Mooresville, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mooresville, North Carolina
|
|
---|---|
Nickname(s):
Race City USA
|
|
Location of Mooresville, North Carolina
|
|
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
County | Iredell |
Established | March 3, 1873 |
Named for | John Franklin Moore |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager government |
Area | |
• Total | 24.70 sq mi (63.97 km2) |
• Land | 24.63 sq mi (63.79 km2) |
• Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
Elevation | 925 ft (282 m) |
Population
(2020)
|
|
• Total | 50,193 |
• Density | 1,588.73/sq mi (613.40/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes |
28115, 28117
|
Area code(s) | 704, 980 |
FIPS code | 37-44220 |
GNIS feature ID | 0990209 |
Mooresville is a large town located in the southwestern section of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte Metro area. The population was 50,193 at the 2020 United States Census making it the largest municipality in Iredell County. It is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Charlotte.
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.
Contents
Geography
Mooresville is located at 35°35′4″N 80°49′13″W / 35.58444°N 80.82028°W (35.584337, −80.820139).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2), of which, 14.7 square miles (38 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.20%) is water.
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 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 considered by far the most successful planter in the area, owning 81 slaves on over 2,000 acres of land. His plantation was known as Mount Mourne Plantation, and was named after the Mourne mountains of Co Down Northern Ireland. Several other historic plantation homes set in the area as well, such as the elegant Johnson-Neel House, the Cornelius House, Forest Dell Plantation, and the colonial era Belmont Plantation.
In 1856, a railroad was placed on a natural ridge that happened to go through 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 however, with the railroads track 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. Mr. Moore also helped to establish the first brick making factory in Mooresville, and built some of the first brick buildings on Main Street. Mr. Moore 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. The railroad brought growth to the town, which continued to grow 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.
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.
From textile mills to NASCAR; over the years, many business and industries have called Mooresville home. One of the more notable being, a professional minor league baseball team, the Mooresville Moors who played in the Class D North Carolina State League from 1937–1942. The league ceased operations for two seasons due to World War II but was reorganized in 1945.
Mooresville has also been home to many famous people over the years as well such as Dr. Selma Burke, who created the bust of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Four Freedoms plaque on the Recorder of Deed Building in Washington, D.C. It would later be used for the image on the dime, and many others. Mooresville has continued to grow over the years to become a major attraction for sports companies, businesses, the movie industry and many others since its incorporation.
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 into Lake Norman.
On October 3, 2015, Duke reported that a sinkhole had formed at the base of the Marshall Steam Station dam north of Charlotte on Lake Norman. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says Duke placed a liner in the hole and filled it with crushed stone.
Race City USA
Mooresville is also branded as Race City USA. The town is home to more than 60 NASCAR teams and racing related businesses, along with 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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 508 | — | |
1890 | 886 | 74.4% | |
1900 | 1,533 | 73.0% | |
1910 | 3,400 | 121.8% | |
1920 | 4,315 | 26.9% | |
1930 | 5,619 | 30.2% | |
1940 | 6,682 | 18.9% | |
1950 | 7,121 | 6.6% | |
1960 | 6,918 | −2.9% | |
1970 | 8,808 | 27.3% | |
1980 | 8,575 | −2.6% | |
1990 | 9,317 | 8.7% | |
2000 | 18,823 | 102.0% | |
2010 | 32,711 | 73.8% | |
2020 | 50,193 | 53.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 35,046 | 69.82% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,462 | 10.88% |
Native American | 119 | 0.24% |
Asian | 2,606 | 5.19% |
Pacific Islander | 23 | 0.05% |
Other/Mixed | 2,525 | 5.03% |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,412 | 8.79% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 50,193 people, 14,233 households, and 9,866 families residing in the town.
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:
- Mooresville Historic District, which includes much of the downtown commercial district;
- Mooresville Mill Village Historic District, a residential area near the former mill site; and
- South Broad Street Row, a district of older homes, some now in commercial use, near downtown.
Sister cities
- Hockenheim, Germany – A town in Germany famous as the home of the Hockenheimring, a well-known racetrack.
Transportation and highways
The following highways pass through or around Mooresville:
- Interstate 77 - passes through the western side of Mooresville.
- US 21- passes through the western side of Mooresville, running parallel to I-77 approximately one mile east of I-77
- North Carolina Highway 3- passes through downtown Mooresville. The number is in recognition of the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, whose car number was 3.
- North Carolina Highway 115 - passes through downtown Mooresville
- North Carolina Highway 150 - passes through the northern side of Mooresville
- North Carolina Highway 152 - passes through downtown Mooresville
- North Carolina Highway 801 - passes through the northeastern side of 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.
The I-77 Express Lanes begin at Exit 36, and continue south through the Mecklenburg County towns of Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville before terminating in Uptown Charlotte.
Lake Norman Airpark
Lake Norman Airpark is located on the edge of Lake Norman and is 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of downtown Mooresville, offering a 3,100-foot (940 m) 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 Owners Association.
Notable people
- Greg Anderson, four-time NHRA pro stock champion
- Greg Biffle, NASCAR driver
- Guenther Steiner, Team Principal of the Haas F1 Formula One team
- Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
- Nicole Briscoe, ESPN host
- Ryan Briscoe, INDYCAR driver
- Selma Burke, sculptor/artist
- Kurt Busch, NASCAR driver
- Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
- Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR Hall of Famer
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr., retired NASCAR driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer
- Jeffrey Earnhardt, NASCAR driver
- Kerry Earnhardt, retired NASCAR driver
- Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
- Jeff Gordon, retired NASCAR driver
- Tanner Gray, NHRA pro stock driver and NASCAR driver
- Hayes Grier, social media personality
- Nash Grier, social media personality
- Will Grier, American football quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers and Carolina Panthers
- Melissa Morrison-Howard, track hurler, two-time Olympic bronze medalist
- Dan Jansen, retired speed skater
- Michael Jordan, basketball legend’s new NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, has its base in Mooresville.
- Kasey Kahne, NASCAR driver
- Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver
- David Levine, ARCA and NASCAR driver
- Jason Line, three time NHRA pro stock champion, 1993 NHRA Stock Eliminator Champion
- Joey Logano, NASCAR driver
- John J. Mack, investment banker
- Olindo Mare, kicker
- J. B. Mauney, bull rider for the PBR association
- John Franklin Moore (1822–1877), founder of Mooresville
- Joe Nemechek, NASCAR driver
- John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR driver and son of Joe Nemechek
- Thomas O'Keefe, musician
- Julius Peppers, defensive end formerly of the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers
- Jim Popp, General Manager 5-time Grey Cup Champion Canadian Football League
- Will Power, INDYCAR driver
- Riki Rachtman MTV TV Radio host
- Charles Robinson, WWE referee
- Reed Sorenson, NASCAR driver
- Ricky Steamboat, former professional wrestler
- J.R. Sweezy, NFL Offensive Guard
- Forrest Thompson, former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Curt White, former Olympic weightlifter
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Mooresville (Carolina del Norte) para niños