Harrisburg, NC has a rich history many believe dates back to the 1700s. The Cabarrus Genealogical Society believes it is Harrisburg, President George Washington referred to when he referenced traveling through Query’s Quarter in 1791. However, the town didn’t receive the name of Harrisburg until the late 1800s. Today, the history of Harrisburg remains evident in the town’s architecture. The Town of Harrisburg is home to a population of 14,132 residents who relishes the southern, small town atmosphere.
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The town is a thriving community with a growing population. Between 2000 and 2013, the population grew by 206.9%. The residents of Harrisburg represent the full range of races that populate the United States. The following demographics represent the population based on race, as of 2014.
Although Harrisburg is an older town, the residents of the town are youthful. The median age is 34 in Harrisburg while the median age for the state of North Carolina is 38 years of age.
The cost of living in Harrisburg is less than the average cost of living in the United States. In Harrisburg, the cost of living index is 93.3.
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One of the key determinants for potential home buyers is the value of the educational system in a new town. Fortunately, Harrisburg outperforms United States averages in terms of education. As a whole, over 96% of the population are high school graduates, and nearly 40% of the population holds a bachelor’s degree or higher.
All of Harrisburg elementary schools cater to students in grades kindergarten to fifth grades, middle schools cater to students who are enrolled in classes from sixth to eighth grades, and high schools in Cabarrus County cater to students enrolled in ninth to twelfth grades. The following are a few schools in the area and their ratings given to them by Carolina School Hub:
Hickory Ridge High and Jay M Robinson High both have higher graduation rates than the state of North Carolina as a whole. The graduation rates for both schools is 79% while the graduation rate for North Carolina is 76%.
As a close-knit community, residents of Harrisburg remain active. The Town of Harrisburg and other local organizations host many cultural activities throughout the year. These activities help residents maintain physically, culturally, and socially.
Harrisburg Parks and Recreation strives to keep their residents engaged by offering sporting events and parks. Youth sports include baseball and soccer, allowing parents to groom their children for sports in middle and high school.
Levine Museum of the New South is a museum near Harrisburg in Charlotte that focuses on capturing life after the Civil War. Exhibits, such as Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers, continue to attract residents who have a passion for learning about history and its connection to modern day events.
Located close to Harrisburg, Discovery Place is a great learning venue residents can take their children to in order to learn about science and technology. Exhibits at Discovery Place are interactive, allowing children to have fun while they learn.
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Like many small towns that have access to large metropolitan areas, Harrisburg residents are fortunate to be within miles of Charlotte. Within a few minutes, they can enhance their social experience by visiting clubs, restaurants, sporting and cultural events in the heart of Charlotte.
Pub 49 is a local favorite in Harrisburg. It’s a pub where the locals gather to socialize and watch football while indulging in inexpensive beer. The establishment also offers an American menu, so you that you can enjoy the game on a full stomach.
When residents desire a little more than Harrisburg offers, they have the ability to drive to Charlotte, which is directly down the street. In Charlotte, they have access to concerts, sporting events, performing arts events, comedy shows, and a host of other entertainment activities.
From Chinese to Italian to American to Mexican, there is a great selection of food for the people living in Harrisburg. Many of the residents enjoy dining at La Unica, Harrisburg Family House, and Captain Steve’s Seafood Sag.
Beyond the recreational activities Harrisburg Parks and Recreation Department offers, residents of Harrisburg have a laundry list of professional sports to watch live. They can choose to see a Carolina Panthers football game, visit the Charlotte Motor Speedway for a race, or go to the Charlotte Hornets game, all within minutes of their homes.
When the residents are in need of some retail therapy, they don’t have to drive far to find what they need. Residents are only a 10-minute drive from Concord Mills, a Simon retail outlet. Retail stores like Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Express, DKNY, Lane Bryant, J. Crew, and Old Navy, give them the experience they are looking for in shopping. In addition to all the retail stores available, there are a plethora of restaurants and other eateries in the vicinity of the outlets.
Most recently, Harrisburg was best known for Money, a Time company, choosing the town as the 41st best place to live in the United States in August 2015. Money chose the city for a number of factors, including the thriving economy Harrisburg benefits from due to its proximity to Charlotte. With access to high paying jobs, residents of Harrisburg have high home ownership rates; however, the cost of living remains affordable.
Another factor that contributed to Harrisburg receiving the designation is its family-friendly, community-oriented vibe. Within the town there are many activities families can do. From participating in community events to going to cultural events, the sense of community within the town is enchanting.
