Mooresville, North Carolina

Mooresville is a town located in the southwestern section of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 50,193 at the 2020 census,[4] making it the most populous municipality in Iredell County. It is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of Charlotte.

Mooresville
Town
Main Street in Mooresville
Main Street in Mooresville
Flag of Mooresville
Flag
Official seal of Mooresville
Seal
Official logo of Mooresville
Logo
Nickname: 
Race City USA
Location of Mooresville, North Carolina
Location of Mooresville, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°35′05″N 80°49′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyIredell
EstablishedMarch 3, 1873
Named forJohn Franklin Moore
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager government
 • MayorMiles Atkins
 • Mayor Pro TemLisa Qualls
 • Town ManagerRandy Hemann
 • Town Commission
  • Eddie Dingler
    (Ward 1)
  • Thurman Houston
    (Ward 2)
  • Barbara Whittington
    (Ward 3)
  • Lisa Qualls
    (Ward 4)
  • Bobby Compton
    (At Large)
  • Gary West
    (At Large)
Area
[1]
 • Total26.58 sq mi (68.84 km2)
 • Land26.51 sq mi (68.66 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation
[2]
840 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total50,193
 • Estimate 
(2022)
52,656
 • Density1,893.29/sq mi (731.00/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 ID2406189[2]
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.

History

The area that would develop into the town of Mooresville was originally settled by English, German, and Scots-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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

Geography

Mooresville is located in southern Iredell County. Interstate 77 passes through the western side of the town, with access from Exits 31 through 36. I-77 leads south to the South Carolina border 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 (43 km) north of Charlotte and 16 miles (26 km) 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.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202050,19353.4%
2022 (est.)52,656[4]4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census
Mooresville racial composition[11]
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.

2000 census

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 inhabitants per square mile (494.8/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

The town of Mooresville is run in a Commission-Manager style of municipal government with the Town Manager being Randy Hemann. The Mooresville Board of Commissioners is presided by Mayor Miles Atkins and can be presided over by Mayor Pro Tempore and Ward 4 Commissioner Lisa Qualls in the event of Atkins’ absence.

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.

Transportation and highways

The following highways pass through or around Mooresville:

  • I-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
  • NC 3 - passes through downtown Mooresville. The number is in recognition of the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, whose car number was 3.
  • NC 115 - passes through downtown Mooresville
  • NC 150 - passes through the northern side of Mooresville
  • NC 152 - passes through downtown Mooresville
  • NC 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.

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.[13] 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.[14]

By 2010, every student in the fourth through twelfth grades in the Mooresville Graded School District had a MacBook laptop.[15] 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.[16]

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[17]
  • Park View Elementary (grades K–2)
  • South Elementary (grades K–2)
  • Rocky River Elementary (grades K–2)
  • East Mooresville Intermediate (Grades 3-5)
  • Mooresville Intermediate (Grades 3-5)
  • Mooresville Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • Selma Burke Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • 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:[18]

Notable people

Sister city

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

See also

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mooresville, North Carolina
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Mooresville town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  5. Town of Mooresville Board of Commissioner Minutes, Book 1, Mooresville, 1875
  6. Mooresville, North Carolina - the early years, First Edition, Mooresville, 1967.
  7. "Duke to repair leaky pipe at coal ash dump in Catawba County". HDR - Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  8. "Weekend Storms Impacts Dams at Duke Power". Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  9. "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.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  12. "Mooresville NC Race City USA". Visit Race City. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  13. "North Carolina General Assembly - Senate Bill 120 Information/History (2007-2008 Session)". state.nc.us.
  14. Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Mooresville's Shining Example (It's Not Just About the Laptops)". The New York Times. February 13, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  16. http://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/mgsd/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=281809%5B%5D
  17. "Schools - Mooresville Graded School District". www.mgsd.k12.nc.us. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  18. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  19. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/23/12 through 4/27/12. National Park Service. May 4, 2012.
  20. "Greg Anderson To Be Inducted Into North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame". Drag Illustrated. September 15, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  21. Nathan, Alec. "Greg Biffle Sued for Allegedly Spying on Ex-Wife, Mother-in-Law on Hidden Camera". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  22. "Team Penske | News | Team Penske Driver Briscoe To Tie The Knot". www.teampenske.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  23. "PHOTOS: NASCAR Driver Kurt Busch's Lake Norman Home for Sale". wltx.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  24. "Kyle Busch Motorsports". Visit Mooresville Race City USA. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  25. Staff, Speedway Digest. "NASCAR Technical Institute and NAPA AUTO PARTS Launch New Collaboration Hosted by Former Cup Series Champion Chase Elliot and Two-Time NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps". www.speedwaydigest.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  26. "Cops review 32-year-old murder case". Newspapers.com. May 8, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  27. Brandt, Libertina; Clarke, Katherine (December 1, 2022). "How Nascar Turned This Lakefront Community Into One of America's Hottest Luxury Housing Markets". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  28. "Vine star Nash Grier brings #dunkcam to Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo". www.sportingnews.com. October 28, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  29. "Kasey Kahne Racing". Visit Mooresville Race City USA. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  30. "David Levine, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie, Ready for Daytona". PRWeb. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  31. Staff Report (January 15, 2020). "Jason Line To Retire From Pro Stock". Speed Sport. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  32. Lara, Julio (March 3, 2017). "Can an Ex-NFL Kicker Boot a Million-Dollar Mansion? Olindo Mare Hopes So". Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  33. 2009 Hall of Fame - Melissa Morrison Howard. soconsports.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  34. Stabile, Angelica (July 28, 2022). "Luxury North Carolina estate with NASCAR history hits market for nearly $16M". FOXBusiness. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  35. Stangel, Luke (December 16, 2016). "NFL's Julius Peppers Is Still Trying to Unload His North Carolina Mansion". Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  36. Staff, Speedway Digest. "Team Xtreme in Perseverance Mode". speedwaydigest.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  37. Stark, Andrew (July 6, 2017). "The lake's difference makers". Lake Norman Publications. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  38. Forrest Thompson Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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