Iredell County, North Carolina

Infobox U.S. County
county = Iredell County
state = North Carolina


map size = 250
founded = 1788
seat = Statesville | area_total_sq_mi =597
area_land_sq_mi =576
area_water_sq_mi =21
area percentage = 3.59%
census yr = 2000
pop = 122660
density_km2 =82
web = 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 StatesvilleGR|6. 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 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.

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 slogan "Crossroads for 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 Greensboro, and west along I-40 to Hickory, North Carolina, and Asheville.

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.

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.

Law and government

Iredell County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.

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

IREDELL COUNTY COMMISIONERS (2006-2008):

*Marvin Norman (Chairman)
*Shara Hare-Tice (Vice-Chairwoman)
*Ken Robertson
*Steve Johnson
*Godfrey Wiliams

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 597 square miles (1,546 km²), of which, 576 square miles (1,491 km²) of it is land and 21 square miles (56 km²) of it (3.59%) is water.

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 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 highly rural and contains no large towns. Due to the thinly-populated nature of this portion of the state, it is one of only a few 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.

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.

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

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 122,660 people, 47,360 households, and 34,667 families residing in the county. The population density was 213 people per square mile (82/km²). There were 51,918 housing units at an average density of 90 per square mile (35/km²). 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.

Cities and towns

*Harmony
*Love Valley
*Mooresville
*Statesville
*Troutman

Davidson is partly in Iredell County.

Townships

*Union Grove

ee also

* USS "Iredell County" (LST-839)

References

External links

* [http://www.co.iredell.nc.us Iredell County government official website]