (Rider) provides local bus routes.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) offers bus, vanpool, and carpool options.
The Kannapolis Amtrak station is located on South Main Street. You can catch trains here.

Famous People from Kannapolis

Many notable people have connections to Kannapolis, especially in sports and entertainment.

Tavis Bailey: An Olympic discus thrower.
George Clinton: A famous funk musician.
Dale Earnhardt: A legendary 7-time NASCAR champion. He is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: A former NASCAR driver, also in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Kelley Earnhardt Miller: A businesswoman and vice president of JR Motorsports.
Kerry Earnhardt: A former NASCAR driver.
Ralph Earnhardt: A former NASCAR driver.
Daniel Hemric: A current NASCAR driver.
Ethan Horton: A former NFL tight end.
Kameron Marlowe: A country music singer-songwriter.
Glenn McDuffie: A World War II sailor famous for a picture.
Melissa Morrison-Howard: An Olympic hurdler with two bronze medals.
Mike Morton: A former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion.
Brandon Parker: An NFL offensive tackle.
Corey Seager: An MLB shortstop, World Series champion and MVP.
Kyle Seager: An MLB third baseman.
George Shinn: Former owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Kannapolis, North Carolina facts for kids

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