Iredell County, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Iredell County, North Carolina | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina |
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 North Carolina's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1788 |
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| Seat | Statesville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,546 km² (597 mi²) 1,491 km² (576 mi²) 56 km² (21 mi²), 3.59% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
122,660 82/km² |
| Website: www.co.iredell.nc.us | |
Iredell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 122,660. Its county seat is Statesville6. It is a major hub of NASCAR racing, with many race shops located in the county (mostly around Mooresville). NASCAR also operates the NASCAR Technical Institute in the county. 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 urbanization and population growth, largely due to the immense popularity of the Lake Norman area for residents of nearby Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city.
Iredell County is an important transportation center for the state, as both Interstate 77 and Interstate 40 cross just north of Statesville. This has given birth to the county's nickname "Crossroads of the Future." Residents have easy access south down I-77 to Charlotte, North Carolina, north to Elkin, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia, east to Winston-Salem, and west along I-40 to Hickory, North Carolina, and Asheville.
Farming is still a major source of income for many Iredell county residents, in both the southern and northern portions of the county. Dairy farming has been particularly popular in Iredell County for centuries. However, the rapid population growth in southern Iredell County is putting increasing pressure on farmlands, and soaring land prices has led increasing numbers of farmers to sell their land to developers.
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[edit] History
The county was formed in 1788 from Rowan County. It was named for James Iredell, an advocate of ratification of the United States Constitution, who was appointed an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by George Washington in 1790.
In 1847 parts of Iredell County, Caldwell County, and Wilkes County were combined to form Alexander County.
[edit] Law and government
Iredell County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,546 km² (597 mi²). 1,491 km² (576 mi²) of it is land and 56 km² (21 mi²) of it (3.59%) is water.
Iredell County is located within the Piedmont Region of western North Carolina. The northern section of the county contains the Brushy Mountains, a deeply eroded spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains far to the west. Although the "Brushies", as they are called locally, rarely rise above 2,000 feet, they stand out prominently above the surrounding lower countryside. The rest of Iredell County's terrain consists of gently rolling countryside occasionally broken by small river valleys. The county's largest river, the Catawba, forms much of its western border. Lake Norman, one of North Carolina's largest manmade lakes, is the most prominent geographic feature of southern Iredell County.
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.
The northern third of Iredell county is very sparsley populated and consists of no large towns. Due to the rural nature of this portion of the state, it is one of a few places in North Carolina where the speed limit on the Interstate Highway exceeds 65 mph, as Interstate 77 north of Statesville has a speed limit of 70 mph.
[edit] Townships
The county is divided into sixteen townships: Barringer, Bethany, Chambersburg, Concord, Coddle Creek, Cool Springs, Davidson, Eagle Mills, Fallstown, New Hope, Olin, Sharpesburg, Shiloh, Statesville, Turnersburg, and Union Grove.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Yadkin County, North Carolina - north-northeast
- Davie County, North Carolina - east-northeast
- Rowan County, North Carolina - east
- Cabarrus County, North Carolina - south-southeast
- Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - south
- Lincoln County, North Carolina - south-southwest
- Catawba County, North Carolina - southwest
- Alexander County, North Carolina - west-northwest
- Wilkes County, North Carolina - north-northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 122,660 people, 47,360 households, and 34,667 families residing in the county. The population density was 82/km² (213/mi²). There were 51,918 housing units at an average density of 35/km² (90/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.17% White, 13.67% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.68% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 3.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,920, and the median income for a family was $49,078. Males had a median income of $34,590 versus $24,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,148. About 6.20% of families and 8.20% 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.
[edit] Cities and towns
Davidson is partly in Iredell County.
[edit] Townships
[edit] External links
See also: List of North Carolina counties
