Statesville, North Carolina

In 1753, Scots-Irish Presbyterians and German Lutherans, who had originally settled in Pennsylvania, began arriving in what would become Statesville in 1789Keever, Homer M.; Iredell Piedmont County, with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mild red Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, copyright, November 1976 to plant crops in the fertile soil where game and water were also plentiful. The settlement, known as Fourth Creek Congregation, was named for the freshwater stream running to the north of the present-day city center, the fourth creek west of the neighboring settlement of Salisbury. The center of the settlement was a log cabin where the Presbyterians worshiped and where the First Presbyterian Church is located today.

File:Statesville Old U.S. Court House and Post Office.jpg

File:Statesville Commercial Historic District, Madison Building, Between 125 & 145 East Broad Street, Statesville (Iredell County, North Carolina).jpg

In 1755, colonial governor Arthur Dobbs authorized the construction of the colony's frontier fort, which was located approximately {{convert|3|mi|0}} due north of the Fourth Creek settlement. Built and garrisoned by North Carolina provincial soldiers, Fort Dobbs defended British North America's western frontier in the colony of North Carolina during the French and Indian War and Anglo-Cherokee War. Fort Dobbs combined the functions of a military barracks, fortification, refuge for settlers, provisioning depot and center for negotiations with Native Americans.{{cite web|url=http://www.fortdobbs.org/events|title=Grand Opening of Fort Dobbs|website=fortdobbs.org|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924124848/http://www.fortdobbs.org/events|archive-date=September 24, 2019|url-status=live}}

The state legislature divided Rowan County in 1788, and the new county was named "Iredell" for James Iredell, associate justice of the first Supreme Court during the presidency of George Washington.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/northcarolinagov1975nort/page/768|title=North Carolina Government, 1585-1974, A Narrative and Statistical History|editor=John L. Cheney, Jr.|year=1975}}{{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/1800s/nc_1800s_general_assembly.html|title=North Carolina General Assemblies, 1800s|author=Lewis, J.D.|website=Carolana.com|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809125920/https://www.carolana.com/NC/1800s/nc_1800s_general_assembly.html|archive-date=August 9, 2019|url-status=live}}

One year later, the legislature selected a spot for the county seat. The Fourth Creek Congregation was chosen, and the settlement became known as "Statesville". The 1800 US Census lists the town as "States Ville", which was later combined as "Statesville". In 1800, there were 95 inhabitants in "States Ville", including 68 free white persons and 27 slaves."United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-5KZ : accessed 19 December 2018), States Ville, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 675, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 29; FHL microfilm 337,905.

As early as 1833, Statesville's leaders began laying track for railroads to connect the Piedmont area of North Carolina with the rest of the country.

By 1858, Statesville was growing rapidly and soon afterward began leading the state in the production of tobacco and tobacco products, the manufacture and blending of whiskey, and became a large distribution center for roots and herbs.

On August 27, 1891, a passenger train derailed on the Bostian Bridge,{{cite web |last1=Moose |first1=Bill |title=Bostian Bridge Train Wreck {{!}} NCpedia |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/bostian-bridge-train-wreck |website=www.ncpedia.org |publisher=Encyclopedia of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Press. |access-date=25 October 2023}} a {{convert|300|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} bridge, and seven cars fell down. About 30 people died in the accident.{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/08/27/north.carolina.ghost.train/index.html#fbid=ZGflCJMCHK3&wom=true|title='Ghost train' hunter killed by train in North Carolina|author=Gast, Phil|work=CNN|date=August 28, 2010|access-date=August 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829144340/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/08/27/north.carolina.ghost.train/index.html#fbid=ZGflCJMCHK3&wom=true|archive-date=August 29, 2010|url-status=live}}

Statesville is in central Iredell County, in the western part of the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Statesville has a total area of {{convert|63.1|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|62.8|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.48%, are water.{{Cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Statesville city, North Carolina |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3764740 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213102843/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3764740 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 9, 2018 |work=American Factfinder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}} The north side of Statesville is drained by Fourth Creek, while the south side is drained by Third Creek. Both creeks flow east, joining just before reaching the South Yadkin River near Cooleemee.

Statesville has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) like most of the state of North Carolina, although its higher elevation leads to cooler temperatures than much of the Piedmont. Summers are generally hot and humid, with mild nights, while winters are usually cool with chilly nights and sporadic snowfall. Severe thunderstorms can be an issue during summer, with wind speeds of 60 mph and even gusts of 95 mph being recorded during these storms.{{Cite web|title=Trees down, storm damage in Statesville after severe weather|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/extensive-tree-damage-in-statesville-after-severe-weather/275-dbe19e40-3bdb-4e5d-87fc-43e512d5d9f6|access-date=2020-08-17|website=wcnc.com|date=August 21, 2019 |language=en-US}}{{Weather box

| location = Statesville

| single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 81

| Feb record high F = 83

| Mar record high F = 93

| Apr record high F = 95

| May record high F = 99

| Jun record high F = 105

| Jul record high F = 105

| Aug record high F = 106

| Sep record high F = 104

| Oct record high F = 96

| Nov record high F = 85

| Dec record high F = 80

| Jan record low F = -8

| Feb record low F = -7

| Mar record low F = 5

| Apr record low F = 17

| May record low F = 28

| Jun record low F = 36

| Jul record low F = 44

| Aug record low F = 44

| Sep record low F = 30

| Oct record low F = 16

| Nov record low F = 6

| Dec record low F = -3

| Jan high F = 48.8

| Feb high F = 52.9

| Mar high F = 60.5

| Apr high F = 70.1

| May high F = 77.4

| Jun high F = 84.1

| Jul high F = 87.3

| Aug high F = 85.5

| Sep high F = 79.7

| Oct high F = 70.8

| Nov high F = 60

| Dec high F = 51.6

| Jan mean F = 37.6

| Feb mean F = 40.6

| Mar mean F = 47.6

| Apr mean F = 56.9

| May mean F = 65.5

| Jun mean F = 73.3

| Jul mean F = 77.0

| Aug mean F = 75.4

| Sep mean F = 69.2

| Oct mean F = 56.3

| Nov mean F = 47.1

| Dec mean F = 37.9

| Jan low F = 26.4

| Feb low F = 28.4

| Mar low F = 34.7

| Apr low F = 43.7

| May low F = 53.6

| Jun low F = 62.5

| Jul low F = 66.8

| Aug low F = 65.2

| Sep low F = 58.8

| Oct low F = 45.8

| Nov low F = 34.3

| Dec low F = 28.9

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.71

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.18

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.99

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.05

| May precipitation inch = 3.70

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.27

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.42

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.91

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.87

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.23

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.38

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.94

| Jan snow inch = 2.4

| Feb snow inch = 0.8

| Mar snow inch = 0.4

| Apr snow inch = 0

| May snow inch = 0

| Jun snow inch = 0

| Jul snow inch = 0

| Aug snow inch = 0

| Sep snow inch = 0

| Oct snow inch = 0

| Nov snow inch = 0

| Dec snow inch = 1.3

| source = NOAA {{cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=gsp|title=Statesville Climate Info|publisher=NOAA|access-date=15 May 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1800= 95

|1850= 215

|1860= 320

|1870= 683

|1880= 1062

|1890= 2318

|1900= 3141

|1910= 4599

|1920= 7895

|1930= 10490

|1940= 11440

|1950= 16901

|1960= 19844

|1970= 20007

|1980= 18622

|1990= 17567

|2000= 23320

|2010= 24532

|2020= 28419

|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}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,419 people, 10,628 households, and 6,536 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 24,633 people, 9,338 households, and 5,957 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,195.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 10,041 housing units at an average density of {{convert|489.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial composition of the city was: 59.94% White, 31.87% Black or African American, 7.11% Hispanic or Latino American, 2.71% Asian American, 0.18% Native American, 0.02% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 3.84% some other races, and 1.42% two or more races.

There were 9,338 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,925, and the median income for a family was $41,694. Males had a median income of $31,255 versus $22,490 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,328. About 12.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

{{div col}}

• Academy Hill Historic District{{NRISref|version=2010a}}
• Center Street A.M.E. Zion Church, built in 1903
• Congregation Emanuel is one of fewer than a hundred nineteenth-century synagogue buildings still standing in the United States.{{cite news|title=STATESVILLE SYNAGOGUE LEARNS IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE NATION|work=Charlotte Observer|date=January 19, 1997}}
• East Broad Street–Davie Avenue Historic District
• Fourth Creek Burial Ground, burials from 1759{{cite web|title=North Carolina Highway marker 46, Fourth Creek Congregation|url=http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=M-46|access-date=February 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020330/http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=M-46|archive-date=February 7, 2019|url-status=live}}
• Iredell County Courthouse, built in 1899
• Key Memorial Chapel, also known as St. Philips Roman Catholic Church, built in 1898
• Main Building, Mitchell College, built in 1854-1856
• McElwee Houses, built in the late 1800s and early 1900s
• Mitchell College Historic District, buildings dating from 1857 to 1930
• Morrison-Mott House, built about 1904 to 1905
• Col. Silas Alexander Sharpe House, built about 1860 or 1865
• South Race Street Historic District, 85 buildings built in the late 1800s and early 1900s
• Statesville Commercial Historic District, 54 buildings built between 1875 and 1925
• Henry Turner House and Caldwell–Turner Mill Site, built about 1860
• United States Post Office and County Courthouse, built in 1891

{{div col end}}

The Governor Zebulon Vance House and Museum is operated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy; Vance lived in the house at the end of the U.S. Civil War. Other museums include Iredell Museums,{{cite web|url=https://www.iredellmuseums.org|title=Iredell County Museums|website=iredellmuseums.org|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713040942/https://www.iredellmuseums.org/|archive-date=July 13, 2019|url-status=live}} Heritage Museum, and The Children's Museum.

Statesville was home to a minor league baseball teams of various names, mainly the Statesville Owls, from 1939 until 1969. They played in several leagues over the years including the Tar Heel League (1939–1940), North Carolina State League (1942, 1947–1952), Western Carolina League (1960–1962), and Western Carolinas League (1963–1969). They were league champions in their respective league in 1940, 1948, and 1962. The field was located at Statesville Senior High School and thus named Senior High Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://futureangels.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/scraps_from_statesville_part_2.html|title=Scraps from Statesville, Part 2|website=futureangles.mlbogs.com|date=December 16, 2008 }}

The city is part of the Iredell–Statesville School District. Schools within the city limits include East Iredell Elementary, N.B. Mills Elementary, Oakwood Middle School, Pressly Elementary, and Statesville High School. Schools serving Statesville residents but located outside the city limits include Cloverleaf Elementary School, East Iredell Middle School, and Third Creek Elementary School.{{Cite web| url=https://www.issnc.org/schools-programs/our-schools| title=Schools| publisher=Iredell–Statesville School District| access-date=April 9, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229185531/https://www.issnc.org/schools-programs/our-schools| archive-date=December 29, 2019| url-status=live}}

Wayside Elementary School was an elementary school located off Salisbury Road in eastern Statesville. The current school building opened in 1941 and closed in 2002 when Wayside School and Alan D. Rutherford School merged to form Third Creek Elementary. The former Wayside building is currently home to the UAW 3520 headquarters, while the former Alan D. Rutherford site is home to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Administrative Annex, now known as the Alan D. Rutherford Education Building.

Statesville Christian School is a non-denominational K4–12 private school serving the greater Statesville area.{{cite web|url=http://www.statesvillechristian.org/editoruploads/files/Admissions/School_Profile_Sept_2018_1_16_19.pdf|title=Statesville Christian School|website=statesvillechristian.org|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011635/http://www.statesvillechristian.org/editoruploads/files/Admissions/School_Profile_Sept_2018_1_16_19.pdf|archive-date=February 12, 2019|url-status=live}}

Mitchell Community College, founded as a Presbyterian women's college in 1852, is now a public community college. In the 2008–2009 academic year, it became the first community college in the United States to be accepted into NASA's University Student Launch Initiative competition.{{cite book|author=Powell, William S.|title=Higher Education in North Carolina|publisher=Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History|year=1970|url=https://uncpress.org/book/9780865260801/higher-education-in-north-carolina/|access-date=2019-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229183108/https://uncpress.org/book/9780865260801/higher-education-in-north-carolina/|archive-date=2019-12-29|url-status=live}}

• The Statesville Record & Landmark is Statesville's daily newspaper, primarily serving Iredell County. It is published seven days a week.{{cite web|title=Statesville Record & Landmark home page|url=http://statesville.com|website=statesville.com|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217040041/https://www.statesville.com/|archive-date=December 17, 2019|url-status=live}}

• WAME, "Real Country 550 & 92.9" is an AM/FM station at 550 kHz and 92.9 mHz that plays classic country music.{{cite web|url=http://realcountry929.com/|title=RealCountry929|website=realcountry929.com|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107063901/http://realcountry929.com/|archive-date=November 7, 2016|url-status=live}}
• WSIC, 1400 AM & 100.7 FM, has a news-talk format.{{cite web|url=http://www.WSICfm.com|title=WSICfm|website=WSICfm.com|access-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630103202/http://www.wsicfm.com/|archive-date=June 30, 2019|url-status=live}}

In addition, the signals of many stations from the Charlotte area and Piedmont Triad region reach Statesville.

Interstate 40 and Interstate 77 intersect in the northeastern part of the city, and US 21, US 64, and US 70 run through the center of Statesville.

• Gair Allie (1931–2016), former MLB player
• Julianne Baird (born 1952), soprano singer
• Breon Borders (born 1995), NFL defensive back{{cite web | title = Breon Borders | publisher = Duke Athletics | url = http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208538070 | access-date = July 9, 2017}}
• Hayne D. Boyden (1897–1978), Naval aviator and Brigadier general, USMC
• Johnny Chapman (born 1967), stock car racing driver
• Mildred Stafford Cherry (1894–1971), First Lady of North Carolina
• Louis "Pinky" Clarke (1901–1977), Olympic gold medal winner in 4x100 m relay at 1924 Summer Olympics
• Chris Cole (born 1982), professional skateboarder[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/162001-the-infestation-the-fallen-angel-chris-cole The Infestation: The "Fallen Angel" Chris Cole]. Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
• Blake Crouch (born 1978), author and producer
• Jake Crum (born 1991), driver in the NASCAR Truck Series
• Mark Davidson (born 1961), former outfielder for the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros
• Jerome Henderson (born 1969), NFL cornerback
• Columbus Vance Henkel, Jr. (1908–1971), five-term North Carolina Senator; editor of "The Blowing Rocket"
• Rockie Lynne (born 1964), country music artist
• Danny Malboeuf (born 1960), visual artist combining surrealism with other genres
• Thomas Marshburn (born 1960), NASA astronaut
• Barry Moore (born 1943), former MLB pitcher[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mooreba01.shtml Barry Moore Stats]. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
• Justin Moose (born 1983), professional soccer player
• William Stevens Powell (1919–2015), historian, author, teacher, and librarian known for his extensive work on the history of North Carolina, lived in Statesville{{cite web|title=William S. Powell|url=http://ncpedia.org/biography/powell-william|website=ncpedia.org|author=Graham, Nicholas|year=2012|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511175002/https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/powell-william|archive-date=11 May 2019|url-status=live}}, updated 2015 by Government & Heritage Library staff
• Stephen C. Reber, Archbishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America
• William Sharpe (1742–1818), lawyer, politician, American Revolution patriot, and a delegate to the Continental Congress[http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=M-45 William Sharpe - NC Highway Historical Marker Program]. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
• Mike Skinner (born 1957), NASCAR driver{{cite web|url=http://www.wxii12.com/tv/about/monday-mansions-12000-square-foot-statesville-estate/19655238|title=Monday Mansions: NASCAR driver Mike Skinner's home!|publisher=WXII-TV|date=August 4, 2013|access-date=October 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124203603/http://www.wxii12.com/tv/about/monday-mansions-12000-square-foot-statesville-estate/19655238|archive-date=January 24, 2016|url-status=live}}
• Vinson Smith (born 1965), NFL linebacker
• Herm Starrette (1936–2017), former Major League Baseball pitcher and coach
• T.M. Stikeleather (1848–1934), populist representative in 1894 and 1900 for the 27th district, which included Iredell, Davie and Yadkin counties
• Theodore Taylor (1921–2006), writer
• Jared Watts (born 1992), Major League Soccer player

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{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}

{{Iredell County, North Carolina}}

{{North Carolina}}

{{North Carolina county seats}}

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Category:Cities in North Carolina

Category:German-American culture in North Carolina

Category:Scotch-Irish American culture in North Carolina

Category:Cities in Iredell County, North Carolina

Category:County seats in North Carolina

Category:Populated places established in 1753

Category:1753 establishments in North Carolina