Cornelius is one of three towns located in the North Mecklenburg County area of Charlotte, NC. In addition to Davidson and Huntersville, Cornelius makes up a part of the Queen City that is bustling with activities for residents and travelers, alike.

Cornelius is originally a mill and farm community established in 1905. The town was named after J.B. Cornelius, the principle stockholder in the town’s first cotton mill. The cotton industry was instrumental in the growth of the town, prior to the damming of the Catawba River. When Duke Power built the dam in the Catawba River, it created Lake Norman, providing citizens with recreational opportunities and a source of hydroelectric power. Today both visitors and travelers to the Queen City enjoy boating, jet skiing, and water sports on Lake Norman, which is surrounded by residential and commercial lakeside property.

In addition to its close proximity to the largest man-made body of water in the entire state of North Carolina, Cornelius is also very close to the uptown Charlotte, NC area. Residents can visit this area to enjoy a football game at the Carolina Panthers football stadium, or a basketball game at the Bobcats arena. Or they can frequent the restaurants and bars to enjoy the nightlife that center city Charlotte has to offer. Uptown Charlotte is becoming a thriving place for the visual and performing arts, with several art galleries, museums and performing arts centers having been built over the last several decades. Cornelius residents travel often to enjoy this part of town.

Cornelius is also very close to Huntersville – even closer, in fact, than it is to the Queen City. Huntersville is a bustling residential community, and is home to Birkdale Village, the area’s most prestigious outdoor shopping arena, featuring a variety of casual and fine dining options, along with several specialty retail shops and big name retail stores as well.

Cornelius is a great place to live, for several reasons, most of which have already been mentioned. In addition to offering diverse recreational activities, and being located in close proximity to Charlotte, NC and Huntersville, this town is also home to some of the best schools in the Queen City. Cornelius is served by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. Parents can choose between several public and private institutions. It is also located very near to the town of Davidson, the site of Davidson College – a private liberal arts school known for being very selective in its admission process.

Cornelius is a well-rounded community, home to lakeside dwellers, artsy college students and stay-at-home moms who love to shop.