Cornelius was established in 1905 as a small mill town, much like its neighbors, until the 1990s development boom transformed it into the Cornelius, NC real estate of today. It is part of a larger resort community of the Lake Norman region which is filled with a variety of homes and lifestyle choices such as spacious condos, picturesque cottages and bungalows, impressive or cozy waterfront and water view homes, lavish mansions, country clubs, and luxury amenities.
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In 1959, this area was inhabited by tiny lake cabins of vacationers seeking peace and quiet and was surrounded by textile mills and farm country. Duke Energy built the Cowans Ford Dam and created a much larger man-made lake by flooding a large portion of Iredell and Mecklenburg counties to create 520 miles of new shoreline. Cornelius boasts 75 miles of that shoreline today.
BusinessWeek Magazine hailed Cornelius, NC as one of the Best Affordable Suburbs in the US in 2009. That created incentives for more northern transplants looking for better weather and taxes. The current population is 25,547 (a far cry from 2,581 in 1990), the average income is $79,572, and median home price is $270,000. During the rapid expansion, zoning was put in place to preserve rural vistas in and around the North Charlotte Metro area. This is a melting pot of northern diligence complimented by southern charm.
Lake Norman is navigated largely by Interstate 77, and the extended community runs north to south from exit 42 in the towns of Sherrill’s Ford and Troutman, then includes exits 31-36 for Mooresville, Race City, USA, and on to exit 30 and the college town of Davidson. Cornelius is exit 28, a perfect mix of quaint and convenient right in the middle. Finally, exits 23 and 25 are the retail shopping and entertainment bustle of Huntersville.
In 1990, each of these towns was split in two by the interstate and new building development. The historical parts of town are east of 77. Older homes and historic homes either move-in ready or in need of custom renovation, wait for appreciative owners. Small performing art theaters and galleries, antique stores, and other ‘main street’ style storefront businesses can be found on this side.
The more modern side is on the west. Big-box stores, high-end boutiques, upscale restaurants, and cinemas, complete with greenways and bike trails, are featured here. Newer planned housing communities include residential living with the latest modern amenities and updates in stylish condominiums, townhomes, and single homes.
Cornelius is relaxed and easy-going with opportunities for living on or off the lake. In between these progressive living areas are eclectic shops, numerous restaurants from local hang-outs to fine dining on the waterfront, and three parks with boating access to Lake Norman.
Cornelius maintains the smaller town feel with a deep sense of community, carried through in its schools, recreation, and business. It offers the Warehouse Performing Arts for theater, music, and comedy. It also boasts Donald Trump’s newly renovated local golf course, now called the Trump National Golf Course Charlotte, where a celebrity or two can be sighted playing 18 holes. Another unusual attraction is the Galway-Hooker and Comedy Zone, a pub brought over from Ireland and reassembled.
Growth in the area created many new schools with the latest in technology and other resources. Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools are part of an award-winning, public and private system. The W.A. Hough HS in Cornelius is recognized nationally for pre-engineering programs and advanced placement courses. Only 6 years old, it currently holds awards for athletics in basketball, swimming, and diving. There are many private schools to choose from in Lake Norman beginning with pre-kindergarten and continuing through college.
There is still some agriculture to the north of the lake above Mooresville and that is where more of the Southern influence and indigenous hospitality lies. There are old farm buildings, feed and general stores, and acres of space between neighbors.
Mooresville is home to racing and machine shops, the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Memory Lane Museum Motorsports, a State of the Art Shooting Range, and Lowes Corporate Center. Here the landscape and atmosphere change dramatically.
Davidson’s charm is preserved due to the college history and culture. The community encourages foot traffic to sidewalk business and shopping, theater productions, art crawls, and outdoor summer concerts in the town square. It has one of the best waterfront dining experiences at North Harbor Club on the west side of town. Condominium communities with main channel water views and office spaces are available by boat.
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The southern end of the lake begins with the Birkdale Village area of Huntersville where the city influence begins to emerge. It is a community of stores with living space above, restaurants, boutiques, and a theater surrounded by recreational greenways and biking areas. Moving back from the store fronts, shops give way to townhomes, condominiums and more intimate lots with single homes. This end of the lake is where Charlotte commuters call home. The location is close to water views, quick access to the department stores at Northlake Mall, and a short commute to Uptown’s business district.
Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, but still easy to navigate for work and after-hours excitement. Architecture ranges from bungalows and cottages to sprawling ranches and mansions. It is the home of Panthers football, Bobcat basketball, and Knights baseball. When the city was revived years ago, the downtown area was renamed “Uptown” as a sign of progress. Between festivals, fundraisers, and year-round recreation and cultural events, it would be hard to find a more versatile or resourceful place to work and play.
