Cleveland County, North Carolina | |
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_4.jpg) Cleveland County Courthouse | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Motto(s): "Live, Work and Play in Cleveland County" | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 Interactive map of Cleveland County, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates:35°20′N81°34′W / 35.33°N 81.56°W /35.33; -81.56 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1841 |
| Named after | 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 (2024) | 102,194 |
| • Density | 214.37/sq mi (82.767/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 14th |
| Website | www |
Cleveland County is acounty located in the foothills of theBlue Ridge Mountains and the western Piedmont, on the southern border of the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 99,519.[1] Itscounty seat isShelby.[2] Cleveland County comprises the Shelby-Kings Mountain, NCMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SCCombined Statistical Area.[3]
The county was formed in 1841 from parts ofLincoln andRutherford counties. It was named forBenjamin Cleveland, a colonel in theAmerican Revolutionary War, who took part inPatriot victory at theBattle of King's Mountain. From 1841 to 1887 "Cleaveland" was the spelling used; the present spelling was adopted in 1887.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 468.18 square miles (1,212.6 km2), of which 464.25 square miles (1,202.4 km2) is land and 3.93 square miles (10.2 km2) (0.84%) is water.[5]
Cleveland County is part of theSouth Mountains, a sub-range of the Blueridge Mountains that runs through the county's northwest corner.[6] In the south east corner of the county is Crowders & Kings Mountains, part of a small narrow ridge that sits above the very near surrounding area. They are part of a very old remnant of The Appalachians and used to be much larger.[7] Overall Cleveland County is very hilly, and even mountainous in certain parts, though not to the extreme as counties to the west or north.
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 102,194 | [10] | 2.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 73,357 | 72,793 | 70,163 | 76.19% | 74.22% | 70.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 20,010 | 20,237 | 20,034 | 20.78% | 20.63% | 20.13% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 137 | 193 | 222 | 0.14% | 0.20% | 0.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 647 | 735 | 854 | 0.67% | 0.75% | 0.86% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 22 | 23 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 84 | 74 | 327 | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 610 | 1,268 | 3,857 | 0.63% | 1.29% | 3.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,433 | 2,756 | 4,039 | 1.49% | 2.81% | 4.06% |
| Total | 96,287 | 98,078 | 99,519 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 99,519 and a median age of 42.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.[19]
There were 39,887 households in the county, including 21,410 families.[1] Of those households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 45.9% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 43,630 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.3% were owner-occupied and 33.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.[19]
The racial makeup of the county was 71.4%White, 20.3%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 5.1% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.[20]
37.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.2% lived in rural areas.[21]
At the2010 census,[22] there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile (80 people/km2). There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 units per square mile (34 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74%White, 21%Black orAfrican American, 0.15%Native American, 0.69%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.68% fromother races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Of any race, 3% of the population wereHispanic orLatino.
There were 37,046 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,283, and the median income for a family was $41,733. Males had a median income of $30,882 versus $21,995 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,395. About 10.10% of families and 13.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
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Cleveland is a typical "Solid South" county in its voting patterns. It was Democratic until 1968 when the county voted forAmerican Independent Party candidateGeorge Wallace. In 1972, the county voted overwhelmingly forRichard Nixon, and since then, Cleveland has become a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry Cleveland County wasJimmy Carter in 1980.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 81 | 2.40% | 2,351 | 69.66% | 943 | 27.94% |
| 1916 | 1,497 | 35.13% | 2,764 | 64.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 2,953 | 36.30% | 5,181 | 63.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,743 | 31.52% | 3,749 | 67.81% | 37 | 0.67% |
| 1928 | 4,766 | 49.24% | 4,914 | 50.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,904 | 19.15% | 8,016 | 80.60% | 25 | 0.25% |
| 1936 | 2,116 | 15.66% | 11,393 | 84.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 1,970 | 17.41% | 9,346 | 82.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 2,636 | 24.39% | 8,170 | 75.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,905 | 20.57% | 6,039 | 65.21% | 1,317 | 14.22% |
| 1952 | 7,606 | 43.93% | 9,709 | 56.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 7,076 | 45.70% | 8,408 | 54.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 8,257 | 43.92% | 10,545 | 56.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 7,874 | 42.08% | 10,836 | 57.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 7,298 | 32.28% | 5,661 | 25.04% | 9,649 | 42.68% |
| 1972 | 13,726 | 72.06% | 4,994 | 26.22% | 328 | 1.72% |
| 1976 | 8,106 | 35.89% | 14,406 | 63.78% | 76 | 0.34% |
| 1980 | 10,828 | 46.08% | 12,219 | 52.00% | 451 | 1.92% |
| 1984 | 17,095 | 62.23% | 10,288 | 37.45% | 89 | 0.32% |
| 1988 | 14,039 | 57.54% | 10,321 | 42.30% | 37 | 0.15% |
| 1992 | 13,650 | 44.72% | 13,037 | 42.71% | 3,835 | 12.56% |
| 1996 | 13,474 | 47.71% | 12,728 | 45.07% | 2,039 | 7.22% |
| 2000 | 19,064 | 58.22% | 13,455 | 41.09% | 227 | 0.69% |
| 2004 | 22,750 | 61.36% | 14,215 | 38.34% | 114 | 0.31% |
| 2008 | 26,078 | 59.49% | 17,363 | 39.61% | 394 | 0.90% |
| 2012 | 25,793 | 59.51% | 17,062 | 39.37% | 485 | 1.12% |
| 2016 | 28,479 | 63.75% | 14,964 | 33.50% | 1,230 | 2.75% |
| 2020 | 33,798 | 65.87% | 16,955 | 33.05% | 555 | 1.08% |
| 2024 | 34,654 | 67.02% | 16,603 | 32.11% | 449 | 0.87% |
Cleveland County is a member of theIsothermal Planning and Development Commission regional council of governments.[24][25]
Cleveland County Schools, which covers the entire county,[26] has 29 schools ranging frompre-kindergarten totwelfth grade, comprising fivehigh schools, two alternative schools, fourmiddle schools, two intermediate schools (grades 5 and 6), and sixteenelementary schools.[27] It was formed from the 2004 merger of Kings Mountain City Schools, Shelby City Schools and the former Cleveland County Schools.[28][29]
By the requirement of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, Cleveland County was divided into 11 townships. However, the county later dissolved all townships and is now a single nonfunctioning, nongovernmental county subdivision called Cleveland. The townships that previously existed in the county were:
The 2000disappearance of Asha Degree, aShelby girl, was discussed on television shows includingAmerica's Most Wanted,The Oprah Winfrey Show,Good Morning America, andThe Montel Williams Show.[35]
Parts of the 2012 movieThe Hunger Games were filmed in Cleveland County.[36]
Geographic data related toCleveland County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Cleveland County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCleveland County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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