Concord, North Carolina

Concord, North Carolina (kon-chord) is a city in the US state of North Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, The city has a population of approximately 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area and the twelfth largest city in North Carolina.

The city was also the winner of the All-America City Award in 2004. Located near the center of Cabarrus County it is 20 mi northeast of.

The city is known as the location of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the headquarters of the majority of the NASCAR team.

History
Concord, located in today's rapidly growing northeast quadrant of the Charlotte metropolitan area, was first settled about 1750 by German and Scots-Irish immigrants. The name Concord means with harmony. This name was chosen after a lengthy dispute over where the county seat should be located between the German Lutherans and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. By United States standards, Concord is considered an old town, as it was incorporated in 1806. Today, markers identifying the original town limits can be seen in the downtown area.

As county seat, Concord became a center of trade and retail for the cotton-producing region, especially on court days. The downtown would be crowded with farmers and townfolk, in addition to lawyers and their clients. During the antebellum era, wealthy was built by planters through the cultivation of cotton as a commodity crop; the work was done by enslaved African Americans.

Located in the Piedmont, Concord became a site of industrialization with cotton mills in the late 19th century. Among the owners of the new mills in the area were men of the rising black middle-class in Wilmington, North Carolina, such as W. C. Coleman, John C. Dancy (appointed as collector of customs at the port), and others, who organized Coleman Manufacturing Company in 1897. They built and operated what is believed to have been the first cotton mill owned by blacks in the nation. They hoped to promote economic security for people of color. But the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898, with white attacks on black areas of the city, caused many deaths, as well as destroying homes and businesses built by blacks since the Civil War. In 1900, Dancy was among more than 2000 blacks who left the city permanently after the riot. He moved to Washington, DC, appointed as the federal Recorder of Deeds, and serving until 1910. The mill operated under black ownership through 1904, hitting difficult times after Coleman died. The brick mill building was later taken over by Fieldcrest Cannon.

Based on wealth from cotton as a commodity crop and through textile manufacturing, Concord's white planters and business owners built some significant homes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; they range along North and South Union Street and Edgewood Avenue. Within the North Union Historic District is Memorial Garden. Located on 3 acre, the garden winds through the 200-year-old cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church.

In addition to the Cabarrus County Courthouse, the Barber-Scotia College, Boger-Hartsell Farm, McCurdy Log House, Mill Hill, North Union Street Historic District, Odell-Locke-Randolph Cotton Mill, Reed Gold Mine, South Union Street Courthouse and Commercial Historic District, South Union Street Historic District, Spears House, Stonewall Jackson Training School Historic District, and Union Street North-Cabarrus Avenue Commercial Historic District are listed on the.

From the time of incorporation in the late 1700s through the 1970s, Concord's jurisdiction was centered around the downtown area. Since then, most annexations have taken place west of the center-city area towards Charlotte. Portions of the city limit boundary adjoin the Cabarrus/Mecklenburg County line.

Geography and climate
Concord is located in western Cabarrus County at 35.40444°N, -80.60056°W, 35.40444°N, 80.60056°W (35.404340, -80.600474).

The city is located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, which is characterized by rolling hills and forest. Land left untended will typically return to native forest land within a few years. The climate can be described as cool winter seasons with hot, humid summer seasons. The average high temperature in the winter is 43 F, and the average daily low temperature is 29 F In the summer the average temperature is 79 F, and the average daily high temperature is 88 F. It is not unusual for summer daytime temperatures to reach in the mid to upper 90s and occasionally exceed 100 °F (38 °C). It is typical for winter temperatures to fall into the teens at night, but temperatures generally warm to above freezing during the day. Summer months are characterized as having cool to warm nights with very warm to hot temperatures during the day. The area receives a generous amount of rainfall at 43.8 in per year, with February and April being the two driest months. Rainfall in the winter is lighter but more frequent, whereas rainfall in the summer is heavier but less frequent. Thunderstorms, both light and strong, are common in the spring and summer months. The sun shines 70 percent of the time in summer and 55 percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from the southwest, with the average highest windspeed of 9 mph in spring.

The city has a total area of 60.3 sqmi of which 0.04 sqmi, or 0.06%, is water. The elevation at the center of downtown is 706 ft above sea level.

Concord is located northeast of Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina. Concord is the second-largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. It is positioned about half-way between Charlotte and Salisbury, North Carolina. Several other smaller cities and towns are located close to Concord, including Kannapolis, North Carolina, China Grove, North Carolina, Landis, North Carolina, Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, Harrisburg, North Carolina, Midland, North Carolina and Locust, North Carolina.

Census 2010
According to the 2010 Census, Concord's population is 79,066. Of those persons claiming to be of one race, the racial breakdown is 70.4% white, 17.8% black or African American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 6.4% of other races. Persons of two or more races is 2.3%. Persons belonging to the Hispanic or Latino race are 12.3%. There are 32,130 housing units in Concord. Of those housing units, 90.7% are occupied, and 9.3% are vacant. Additional detailed and summary data from the Census 2010 is not yet available.

Census 2000
The census of 2000 determined there were 55,977 people, 20,962 households, and 14,987 families residing in the city. The was 1,085.3 people per square mile (419.0/km²). There were 22,485 housing units at an average density of 435.9 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.83% White, 15.10% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.35% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.80% of the population.

In, there were 20,962 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.

In 2000, the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

Also in 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $46,094, and the median income for a family was $53,571. Males had a median income of $37,030 versus $26,044 for females. The for the city was $21,523. About 5.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Religion
The earliest settlers were mainly immigrants, German and German Reformed Protestants, and Scots or Scotch Irish Presbyterians, who began settling in Cabarrus County in the 1750s. In 1773 the Zion (Organ) Church community and the St. Johns Church community of about sixty families commissioned two men, Christopher Rintelmann from Zion Church and Christopher Lyerly from St. Johns Church to travel to London to seek permission from to acquire a preacher (and a schoolteacher) from Hanover, Germany. Adolphus Nussmann was chosen by the Consistory of Hanover to answer the call and became the first Lutheran preacher in North Carolina. He served five churches from Salisbury to Concord, and subsequently planted twenty congregations and five schools in the greater Concord, Cabarrus, and Rowan county areas.

Today the county has wide religious diversity, as well as strong overall religious affiliation rates. According to the 2000 Religion Report, more than 63% of area residents are affiliated with a local religious body. Concord is home to many churches and a Jewish congregation, Temple Or Olam.

Neighborhoods and recreation
In 2000, Concord's city council implemented the "Partnerships for Stronger Neighborhoods" program. This program is designed to enhance the lives of residents in the neighborhoods in the city, increasing the quality of both life and events for those calling Concord home. As part of the program, some city staff members have volunteered to be appointed as liaisons to work directly with neighborhoods that participate in the program. Through this effort, strong communication is established between city government and its citizens. There are currently 45 neighborhoods participating in the program, which contributes to making Concord one of the most sought-after communities for homebuyers in the regional real estate market. Choices are diverse, offering modest homes to multimillion-dollar estates.

The City of Concord provides its neighborhoods with three recreational centers, eight parks, four sport complexes, an aquatics center featuring open swimming and swim lessons, beautiful Lake Fisher, with 3 miles (4.8 km) of lakefront and 534 acre providing leisurely boating, fishing, greenways and bike paths. There is also the championship 18-hole Rocky River Golf Club (a Dan Maples design) owned and operated by the City and managed by a contracted company.

Private recreational opportunities are available, including the West Cabarrus YMCA and the Sportscenter. The West Cabarrus YMCA opened in fall 2003. The Sportscenter is a privately owned athletic and recreational facility.

Highways
links Concord directly to Greensboro, North Carolina and Durham, North Carolina to the northeast and Charlotte, North Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia to the southwest. is being widened to eight lanes (four northbound, four southbound) through the city, with construction advancing from south to north. is located southwest of Concord and parallels the Cabarrus - Mecklenburg County line for several miles, providing access to the Charlotte area. US Highway 29 and US Highway 601 travel through Concord en route to other parts of the Carolinas. US 29 serves as an alternative to for much of the distance between Charlotte and Greensboro.

Bus
Concord has a local bus system known as CKRider that provides service to Concord and Kannapolis. The system also links to Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) via an express service as well as at regular service connection points. also serves the area.

Rail
There is one railroad line that runs through Concord. It is owned by North Carolina Railroad. There are several industrial facilities served by this railroad line. There are no passenger stations located in Concord, but has stations located in the adjacent cities of Kannapolis and Charlotte.

Air
Concord Regional Airport (JQF) is an airport publicly owned and operated by the City of Concord. It is designated as a reliever facility for (CLT). Charlotte Douglas provides Concord with a major domestic/international gateway. Concord Regional Airport aviation activity consist of charter aircraft, limited commercial flights, flight schools, and private aircraft. The types of aircraft using the facility range from Cessna 150, to Beech Bonanza, to Grumman Gulfstream IV, to Boeing 737-300. Another popular mode of transportation is commercial paragliding.

Nearby attractions
Concord is home to several notable attractions. This includes two malls, a museum, a family resort, a NASCAR track, and an arena and events center that can be used for multiple purposes for the entire county.


 * Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
 * Carolina Mall
 * Carolina Renaissance Festival
 * Charlotte Motor Speedway
 * Concord Speedway (in Midland town limits)
 * Great Wolf Lodge
 * Reed Gold Mine
 * zMax Dragway
 * zMax Dragway

Sister cities
Concord has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
 * 🇮🇪
 * 🇧🇸
 * 🇮🇹

Exrternal links

 * City of Concord Government official website
 * Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau
 * Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation
 * Cabarrus County Government