INFORMAL in approach, this history of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and written under direction of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
The book is planned to serve two purposes. The first is to provide an interesting narrative history of city and county. The other is to serve as a reference book for answering the questions most frequently asked about the locality and its citizens.
1790
Mecklenburg County 11,395
1800
Mecklenburg County 10,439
1810
Mecklenburg County 14,272
1820
Mecklenburg County 16,895
1830
Mecklenburg County 20,073
1840
Mecklenburg County 18,273
1850
Mecklenburg County 13,914
City of Charlotte* 1,065
*Population not enumerated separately prior to 1850
1860
Mecklenburg County 17,374
City of Charlotte 2,265
1870
Mecklenburg County 24,299
City of Charlotte 4,473
1880
THROUGH the cabin window he watched the car coming up the lane. Then he went outside. 'Light, and come in, John, he said, as the car slowed to a stop on the leaf-dappled parking circle. Welcome to north Mecklenburg's woods.
You've got a wonderful place here, his visitor said, climbing out to shake hands. That drive up here through the woods, and now this house- John paused, looking around, intrigued. This is just the sort of writer's retreat you read about in novels, eh? But say, where's the water? I thought you were going to build on the lake.
Since the material in this history is treated topically, the following chronological list of events and movements which have taken place locally may be helpful to the reader.
1750 Trade routes from Charlotte to Charleston established over Indian Trails.
1762 December 11. Mecklenburg created by Act of the Legislature, from Anson County (effective February 1, 1763).
1766 First log courthouse built in Charlotte.
Alexander, Hezekiah, Homeplace. Also known as Rock House. Signer of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. On grounds of the Methodist Home.
*Battle of Charlotte. Commemorative drinking fountain and marble benches. Located at fork of Elizabeth Avenue and East Trade Street.
Benjamin, Judah. Location of spot where this high Confederate Government official was entertained at Charlotte indicated by granite slab, east side of 200 block, South Tryon Street.
*Confederate Cabinet. Location of last meeting place marked by bronze tablet at 122 South Tryon Street.
Among Charlotte lawyers of the 20th century, none will be remembered more vividly than Colonel Thomas LeRoy Kirkpatrick, good roads enthusiast, mayor, public servant extraordinary, and orator. It was he who spoke three times as long in introducing President Wilson as the President, himself, spoke when visiting Charlotte for the May 20th celebration in 1916. Of this event Mrs. Edith Bolling Wilson, widow of the President, has this to say in her book My Memoir(1938).
THE first Mecklenburgers, according to historian D. A. Tompkins, were producers. They believed than any work, so it was faithfully and honestly done, was worth doing, and that manhood was more than wealth. Mecklenburg could have existed comfortably cut off from the rest of the world. That makes a people feel independent . . .
The Washington Post of June 16, 1901, carries an article by William Hugh Robarts entitled "Our National Weapon-Rise and Development of the American Rifle" which reads:
"The rifle became so popular in the South that a factory for making the hunting rifle was established at Charlotte, N. C., about 1740. The founders came from Leman's Rifle Factory at Lancaster, Pa., which is in existence to this day. The arm turned out there was unquestionably the best, because the most carefully constructed, rifle then made in America.
THE battle of Charlotte is given scant attention in general histories of the Revolution, but the battle marked the turning point in the fortunes of the British. Never thereafter did the enemy wage a very successful offensive. Unlike the Mecklenburg declaration of independence, about which some have had doubts, no serious question has arisen about Charlotte's part in the Revolution.
During the first half of the 20th Century three elaborate pageants were staged to portray early historic events occurring in Charlotte and Mecklenburg.
Pageant of Charlotte and Old Mecklenburg