Mooresville, North Carolina

Mooresville is a large town located in south western section of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte Metro area. The population was 32,711 at the 2010 United States Census.[5] In 2019, the population had increased to 39,132,[6] making it the largest municipality in Iredell County. It is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Charlotte.

Mooresville, North Carolina
Town
Nickname(s): 
Race City USA, Lake Norman
Location of Mooresville, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°35′4″N 80°49′13″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyIredell
EstablishedMarch 3, 1873
Named forJohn Franklin Moore
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager government
 • MayorMiles Atkins
 • Mayor Pro TemLisa Qualls
Area
 • Total24.70 sq mi (63.97 km2)
 • Land24.63 sq mi (63.79 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation
925 ft (282 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total32,711
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
39,132
 • Density1,588.73/sq mi (613.40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
28115, 28117
Area code(s)704, 980
FIPS code37-44220[3]
GNIS feature ID0990209[4]
Websitewww.mooresvillenc.gov

Mooresville is best known as the home of many NASCAR racing teams and drivers, along with an IndyCar team and its drivers, as well as racing technology suppliers, which has earned the town the nickname "Race City USA". Also located in Mooresville is the corporate headquarters of Lowe's Corporation and Universal Technical Institute's NASCAR Technical Institute.

Geography

Mooresville is located in southern Iredell County at 35°35′4″N 80°49′13″W (35.584337, −80.820139).[7] Interstate 77 passes through the west side of the town, with access from Exits 31 through 36. I-77 leads South to the South Carolina line and North to the Virginia line. Statesville, just to the north, is the County Seat. Lake Norman on the Catawba River is 3 to 8 miles (5 to 13 km) west of the town center. Mooresville is located 27 miles north of Charlotte and 16 miles south of Statesville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Mooresville has a total area of 21.0 square miles (54.3 km2), of which 20.9 square miles (54.2 km2) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.24%, are water.[5]

History

The area that would develop into the town of Mooresville was originally settled by English, German, and Scot-Irish families who moved into the area from nearby Rowan County, as well as from Virginia, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Many were seeking new lands on which to establish farms. Many of the early families such as the Wilsons, Davidsons, Cowans, Sherrills, Torrances, and others came to the area as early as the mid-1700s. They formed small communities that eventually grew into the community known as "Deep Well", which took its name from a large natural well that was found in the area.

Many of these families established large farms, primarily of cotton, which grew into small plantations by the 1850s. Major Rufus Reid was the most prominent planter in the area, enslaving 81 African Americans on over 2,000 acres (810 ha) of land. His property was known as Mount Mourne Plantation, named after the Mourne Mountains of County Down in Northern Ireland. Several other historic plantation homes are set in the area as well, including the Johnson-Neel House, the Cornelius House, Forest Dell Plantation, and the colonial era Belmont Plantation.

In 1856, a railroad was placed on a ridge that crossed the land of a local farmer by the name of John Franklin Moore. A small scale planter, Moore set up a depot on his land, and encouraged others to help establish a small village on the location in the late 1850s. The little village, known as "Moore's Siding", was born. The Civil War hampered developments, with the railroad tracks being removed to aid the Confederate efforts in Virginia. After the war, the tracks were returned, and Moore's Siding slowly began to prosper.

Shortly after the Civil War, John Franklin Moore saw the need for the village to incorporate into a town. The town was incorporated as Mooresville in 1873. Moore helped to establish the first brick factory in Mooresville, and built some of the first brick buildings on Main Street. He died in 1877, and his wife, Rachel Summrow Moore, continued the development of the town.

In 1883 the railroad lines were run back through the town with the addition of a new depot.[8] The railroad brought growth to the town, which continued with the addition of the first water plant in the early 1890s, the establishment of a library in 1899, a phone company in 1893 and the first of many textile mills in 1900.[9]

In 1938, artist Alicia Weincek painted the mural North Carolina Cotton Industry in the town's post office, having won a WPA competition for the commissioned work.

The Mooresville Moors were a minor league baseball team who played in the Class D North Carolina State League from 1937 to 1942. The league ceased operations for two seasons due to World War II but was reorganized in 1945.

Selma Burke, a prominent sculptor during the Harlem Renaissance who was born and raised in Mooresville, created the bust of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Four Freedoms plaque on the Recorder of Deeds building in Washington, D.C. The bust would later be used for the image on the United States dime.

On December 11, 2014, Duke Energy, to repair a rusted, leaking pipe, received approval from North Carolina to dump coal ash (containing arsenic, lead, thallium and mercury, among other heavy metals) from the Marshall Steam Station 10 miles (16 km) west of Mooresville into Lake Norman.[10]

On October 3, 2015, Duke reported that a sinkhole had formed at the base of the Marshall Steam Station dam on Lake Norman. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says Duke placed a liner in the hole and filled it with crushed stone.[11]

Race City USA

Mooresville is branded as "Race City USA".[12] The town is home to more than 60 NASCAR teams and racing-related businesses, as well as an IndyCar team. Mooresville features two automotive museums: the Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum, and the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. The Mooresville Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official resource for travelers.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880508—
189088674.4%
19001,53373.0%
19103,400121.8%
19204,31526.9%
19305,61930.2%
19406,68218.9%
19507,1216.6%
19606,918−2.9%
19708,80827.3%
19808,575−2.6%
19909,3178.7%
200018,823102.0%
201032,71173.8%
Est. 201939,132[2]19.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

In the 2000 census,[3] there were 18,823 people, 7,139 households, and 5,082 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,281.6 people per square mile (494.7/km2). There were 7,741 housing units at an average density of 527.1 per square mile (203.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 81.54% White, 14.23% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.

There were 7,139 households, out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,943, and the median income for a family was $51,011. Males had a median income of $39,524 versus $24,939 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,549. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Mooresville is governed by a board of commissioners which is chaired by the mayor, Miles Atkins. He was elected in November 2011.[14] In times of the mayor’s absence the board is governed by Mayor Pro Tempore Lisa Qualls[15]

In addition to Atkins, the current board is composed of:[16]

  • Eddie Dingler – Ward 1
  • Thurman Houston – Ward 2
  • Barbara Whittington – Ward 3[17]
  • Bobby Compton – At Large
  • Gary West – At Large


Transportation and highways

The following highways pass through or around Mooresville:

Exit 36 from Interstate 77 provides access to NC 150 and downtown Mooresville. Exits 33 and 42 from Interstate 77 provide access to US 21, while Exit 42 also connects with NC 115. Exits 31 (Langtree Road) and 35 (Brawley School Road) also connect I-77 with Mooresville.

Lake Norman Airpark

Lake Norman Airpark located on the edge of Lake Norman and is 5 miles northwest of downtown Mooresville and offers a 3100 foot runway. A thriving "fly-in community", Lake Norman Airpark is home to almost 50 lots. Tie-downs and fuel are available. The airport is owned by the surrounding lake norman airpark homeowners association.

Schools

Mooresville is primarily served by the Mooresville Graded School District, but is also partly in the Iredell-Statesville school system. A proposal in the 2007 North Carolina state budget could have possibly consolidated the two systems.[18] It states that only one school system in a county would be funded. It was stalled in committee though and failed passage. Previous attempts to consolidate have been defeated.[19]

By 2010, every student in the fourth through twelfth grades in the Mooresville Graded School District had a MacBook laptop.[20] Mooresville recently built a new intermediate school and elementary school, then moved the middle school to Mooresville Intermediate School, and is using the old middle school as an extended campus of the Mooresville High School, known as the Magnolia Street Campus.

In 2010, Mooresville Graded School District dedicated and renamed the high school's football stadium after Coach Joe Popp. Coach Popp and the 1961 Mooresville Blue Devils won the NC State High School Football Championship and remain the only team from Mooresville to have that honor. Coach Popp is also a member of the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame. Coach Popp Stadium is located behind the Magnolia Street Campus of Mooresville High School.[21]

Mooresville is the location of a campus of Mitchell Community College, whose main campus is in Statesville, the county seat of Iredell County.

Mooresville Graded School District
  • Park View Elementary (grades K–3)
  • South Elementary (grades K–3)
  • Rocky River Elementary (grades K–3)
  • East Mooresvlle Intermediate (Grades 4–6)
  • Mooresville Intermediate (Grades 4–6)
  • Mooresville Middle School (Grades 7–8)
  • Mooresville Senior High School (Grades 9–12)
  • N.F. Woods Technology & Art Center (Part of MHS)

Iredell-Statesville School District

Private schools

Charter schools

Historic districts

In addition to a number of historic sites including Mount Mourne Plantation, Johnson-Neel House, Cornelius House, and Espy Watts Brawley House, Mooresville is home to the following historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places:[22]

Sister cities

Mooresville has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:

Notable people
gollark: There's an important question here though: What is the *point* of punishing people?
gollark: A utilitarian would probably say "don't punish", deontologists likely "do punish", no idea about virtue ethicists or anyone else.
gollark: This depends on your ethical system, I guess?
gollark: Of course, it's hard to tell if it was actually religiously motivated or just geopolitics with religion as an excuse.
gollark: I mean, if we count the Crusades and stuff, lots I guess?

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Mooresville town, North Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. Town of Mooresville Board of Commissioner Minutes, Book 1, Mooresville, 1875
  9. Mooresville, North Carolina - the early years, First Edition, Mooresville, 1967.
  10. "Duke to repair leaky pipe at coal ash dump in Catawba County". HDR - Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  11. "Weekend Storms Impacts Dams at Duke Power". Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  12. "Mooresville NC Race City USA". Visit Race City. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. Osborne, Jessica (7 December 2011). "Changing of the Guard". Mooresville Tribune. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  15. "Your Government | Mooresville, NC - Official Website". www.ci.mooresville.nc.us. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  16. "Board of Commissioners". City of Mooresville. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  17. "Town appoints Beaver to fill board vacancy". mooresvilleweekly.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
  18. "North Carolina General Assembly - Senate Bill 120 Information/History (2007-2008 Session)". state.nc.us.
  19. Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  20. "Mooresville's Shining Example (It's Not Just About the Laptops)". The New York Times. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  21. http://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/mgsd/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=281809%5B%5D
  22. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  23. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/23/12 through 4/27/12. National Park Service. 2012-05-04.
  24. Unknown Mooresville connection. Needs reference.
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