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.
Members of House of Commons*
1764-65
Martin Fifer (Phifer), Richard Berry
1766-68
Thomas Polk, Martin Fifer (Phifer)
1769
Abraham Alexander, Thomas Polk
1770-71
Abraham Alexander, Thomas Polk
1773 (Jan.)
Martin Fifer (Phifer), John Davidson
Members of the Provincial Congress*
1774 (Aug.)
Benjamin Patten
1775 (Apr.)
1775 (Aug.)
The confusion over the spelling and pronunciation of the name of this well-known Mecklenburg County creek is due to the difficulty of translating the sound of an unwritten Indian word into written English.
This creek undoubtedly takes its name from the Sugeree Indians (John Lawson's spelling) or Sugaree Indians (Douglas L. Rights' spelling). The name was pronounced Sugaw or Soogaw, according to William Henry Foote.
(Dates of Election may be approximate.)
1868
Chairman: R. M. Oates
Commissioners: S. M. Reid, R. R. King, R. L. Diamond, Thos. L. Vail
1872
Chairman: Thos. L. Vail
Commissioners: R. R. King, R. L. Diamond, J. Watson Reid, R. M. Oates
1874
Chairman: Thos. L. Vail
Commissioners: R. L. DeArmon, Wm. H. Neal, M. M. Orr, Thomas Gluyas
1878
Chairman: Thos. L. Vail
In 1902 there was published, by the authority of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and compiled by Clarkson & Duls, City Attorneys, The Code of the City of Charlotte, containing The Charter and all Acts amending it, and also the act providing for the establishments of Public Schools and the amendments thereof; act creating Water Commissioners; Primary Law and Election Law for the City of Charlotte, and all other acts pertaining specially to the government of the city, together with ordinances and street railway contracts, etc. etc.
Note: A list of city officials for years prior to 1900 is included in the City Code, published 1902. A copy of this book may be consulted in the Carolina Room of the Public Library of Charlotte, or in the office of the City Clerk.
A complete list of city officials who served both before 1900 and up to the present is an official record of the City of Charlotte and on file in the office of the City Clerk.
A list of Council members who have served since adoption of the City Manager form of goverment in 1929 follows:
Aitken, G. Douglas, 1949-51
Charlotte Town, Mecklenburg County, May 31, 1775
THIS day the Committee of this County met, and passed the following RESOLVES:
Mayors of Charlotte
1851-52
William K. Reid*
1852-53
Alexander Graham*
1853-57
William F. Davidson*
1857-59
David Parks*
1859-61
Jennings B. Kerr*
*Called Intendant instead of Mayor
1861-62
William A. Owens
1862-63
Robert F. Davidson
1863-64
L. S. Williams
1864-65
Samuel A. Harris
- That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted or in any way, form or manner countenanced to unchartered & dangerous invasion of our rights as claimed by G. Britain is an enemy to this County - to America & to the inherent & inaliable rights of man.
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