Historical Markers in
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Annie Alexander Battle of Charlotte Battle of Cowan's Ford Ben Nash Boeing / Vertol CH-46A / E Sea Knight Branch U.S. Mint British Encampment, 1780 Cameron Morrison Camp Greene Camp Greene Camp New Providence Captain James Jack's Ride Catawba Indian Reservation Census Information Charlotte Speedway Charlotte's First Belk Store Confederate Cabinet Confederate Navy Yard Cotton Cotton on the Polk Farm Currency D.H. Hill Davidson College Dr. Ephraim Brevard Lived Near Here In 1775 Early Education Early Settlers Ephraim Brevard Establishing A New Life First Presbyterian Church Fourth Ward Fourth Ward Historic District Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Gen. William Lee Davidson Was Killed General Paul R. Younts Expressway General William Lee Davidson Gold Mines Gold Mining Good Samaritan Hospital Graham Family Homeplace Harry Golden Hezekiah Alexander House Historic Latta Plantation Home of Col. Thomas Polk Home Site of Doctor Annie Lowrie Alexander Hopewell Presbyterian Church Hornets' Nest How McGuire Works In Memory of George Davis, Attorney General of the Confederate States of America Independence Square J. P. Caldwell James K. Polk James Knox Polk Birthplace Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis Informed of Lincoln's Death Lance Building Lewis Thompson and Pattie Clark Thompson Line of the American Retreat Major Joseph Graham Mecklenburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Mecklenburg County Vietnam Memorial Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Mecklenburg Resolves Memorial to Lieut. Col. George Locke Mike McCormack Mint Museum of Art Mrs. "Stonewall Jackson" 1831-1915 N. C. League of Municipalities Nathanael Greene Nearby History Nearby History Nearby History Nearby History Nearby History Nearby History Nebel Knitting Mill Newspaperman W.J. Cash North Carolina / South Carolina North Carolina Military Institute PFC Raymond “Mike” Clausen Memorial Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Pleasant Grove Memorial Park Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church Prominent Charlotteans Buried At Settlers' Cemetery Queen Charlotte Walks In Her Garden Queens University of Charlotte Ratcliffe Flowers Ratcliffe's Flowers RCA Victor Restoration Efforts For Settlers' Cemetery Richard Barry Romare Bearden S.B. Alexander Settlers' Cemetery Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Site of Liberty Hall Site of Queen's College Site of the First Court Held in Mecklenburg County Site of the U.S. Branch Mint Sloan Davidson House St. Peters Hospital St. Peter's Episcopal Church Steele Creek Church Thaddeus Lincoln Tate The Bagley-Mullen House The Battle of Charlotte The Church Building The Eighteenth Century Piedmont The First Carolinians The Importance Of Religion The Johnston Building The Last Meetings of the Confederate Cabinet The Latta Arcade The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence The Oldest Cemetery and the Walls The Origin Of Our Names The Polk Farm The President James K. Polk State Historic Site The Sculptures at Independence Square The Servant Entrance The War Between The States They Came From Mecklenburg… / Dedicated To Those Who Serve This Land Once was Thompson Orphanage Thomas Polk Park Thompson Orphanage Thompson Orphanage Campus Thompson Orphanage: A Place to Grow Tobacco in the Piedmont Trading Path Trading Path Tryon Street University of N.C. at Charlotte Visit of General George Washington WBT / WBTV William Lee Davidson X-Ray Experiments "War of Sugar Creek" “Upping Block”
The town of Saluda, North Carolina, is home to the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the United States, with a gradient of 4.7%.
North Carolina random facts
Mecklenburg County, located in the state of North Carolina, has a rich and varied history that spans several centuries. The region was originally home to indigenous Native American tribes, including the Catawba and Cherokee, who cultivated the land and developed their own societies. European exploration and settlement began in the late 17th century, with German and Scotch-Irish immigrants establishing farms and trading posts in the area.

In 1762, Mecklenburg County was officially formed out of Anson County, named after Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married King George III of England. The county quickly became an important center of commerce and trade, with Charlotte, its county seat and largest city, serving as a major trading hub in the early days of the nation. The region's fertile land, proximity to waterways, and growing transportation networks made it an important agricultural and industrial region, contributing to its economic growth.

During the American Revolution, Mecklenburg County played a key role in the fight for independence. In 1775, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, also known as the Mecklenburg Resolves, was adopted, declaring the county's independence from British rule more than a year before the more famous Declaration of Independence. While the authenticity and exact wording of this declaration have been debated, it remains an important symbol of the county's early commitment to the Revolutionary cause.

In the years that followed, Mecklenburg County continued to thrive and grow. It saw significant development during the 19th century, with industries like cotton mills and textile manufacturing taking root. The county's prosperity attracted a diverse population, including African Americans who migrated to the area in search of economic opportunities. Today, Mecklenburg County is a thriving and vibrant region with a mix of urban and rural areas, serving as a cultural, educational, and economic center for the state of North Carolina.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

  • 1762 - Mecklenburg County is formed from Anson County
  • 1768 - Charlotte, the county seat, is incorporated
  • 1774 - The Mecklenburg Resolves, a document declaring independence from Britain, is signed
  • 1775 - The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is alleged to have been signed on May 20
  • 1776 - The county courthouse is burned down during the Revolutionary War
  • 1799 - The University of North Carolina is chartered in Charlotte, but is later moved to Chapel Hill
  • 1837 - The first railroad line in Mecklenburg County is completed
  • 1865 - General William T. Sherman's troops occupy Charlotte during the Civil War
  • 1891 - Charlotte's first electric streetcar system is introduced
  • 1973 - Development of Charlotte Douglas International Airport begins
  • 1992 - Charlotte hosts the Democratic National Convention
  • 2012 - Charlotte hosts the Democratic National Convention for a second time