North Carolina

Cleveland

99,519
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Cleveland

Cleveland, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 10,396. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 99,519.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 31 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202099,519
201098,078
200096,287
199084,714
198083,435
197072,556
196066,048
195064,357
194058,055
193051,914
192034,272
191029,494
190025,078
189020,394
188016,571
187012,696
186012,348
185010,396
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Cleveland

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cleveland, North Carolina.

Irvin-Hamrick Log House
Boiling Springs
Margrace Mill Village Historic District
Kings Mountain
Banker's House
Shelby
Hamrick, E. B., Hall
Boiling Springs
Hull, James Heyward, House
Shelby
West Warren Street Historic District
Shelby
United States Post Office
Kings Mountain
Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Grover
Central Shelby Historic District
Shelby
Central School Historic District
Kings Mountain
Sperling, George, House and Outbuildings
Shelby
Masonic Temple Building
Shelby
Cleveland County Training School
Shelby
Central Shelby Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Shelby
Mauney, Jacob S., Memorial Library and Teacher's Home
Kings Mountain
Webbley
Shelby
Stamey Company Store
Fallston
Cleveland County Courthouse
Shelby
Southern Railway Company Overhead Bridge
Kings Mountain
Double Shoals Cotton Mill
Double Shoals
Davidson Elementary School
Kings Mountain
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

BuncombeBurkeCabarrusCaldwellCamdenCarteretCaswellCatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidsonDavieDuplin
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Cleveland County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Cleveland County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Cleveland County, North Carolina report
Or see a real report first

Explore North Carolina records

North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Cleveland

When does Cleveland first appear in the US census?
Cleveland, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 10,396.
What is the population of Cleveland?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cleveland had a recorded population of 99,519.
How many historic places are in Cleveland?
31 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cleveland, North Carolina.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report