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Kannapolis, North Carolina

{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Kannapolis

| settlement_type = City

| nickname = City of Looms

| motto = "Imagine Kannapolis"

| image_skyline = Kannapolis City Hall.jpg

| image_caption = Kannapolis City Hall

| image_flag = Kannapolis, NC City Flag.gif

| image_seal = City of Kann logo.jpg

| image_map = NCMap-doton-Kannapolis.PNG

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location in North Carolina

| image_map1 =

| mapsize1 =

| map_caption1 =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{USA}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = North Carolina

| subdivision_type2 = Counties

| subdivision_name2 = Cabarrus and Rowan{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_37.csv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929172733/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_37.csv |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-09-29 |title=Subcounty population estimates: North Carolina 2000-2006 |format=CSV |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=2007-06-28 |access-date=2008-05-28 }}{{cite web|title=NC State Law 2009-430|url=http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S346|work=NC State Laws|access-date=30 August 2011}}

| government_footnotes =

| government_type = Council–manager

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Milton Darrell Hinnant

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title = Founded

| established_date = 1906

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = 1984

| total_type = Total

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 88.22

| area_land_km2 = 86.76

| area_water_km2 = 1.46

| area_total_sq_mi = 34.06

| area_land_sq_mi = 33.50

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.56

| area_water_percent = 1.64

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 53114

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 59321

| pop_est_footnotes =

| population_footnotes =

| population_density_km2 = 612.18

| population_density_sq_mi = 1585.54

| timezone = EST

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = -4

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_ft = 764

| coordinates = {{coord|35|28|38|N|80|38|22|W|region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP codes

| postal_code = 28081, 28082, 28083

| area_codes = 704, 980

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 37-35200{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2404816{{GNIS|2404816}}

| website = {{URL|kannapolisnc.gov}}

| footnotes =

| named_for = Cannon Mills

}}

Kannapolis ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|'|n|æ|p|ə|l|ɪ|s}}) is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte, and is a suburb{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&InstName=Brown+High+School&State=37&SchoolType=1&SchoolType=2&SchoolType=3&SchoolType=4&SpecificSchlTypes=all&IncGrade=-1&LoGrade=-1&HiGrade=-1&ID=370243001039|title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for A L Brown High|work=ed.gov|access-date=9 August 2015}} in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The city of Kannapolis was incorporated in 1984. The population was 53,114 at the 2020 census, which makes Kannapolis the 19th-most populous city in North Carolina. It is the home of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the Low-A baseball affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and it is the hometown of the Earnhardt racing family. It is also the headquarters for the Haas F1 racing team. The center of the city is home to the North Carolina Research Campus, a public-private venture that focuses on food, nutrition, and biotech research.

History

=Name=

Early meaning and usage of the city's name was a direct reference to Cannon Mills Corporation, or James William Cannon himself. Early published name variations include "Cannon-opolis" and "Cannapolis". A widely accepted origin of the word "Kannapolis" comes from the combination of the Greek words kanna (reeds, not looms) and polis (city), which some believed meant "City of Looms".{{cite news|last=Dearmon |first=Norris |title=Name Origin File |publisher=History Room at the Kannapolis Branch of the Cannon Memorial Library |date=2006-07-20 |url=http://www.ncecho.org/photos/ncethumbs.asp?searchterm=436&searchtype=sspub |access-date=2007-11-12 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Dr. Gary Freeze, Catawba College history and politics department chairman, said a Concord newspaper used the name "Cannon City" in 1906. After mill workers or newspapers called the town "Cannapolis", J.W. Cannon asked Cabarrus County commissioners to give the town the name, but starting with a "K". Kannapolis historian Norris Dearmon said the K might have been to distinguish the town from his Concord mill village. Since, Freeze said, "Jim Cannon didn't study Greek," Cannon did not name the town "city of looms".{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Kannapolis might not be city of looms |url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2009/12/11/kannapolis-might-not-be-city-of-looms/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Salisbury Post |language=en}} In 1906 J.W. Cannon purchased the land that later became Kannapolis, and acquired a total of 1,008 acres in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties. Around 808 of those acres of farmland, purchased along the historic wagon road between Salisbury and Charlotte, became the location of the new textile mill, Cannon Manufacturing, which began production in 1908. In 1914, Cannon Manufacturing became known as the world's largest producer of sheets and towels. Shortly after, Cannon opened plants in Rowan County, Concord, and South Carolina totaling 20,000 workers. Mill founder J.W. Cannon's youngest son, Charles A. Cannon, consolidated all the separate mills into the giant Cannon Mills Company in 1928.

Geography

{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=10|id=Q2029146|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Kannapolis}}

Kannapolis is located on the boundary of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, with a greater portion of its area in Cabarrus County. U.S. Route 29 (Cannon Boulevard) passes through the city east of the downtown area; U.S. 29 leads northeast {{convert|15|mi}} to Salisbury and south {{convert|7|mi|0}} to Concord. Interstate 85 bypasses the city on the south and the east, with access from exits 54 through 63 (five exits total). I-85 leads northeast {{convert|65|mi}} to Greensboro and southwest {{convert|21|mi}} to Charlotte.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|34.06|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.56|sqmi}} (1.64%) are covered by water.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1990= 29696

|2000= 36910

|2010= 42625

|2020= 53114

|estyear=2023

|estimate=59321

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kannapoliscitynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Kannapolis city, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 16, 2024}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Kannapolis racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3735200&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-20|website=data.census.gov}}

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 29,003

| 54.61%

scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 11,636

| 21.91%

scope="row"| Native American

| 159

| 0.3%

scope="row"| Asian

| 1,301

| 2.45%

scope="row"| Pacific Islander

| 23

| 0.04%

scope="row"| Other or mixed races

| 2,530

| 4.76%

scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 8,462

| 15.93%

As of the 2020 census, 53,114 people, 17,248 households, and 12,092 families resided in the city.

=2000 census=

At the 2000 census, 36,910 people, 14,804 households, and 10,140 families lived in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,236.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. The 15,941 housing units had an average density of {{convert|534.0|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.74% White, 16.45% Black or African American, 0.86% Asian American, 0.34% Native American, 0.01% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 3.43% some other race, and 1.16% two or more races. About 6.33% were Hispanic or Latino people of any race,

Of the 14,804 households, 30.0% had children under 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were not families. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the age distribution was 24.2% under 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,532, and for a family was $42,445. Males had a median income of $30,990 versus $23,277 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,539. About 7.7% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

=National Register of Historic Places=

The Gem Theater, Meek House, and Harvey Jeremiah Peeler House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

=Museums=

  • Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports {{Cite web |url=http://www.mikecurb.com/image_pops/museum.htm |title=Mike Curb -Curb Museum for Music |access-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-date=January 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130172715/http://www.mikecurb.com/image_pops/museum.htm |url-status=dead }}

Sports

Parks and recreation

=Public=

Kannapolis has several public recreational areas, including parks, athletic fields, and greenways. One public park in the city, Vietnam Veterans Park (formerly, North Cabarrus Park) is maintained and operated by Cabarrus County.{{cite web|title=Overview of Parks Facilities|url=http://www.kannapolisnc.gov/governmentdepartments/parksrecreation/parks/tabid/131/default.aspx|publisher=City of Kannapolis|access-date=August 30, 2015}}

  • Bakers Creek Park
  • Dale Earnhardt Plaza
  • Veterans Park
  • Village Park
  • Walter M. Safrit Park

= Private =

  • The Club at Irish Creek (formerly, Kannapolis Country Club){{cite web|title=The Club|url=http://www.liveatirishcreek.com/club/|publisher=The Club at Irish Creek|access-date=July 9, 2012}}
  • Kannapolis Recreation Park{{cite web|title=Kannapolis Recreation Park|url=http://www.kannapolisrecreationpark.com/|publisher=Kannapolis Recreation Park|access-date=July 9, 2012}}

Education

=K–12=

The Kannapolis City Schools system is the primary school system for the city. Two additional systems also serve its jurisdiction: Cabarrus County Schools and Rowan–Salisbury School System.

Faith Christian Academy (FCA) is a private, nonprofit Christian educational institution that is operated by Faith Baptist Church. FCA offers a combination of the A Beka program (K5–2nd grade) and the Alpha-Omega computerized, individual learning program (3rd–12th grade). FCA was organized in 1982.

Franklin Heights Christian Academy (FHCA) was a private, nonprofit Christian educational institution that was operated by Franklin Heights Baptist Church. FHCA was organized in 2009. This school is now closed.

=Higher education=

Shaw University has an extramural site in Kannapolis offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing-educational programs.

Ambassador Christian College has a campus in Kannapolis offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology. The school was founded in 2003 by Dr. Keith Slough.

=North Carolina Research Campus=

File:N.C. Research Campus aerial image.jpg

The North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis is a {{convert|350|acre|adj=on}} research center.

Infrastructure

=Transportation=

Kannapolis is located adjacent to Interstate 85, about {{convert|20|mi|km}} northeast of Charlotte.

Concord Kannapolis Area Transit, also known as Rider, provides multiple local bus routes, with its farthest point reaching Concord Mills Mall.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) provides multiple transportation options including bus, vanpool or carpool. CATS provides a bus stop and parking at Kannapolis' Home Depot parking lot.

The Kannapolis Amtrak station is located at 201 South Main Street.{{cite web|title=Kannapolis, NC (KAN)|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=KAN|publisher=Amtrak|access-date=July 9, 2012}}

Notable people

In popular culture

In 2004, a silent film about Kannapolis, showing the everyday behavior of ordinary people, which was made in 1941 by itinerant filmmaker H. Lee Waters, was selected by the Library of Congress for listing in the United States National Film Registry, as a representative of this kind of filmed "town portrait" popular in the 1930s and 1940s.{{Cite web |title=Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-04-215/films-added-to-national-film-registry-for-2004/2004-12-28/ |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}{{Cite web|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Library of Congress}}{{Cite book|last=Eagan|first=Daniel|title=America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2010|isbn=978-0826429773|location=New York, NY, USA|pages=343–344}}{{Cite web |title=kannapolis / Browse: Item / H. Lee Waters Film Collection / Duke Digital Repository |url=https://repository.duke.edu/dc/hleewaters?utf8=%E2%9C%93&f%5Bcommon_model_name_ssi%5D%5B%5D=Item&q=kannapolis&search_field=all_fields |access-date=2022-11-06 |website=Duke Digital Collections |language=en}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • Minchin, Timothy J., "'It Knocked This City to Its Knees': The Closure of Pillowtex Mills in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and the Decline of the U.S. Textile Industry," Labor History 50 (Aug. 2009), 287–311
  • Vanderburg, Timothy W. Cannon Mills and Kannapolis: Persistent Paternalism in a Textile Town (University of Tennessee Press; 2013) 255 pages

External links

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Kannapolis}}

  • {{osmrelation|180117}}
  • {{Official website|http://www.kannapolisnc.gov/}}

{{Cabarrus County, North Carolina}}

{{Rowan County, North Carolina}}

{{North Carolina}}

{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}

{{authority control}}

Kannapolis

Category:Cities in Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Category:Cities in Rowan County, North Carolina

Category:Charlotte metropolitan area

Category:Populated places established in 1906

Category:Company towns in North Carolina

Category:1906 establishments in North Carolina