| Official Name: | Statesville, North Carolina |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Nickname: | States-vegas |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Iredell |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Costi Kutteh |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 65.88 |
| Area Land Km2: | 65.59 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.29 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 25.44 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 25.32 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.11 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 28419 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1122.17 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 850 |
| Coordinates: | 35.7842°N -80.8717°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Codes |
| Postal Code: | 28625, 28677, 28687 |
| Area Code: | 704, 980 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 37-64740[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2405526 |
| Population Density Km2: | 433.28 |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Statesville, NC City Logo.jpg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
Statesville is a city in and the county seat of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and it is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area.[3] Statesville was established in 1789 by an act of the North Carolina Legislature. The population was 28,419 at the time of the 2020 census.
In 1753, Scots-Irish Presbyterians and German Lutherans, who had originally settled in Pennsylvania, began arriving in what would become Statesville in 1789[4] 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.
In 1755, colonial governor Arthur Dobbs authorized the construction of the colony's frontier fort, which was located approximately 3miles 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.[5]
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.[6] [7]
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.[8] 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,[9] a 300adj=midNaNadj=mid bridge, and seven cars fell down. About 30 people died in the accident.[10]
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 63.1sqkm, of which 62.8sqkm are land and 0.3sqkm, or 0.48%, are water.[11] 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.[12]
| Number | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 14,154 | 49.8% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 9,054 | 31.86% | |
| Native American | 56 | 0.2% | |
| Asian | 545 | 1.92% | |
| Other/Mixed | 1,301 | 4.58% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,309 | 11.64% |
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 1195.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 10,041 housing units at an average density of 489.1sp=usNaNsp=us. 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.
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,[15] 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.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
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.[19]
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.