*values are converted to 2014 dollars.

Data Source

U.S. Census of Housing 1970,1980, 2010: Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville, Lincolnton and Troutman. Log Into North Carolina. http://data.osbm.state.nc.us/pls/linc/dyn_linc_main.show

Inflation adjustment tool

U.S. Inflation Calculator. 2014. http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Example of a Wood Duck Box. Source: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/Yr2006/jan1606/box2.jpg.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an worldwide organization that focuses on conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. In 1937,  a group of sportsmen formed DU in response to North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations after the Dust Bowl, a period of dust storms that plunged waterfowl populations to unprecedented lows. Since then, DU has grown significantly. With over 4,000 chapters across the United States, DU is the international leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation today.

Despite its membership increase, DU retains its grassroots, volunteer-base structure on the local chapter level. The Charlotte chapter was established in 1978. At the 1970s and 1980s, the Charlotte chapter was the only local DU group serving Lake Norman. Today, there are additional chapters in both the townships of Mooresville and Concord. Greg Green, the leader of DU’s Charlotte chapter, said his chapter has two main projects. First, the Charlotte chapter works to fund raise for wetland conservation. In addition, the local chapter works in tandem with Charlotte Park and Recreation to install wood duck boxes around green ways. As Green explained, “Wood ducks, a native species, thrive when nesting in a wooden, protected box environment. Through building and installing these environments, we work to support the wood duck population.” Above all, Green stressed conservation for generations. Without outdoor training and education there would not be anyone to carry on the work of DU in the future. Thus, DU allocates some of its funds to promoting wildlife education for children and students.

References

• Green, G. (2013, April 2). Interview Ducks Unlimited Charlotte Chapter.
• Wetlands, Conservation, Waterfowl, Duck Hunting – World Leader in Wetlands Conservation – Ducks Unlimited. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.ducks.org/

Troutman

Lincolnton

 Cornelius

Davidson

Huntersville

Mooresville

Data Source:

U.S. Census of Population 1970,1980, 2010: Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville, Lincolnton and Troutman. Log Into North Carolina. http://data.osbm.state.nc.us/pls/linc/dyn_linc_main.show

Davidson and Cornelius, two towns in North Mecklenburg, are presently growing in parallel rates, but have distinct views on the future of their respective developments. In 1960 Davidson held a population U.S. Census count of 2573 people while Cornelius had a count of 1,444. By 1988 Davidson held 3,000 and Cornelius 3,900.

The introduction of Lake Norman provided an opportunity for both towns to develop into what was formerly dismissed by crowds who were discouraged by the lack of job opportunities in the area. In both towns employments was characterized by the textile industry or were service oriented. At Davidson, Davidson College as an institution also provided employment outlets. In 1963 when the Lake was completed construction in both of these towns boomed and a population growth pattern ensued. To accommodate for the incoming population not only was there an increase in the construction of housing units, but business and retail outlets as well.

Davidson has historically sided with remaining a small town, priding itself in its historical significance and preserved quaint character. To this day, it wants to remain a small town though that is coming in to question with the increasing populations.

Cornelius, though similar to Davidson, encourages the growth of its town. In fact it has become increasingly commercialized with far more outlets, restaurants, and hotels than Davidson. Resource demands have even driven Davidson residents into the neighboring town of Cornelius as it has become the commercial center for North Mecklenburg.

Needless to say each of these towns’ individual quaint identity is threatened by increasing populations and their resource demands. 

Mooresville’s development plan made the area convenient, modern, and attractive.

In Mooresville, the “Mooresville Plan” was set forth as a means to develop the area with the modernization of buildings, the development of a pedestrian mall, and installation of canopies over sidewalks. The town promoted its amenities to visitors that frequented the lake, attracting more and more people to the area. It was marketed as “a charmingly social, vigorously industrial and soundly built community which is making steady progress and where living conditions are of the best kind.”  Mooresville with its proximity to the lake and amenities promoted themselves to new visitors that were on the way to the lake. The town’s supermarkets, restaurants, department stores, churches and service stations provided the comfort and convenience sought by those visiting the town or Lake Norman. Beyond that it also provided recreational outlets with an attractive golf course.

Population Growth Trends

A graph demonstrating the projected population growth versus the actual growth based on residential building permits and population count for the 1990 Census data.

North Mecklenburg’s initial slow population growth was primarily due to the large families, and small farms that characterized its landscape. The farms were generally too small to be economically viable which drove plenty of families away from the farms and into the cities. The trajectory changed completely after the introduction of the lake, and for various reasons.

Though new housing developments near or on the lake were an impetus, I-77 North Mecklenburg also conveniently placed downtown Charlotte thirty minutes away from the Mecklenburg area.

Results were apparent within 3 years, by 1988. North Mecklenburg experienced one of the fastest growth rates in North Carolina with a growing rate of 17% from 1988 to 1989. From 1980 to 1990, approximately 4,454 units of residential permits were issued in North Mecklenburg and another 3,603 in Northeast Mecklenburg. Around 78% of this housing unit growth occurred only within a 5-year period.

Though people were generally happy

with the growth and
development of the area, commonly used spaces and institutions such as roads, schools, police protection, garbage disposal faced pl

enty of readjustments du

e to population growth. Traffic congestion worsened and sewer lines have had to extend to more areas. Growth is also making it difficult for Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville to maintain the small town identities.

Development Plans

The heaviest concentration of growth occurred around Lake Norman in areas 428, with 1650 units, 429 with 1,211 units, and area 431 with 1,056 units.

After the lake was filled with water in 1963, population trends changed in the Lake Norman area. Slow development soon ensued such as zoning, county and municipal land use. On October 28, 1976 The Town of Davidson Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance was established, followed by Cornelius in 1977. Iredell County established preliminary zoning on land that drained into Lake Norman in order to ensure that the lake be kept pure and clean. As a result some land units in Iredell’s land bordering Lake Norman have yet to exercise their land use authority.

Land use development plans around Lake Norman were primarily formed to ensure that the water be kept pure. Plans, however, did not incorporate lakefront parks as opposed to housing units, an element that would have widened access to the use of the lake to a larger population. Mecklenburg County did, however, purchase land to establish two waterfront parks located west of NC Highway No. 73 southwest of Cornelius, N.C.

In 1985 there was an update to The 2005 Generalized Land Use Plan for Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a plan whose primary objective was to promote balanced growth in the area since it was noted that populations were concentrated in the eastern and southern part of the county. In 1984-85 a committee was formed to commission a land-use plan for Mecklenburg County where they divided seven planning areas. Eight categories of development took place after the lake’s introduction: Resort residential, urban residential, agricultural residential, access areas, commercial access areas, commercial, industrial and flood plains. The objective of this committee was to develop plans for the area and strategies for its growth through the year 2005. With this development plan in place, population growth results were apparent by 1988.

In 1985-1987 the Mecklenburg 20 Year County Land Use Plan was reviewed and modified to direct growth into northern Mecklenburg County via infrastructure and zoning. Towards the end of 1988 population curves increased so that the 1990 census count was 22,220 with 87.5% of its population being Caucasian. The heaviest concentrations of growth took place on the peripheries of Lake Norman, as can be seen in the map on the map above.

On Displacement:

The idea of Lake Norman began by Dr. W. Gill Wylie and William States Lee around the 1930’s as a way to revitalize the Southern Industry, but this idea came at the cost of displacing some of the areas’ original residents.

Prior to the building of Lake Norman, the Mecklenburg area was predominantly agricultural; containing small farms in what is now Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville. It was a held concept that the North Mecklenburg area, a type of soil bank for Mecklenburg County, could someday be developed. The idea and introduction of the lake injected growth for the area in concentrations that were unforeseen.

Farmers were forced to move as the introduction of the lake took over their livelihoods. Farmers were encouraged to sell their land in order to avoid “rumination of their crops and livestock” to be caused by the introduction of a future coal-burning plant expected to generate soot. Families that held land for generations were forced to sell their land to Duke Energy and look to live elsewhere. John Wally, a Lake Norman farmer, felt like “he was like a displaced person in a foreign land.” However, Duke power decided against the coal burning plant, and when community leaders asked if they can re-buy their land it was being sold at $1000 per acre, a price farmers deemed “crazy” leaving them no option but to wait for prices to decrease.

Click here to go back to the timeline.

Source:

Brotherton, Ken. Lake Norman–Piedmont History. Davidson, N.C. (138 Meadowbrook Lane, P.O. Box 62 Davidson 28036): K. Brotherton, 1993. Print.

Davidson and Cornelius 

Mooresville 

Population Growth Trends 

Development Plans

Displacement 

Map of the Southern Railway Showing Lines Affected by Flood of 1916.
 
From: The floods of July 1916: How the Southern Railway Organization Met an Emergency.

According to thorough accounts released by the Southern Railway Company in 1917, the flood of 1916 posed high-level threats for the sociopolitical and economic landscape of the Carolinas. In their account of the events following the flood, the Company emphasizes their role in alleviating the situation, stating that they were inextricably responsible for this level of activism because they experienced the greatest financial loss of any company or individual. The costs to damages resulting from the flood are estimated at $1,250,000.

Debris left behind at a railroad station after flood waters recede

The two most impacted lines in the Catawba river basin were at the Catawba River Bridge junction near Belmont and that near Eufola. The Belmont line accessed Charlotte and the Eufola line accessed Statesville, meaning the destruction of the bridges at these lines (which entered each city respectively) caused communication, trade and human transportation to be temporarily shut down. This had a large impact on the operations of both cities for up to several months.

Floodwaters covering the tracks of a portion of the Southern Rail Line.

The Southern Railway Company also emphasizes the great loss of both lives and property as a product of the flood. Between tangible property, crops, livestock, farm property, suspension of business, railroads, bridges, trestles and culverts, the company estimated $21,724,085 lost due to the flood. In terms of human life, at the Belmont bridge outside of Charlotte, ninety people went down with the bridge and were lost.

The report issued by the Southern Railway Company in 1917 reveals a great sense of urgency and fear within the region surrounding the possibility of life-incidents in the future. The rhetoric used to explain the events proceeding the flood reveals a great deal of pride in the Company’s ability to respond and act as heroic agents of society. The writing implies a strong desire to improve flood controls and prevent such negative impacts by researching methods such as successful damming.