Iredell County, North Carolina

Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County Courthouse in Statesville

Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Iredell County
Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1788
Named for James Iredell
Seat Statesville
Largest town Mooresville
Area
 • Total 597 sq mi (1,546 km2)
 • Land 574 sq mi (1,487 km2)
 • Water 23 sq mi (60 km2), 3.9%
Population
 • (2017) 175,711
Congressional districts 10th, 13th
Time zone Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website www.co.iredell.nc.us

Iredell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to US Census projections in 2014, the population was 166,675.[1] Its county seat is Statesville,[2] and its largest town is Mooresville. The county was formed in 1788, annexed from Rowan County.[3] It is named for James Iredell, a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States nominated by George Washington.[4]

Iredell County is included in the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 597 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (3.9%) is water.[5]

Iredell County is located within the Piedmont Region of central North Carolina. The northwestern section of the county contains the Brushy Mountains, a deeply eroded spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains far to the west. The highest point in Iredell County, Fox Mountain, is in the Brushies; it rises to 1,760 feet. Although the "Brushies", as they are often called locally, are not high in the normal sense, they do rise prominently above the surrounding countryside. The remainder of Iredell County consists of gently rolling countryside occasionally broken by low hills and small river valleys. The county's largest river, the Catawba, forms much of its western border. Lake Norman, North Carolina's largest manmade lake, is the most prominent geographic feature of southern Iredell County; it is often called North Carolina's "inland sea".

Iredell County is an important transportation center for the state, as Interstate 77 and Interstate 40 cross in northeast Statesville. This has given birth to the county's slogan "Crossroads for the Future." Residents have easy access going south on I-77 to Charlotte; north on I-77 to Elkin, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia; east on I-40 to Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Raleigh; and west along I-40 to Hickory, North Carolina and Asheville.

The northern third of Iredell county is highly rural and contains no large towns. Due to the thinly populated nature of this portion of the state, it is one of the select places in North Carolina where the speed limit on Interstate Highways exceeds 65 mph, as Interstate 77 north of Statesville has a speed limit of 70 mph.

Iredell County is one of the longest counties in the state and stretches for nearly fifty miles north to south from Yadkin County in the north to Mecklenburg in the south.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17905,430—
18008,85663.1%
181010,97223.9%
182013,07119.1%
183014,91814.1%
184015,6855.1%
185014,719−6.2%
186015,3474.3%
187016,93110.3%
188022,67533.9%
189025,46212.3%
190029,06414.1%
191034,31518.1%
192037,95610.6%
193046,69323.0%
194050,4248.0%
195056,30311.7%
196062,52611.1%
197072,19715.5%
198082,53814.3%
199092,93112.6%
2000122,66032.0%
2010159,43730.0%
Est. 2017175,711[6]10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 159,437 people, and 59,593[12] households in the county. The population density was 277.8[12] people per square mile (82/km²). As of 2013 there were 69,325[12] housing units at an average density of 90 per square mile (35/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.3% White, 12.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.68% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 7.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the 2000 census data, there were 47,360 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

As of 2013,[12] the median income for a household in the county was $50,058. Males had a median income of $34,590 versus $24,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,348.[12] About 6.20% of families and 13.5%[12] of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.10% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics, law and government

Iredell is presently a strongly Republican county. It was one of thirteen North Carolina counties to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964, and in the past seventeen elections the solitary Democrat to carry Iredell County has been Jimmy Carter in 1976. Before the 1950s, however, Iredell was part of the Democratic "Solid South" and voted for no Republican except Herbert Hoover in 1928.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 66.3% 54,754 30.0% 24,734 3.7% 3,079
2012 64.6% 49,299 34.2% 26,076 1.3% 990
2008 61.7% 45,148 37.3% 27,318 1.0% 696
2004 67.9% 38,675 31.7% 18,065 0.4% 233
2000 65.5% 29,853 33.9% 15,434 0.7% 299
1996 56.6% 21,163 35.0% 13,102 8.4% 3,144
1992 49.8% 19,411 34.0% 13,263 16.2% 6,306
1988 67.0% 21,536 32.8% 10,530 0.2% 69
1984 70.1% 23,641 29.7% 9,999 0.2% 64
1980 53.7% 14,926 43.4% 12,067 2.9% 801
1976 46.1% 11,573 52.9% 13,295 1.1% 263
1972 73.8% 16,736 22.4% 5,088 3.8% 858
1968 43.2% 10,557 20.0% 4,878 36.9% 9,021
1964 53.4% 12,892 46.6% 11,231
1960 57.4% 12,085 42.6% 8,973
1956 60.4% 11,125 39.6% 7,286
1952 57.9% 11,804 42.1% 8,580
1948 36.6% 4,441 47.5% 5,761 15.9% 1,934
1944 36.8% 4,864 63.2% 8,358
1940 27.0% 3,820 73.0% 10,328
1936 25.2% 3,817 74.8% 11,308
1932 29.9% 3,583 69.7% 8,367 0.5% 55
1928 58.1% 6,712 41.9% 4,836
1924 35.1% 3,565 63.5% 6,449 1.3% 136
1920 40.5% 4,402 59.5% 6,470
1916 38.3% 2,073 61.7% 3,335
1912 9.9% 392 63.7% 2,528 26.4% 1,049

Iredell County is governed by the Board of Commissioners, consisting of five commissioners elected at-large.

Iredell County Commissioners (2016–present): James Mallory (Chairman), Marvin Norman, Tommy Bowles, Jeff McNeely and Gene Houpe, all Republicans.

The Sheriff of Iredell County is Darren E. Campbell (Republican), elected in December 2014 taking over from Phillip Redmond who was first elected in 1994.[14]

The Register of Deeds of Iredell County is Ronald "Duck" Wyatt (Republican), appointed in 2016. The Register of Deeds serves as custodian and manager of a large number of land records and vital records.

Iredell County is part of prosecutorial District 22A with Alexander County. The Iredell County Courthouse is located in the county seat of Statesville. The District Attorney is Sarah Kirkman. The Senior Superior Court Judge is Joe Crosswhite. The Senior District Court Judge is Dale Graham.

Economy

Lowe's has its corporate headquarters in Mooresville.

Farming is still a major source of income for many Iredell County residents. Dairy farming has been particularly popular in Iredell County for centuries, in both the northern and southern sections of the county. However, the rapid population growth and development in southern Iredell County is putting increasing pressure on farmlands, and many farms in this section are giving way to shopping centers, housing developments, and large corporate office parks.

Iredell County is a major hub of NASCAR racing, with many race shops located in the county (mostly around Mooresville). Universal Technical Institute operates NASCAR Technical Institute under licensing agreements. The school offers racing-related instruction to prepare the student for their job search in the racing industry. Many NASCAR drivers live around Mooresville and Lake Norman. Although northern Iredell County has retained much of its rural character, the southern half of the county is experiencing rapid suburbanization and population growth, largely due to the immense popularity of the Lake Norman area for residents of nearby Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city.

Education

The county is served by two traditional public school districts: Iredell-Statesville Schools (ISS) and Mooresville Graded School District (MGSD). The county is also served by several public charter schools including Pine Lake Preparatory, Langtree Charter Academy, American Renaissance School (ARS) and others.[15]

Iredell Statesville Schools District[16]

  • High Schools: CCTL Early College High School[17] at Mitchell Community College, Career Academy and Technical School, Lake Norman High School, Monticello (combined elementary, middle, and high school, 4–12), North Iredell, Pressly (combined elementary, middle, and high school, K–12), South Iredell, Statesville Senior High School, Visual and Performing Arts Center at Statesville High at Statesville High School, West Iredell, Mount Mourne IB (combined middle and high schools, 6–8, 9–12 is at South Iredell High School), Northview IB (combined middle and high schools, 6–8, 9–12 is at South Iredell High School)
  • Middle Schools: Brawley, East Iredell, Lakeshore, North Iredell, Statesville, Troutman, West Iredell
  • Elementary Schools: Celeste Henkel, Central, Cloverleaf, Coddle Creek, Cool Spring, East Iredell, Harmony, Lake Norman, Lakeshore, N. B. Mills, Scotts, Sharon, Shepherd, Third Creek, Troutman, Union Grove, Woodland Heights

Mooresville Graded School District

  • High Schools: Mooresville Senior High, N.F. Woods Advanced Technology and Arts Center
  • Middle Schools: Mooresville Intermediate, East Mooresville Intermediate, Mooresville Middle
  • Elementary Schools: Park View Elementary, South Elementary, Rocky River Elementary

Pine Lake Preparatory

  • Pine Lake Preparatory offers classes K–12 on its campus. Pine Lake Prep High School is ranked 8th Best in College Preparedness of the 591 High Schools in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012–2013 academic year.[18] It also ranks 8th of all High Schools in North Carolina for Algebra Proficiency[19] and 11th in English Profiency[20] by U.S. News & World Report.

'Private Schools: 'Woodlawn School, private K-12 college prep school located at 135 Woodlawn School Loop Mooresville, NC 28115. Opened in 2002, it sits on a 61-acre campus, just south of Davidson College.

Transportation

Major highways

Railroads

Iredell County is served by two railroads, Alexander Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway.

Communities

Map of Iredell County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "North Carolina History Project - Iredell County". Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 165.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  14. ↑ "Campbell takes oath as new Iredell sheriff". statesville.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Schools". ncpublicschools.org. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  16. ↑ http://iss.schoolwires.com/15311081994243493/site/default.asp] [Iredell-Statesville Schools web page Archived 2011-02-08 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ "Collaborative College for Technology & Leadership". Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "North Carolina High School Districts | Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  19. ↑ "North Carolina High School Districts | Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  20. ↑ "North Carolina High School Districts | Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2015-12-28.

Coordinates: 35°49′N 80°52′W / 35.81°N 80.87°W / 35.81; -80.87

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