Cornelius
Cornelius is in Mecklenburg County, NC. It reaches the south-eastern shores of the lake.
Cornelius is in Mecklenburg County, NC. It reaches the south-eastern shores of the lake.
Find living in Cornelius, NC, general info, history, economy, taxes, schools, public services, and more. Learn about living in Cornelius.
Cornelius is in Mecklenburg County, NC. It reaches the south-eastern shores of the lake. Its many amenities are hard to pass up! It’s a lifestyle worth living; just 20 miles north of Charlotte, NC. The zip code for Cornelius is 28031.
In the beginning, it was mainly a weekend getaway for Charlotte, NC, residents. Many weekenders put mobile homes on their waterfront lake property. Some built rustic shelters, comfortable enough for an overnight stay. Other weekenders had boats in wet slips in marinas.
For this reason, in the early days, property owners were more worried about piers, docks, boat houses, and ramps.
In the mid-1990s, a new wave began to hit the lake. Weekenders began tearing down their “retreats” and building permanent residences. As a result, local builders also began gobbling up these properties and building new “MacMansions”.
Visit the following links for more useful information about living in Cornelius.
In the 1880’s Cornelius was a small cotton weighing town. The second youngest Mecklenburg County incorporated town is Cornelius. Liverpool was Cornelius’ original name. It was renamed Cornelius after Joseph Benjamin Cornelius. He was the principal stockholder in a cotton mill that established the town. Hence, Cornelius was founded in 1893. It incorporated in 1905. As a result, the town arose out of a dispute over cotton weighing.
In the late 1800’s there were two thriving cotton firms in Davidson NC. The appointment of an official town cotton weigher was disputed. Cotton farmers found it safer and more convenient to do business in Cornelius. With the financial backing of Joseph Benjamin Cornelius, the idea of a cotton mill became a reality.
The damming of the Catawba River was as influential as the cotton industry to Cornelius’s development and growth. Duke Power created Lake Norman in 1963 as a “working” lake to produce hydroelectric power. Because of this, Cornelius has thrived!
 Cornelius Economy |
Since the 1990’s, the Cornelius economy and population have grown. Find demographics, economic development and why Cornelius economy is so vibrant and strong.
Most noteworthy, through the 1990’s, the population of Cornelius grew by 364%. Cornelius has more miles of shoreline than other towns surrounding the lake. Also, due to being on the southeastern shore, it offers an “easier” commute to Charlotte. As a result, both have helped Cornelius economy and growth. See the demographics of Cornelius; it’s a great town to live, work and enjoy the lake.
The Charlotte metropolitan region, which the Cornelius economy depends on, is one of the fastest growing areas in the U.S. Hence, the regional presence of Fortune 500 companies is a significant indicator of the area’s economic strength and stability. Mecklenburg County is home to seven Fortune 500 headquarters, ranking it 8th in the country.
Cornelius is a member of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation. Therefore, it’s responsible for developing and implementing an economic development strategy. Resulting in improved quality of life for the towns’ residents. Expanding the tax base will come by attracting new businesses and industry and creating new, highly skilled jobs to support them. Most of all, view the latest population and income numbers for Cornelius NC.
Visit Lake Norman, is a non-profit organization dedicated to positively impacting the Towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville’s economies. Also, they are dedicated to enhance the regional economies through tourism. View more information about Cornelius’ economy growth, major employers in the area and local news and events. Also, other key components in the Cornelius economy is the economic development in the Charlotte NC region. Charlotte Regional Partnership, Charlotte Chamber and Charlotte Center City Partners are part of the economic development.
For more information about the area visit Lake Norman Business information, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), the Charlotte Sports Commission (CSC), Visit Charlotte, Charlotte Culture Guide and Visit NC – Our State.
 Cornelius Taxes, Taxes in Cornelius NC |
Taxes in Cornelius NC. Find information for Cornelius taxes, real estate, personal property taxes, business property & vehicle taxes. Mecklenburg County Tax rates included. Additionally, county information includes the county administrator and tax offices, tax rates and county GIS systems. NC information includes the NC Department of Revenue and the NC Division of Motor Vehicles.
Cornelius taxes for residents that live in Cornelius NC town limits pay real estate tax for the Town of Cornelius and Mecklenburg County. If your physical address is Cornelius NC and your property is outside the Town of Cornelius limits you only pay Mecklenburg County taxes. Personal and Business Property Tax are also paid to Mecklenburg County as well as Motor Vehicle tax.
The Town of Cornelius taxes and Mecklenburg County taxes are billed on a combined tax bill. Real estate property refers to the physical land and everything attached to the land such as houses, barns, garages, boat slips and etc. Cornelius Commissioners set Cornelius NC taxes with their annual budget. The Mecklenburg County tax rate is set by the Mecklenburg County Commissioners at the time their annual budget is set.
Mecklenburg County Personal Property Tax and Business Property Tax are based on the value of the personal property as of January 1st of the current year. Personal property includes individual personal property and business personal property. Examples of individual personal property are boats, campers, airplanes, and income producing farm equipment. Examples of business personal property are machinery, equipment, furniture, computers, and supplies.
Vehicle property taxes along with registration renewals paid together. You’ll receive a renewal notice that lists vehicle registration fees and taxes that are due. Vehicle owners will receive a renewal notice about 60 days prior to their vehicle’s registration expiration. Prior to paying taxes and registration the vehicle inspection must be completed. Motor Vehicle tax in Mecklenburg County is based on the vehicle’s value as of January 1st of the current year.
All new residents of North Carolina who plan to operate a motor vehicle in this state must obtain a driver license within 60 days of establishing a permanent residence. To apply, you must appear in person at one of the state’s driver license offices and take the required tests. For more on getting a NC Driver’s License and to find an office near you click here.
View information about NC boat title and registration.
 Cornelius Schools, Schools in Cornelius NC |
Schools in Cornelius are part of the Mecklenburg County public schools. Cornelius schools include private and charter school information as well as area college information. Residents of Cornelius, NC attend the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) public school system.
The Cornelius schools that most Cornelius students attend are Cornelius Elementary, J. V. Washam Elementary, Bailey Middle School, Hough High School, North Mecklenburg High or Hopewell High; considered the CMS North Learning Community.
View more information on Lake Norman schools including NC Educational System requirements for public schools, charter, private, home-school and higher education helpful links. For information on Cornelius schools that are charter schools in Cornelius area visit the Office of Charter Schools. Find Cornelius private schools within a 25 miles radius and colleges in Cornelius area.
 Public Services in Cornelius NC, Cornelius Public Services |
Public services in Cornelius NC include Cornelius NC Fire Department, Rescue, Police, and utilities. Some Cornelius public services are provided by Town of Cornelius, Mecklenburg County or the State of NC.
Cornelius public services can also depend on if you live within the town limits or not. When you are deciding where to move around Lake Norman, these services are an important consideration and they differ from town to town. The lack of some towns ability to pay for certain services can be due to planning, zoning and tax revenue… in other words, lower tax rates.
When buying a home in the Lake Norman real estate market one of the questions you’ll need to answer is what each of the Lake Norman towns offer as far as public services and municipal services. You should compare the services offer by each town.
 Cornelius Recreation – Parks, Arts & Culture (PARC) |
Parks and Recreation in Cornelius is provided by PARC (Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture). It provides public parks, green spaces and recreation. Cornelius recreation provides sports leagues, summer camps, fitness and art classes.
Cornelius Arts Center features great art exhibits, classes and workshops for all ages! Find a schedule of Cornelius Arts Center classes.
The Cornelius recreation department has joined forces with its Davidson Parks counterpart. Together they have formed the Cornelius-Davidson Youth Basketball League for boys and girls.
The annual tree lighting called “Light Up Cornelius” is on the grounds of town hall and sponsored by the Cornelius recreation department. You can enjoy community group performances, holiday songs and children’s activities. Also, carriage rides, refreshments and a visit from Santa are highlights!
Cornelius offers a Cornelius Community Garden Grants program. Sponsored by Cornelius recreation, you share the use of land, with other Cornelius residents. As a result, this is for noncommercial use, food, flowers, and herbs.
Cornelius recreation (PARC) department offers a variety of PARC programs. These programs are offered throughout the year for participants of all ages and abilities.
Included in Cornelius recreation is 206 acres of developed parks. Also, seven miles of trails and green-ways. The town has 129 acres of undeveloped green-way and park land. View a complete list of Cornelius parks, recreation & art centers and trails and green-ways.
Cornelius residents enjoy Jetton Park. It is a 105-acre park with tennis, bike rentals, walking trails, picnic shelters, playground and a beach.
Located in Cornelius, NC is The Peninsula Yacht Club. It’s a private club that offers 405 boats slips ranging in size from 25 – 45 ft. Other amenities include a swimming pool and a clubhouse with casual as well as upscale dining.
NC Wildlife Resource Commission, the Lake Norman Marine Commission the Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron. Also helpful is information on NC boat registration and titling and NC fishing licenses.
Visit Cornelius’ PARC for a complete guide to the all the services provided.
 Golfing in Cornelius NC |
Cornelius golf includes a Reese Jones designed 18-hole championship course in The Peninsula Club, an exclusive community on Lake Norman. Below are more Lake Norman golf courses.
With mild winters, the Cornelius weather allows golfers to enjoy the many golf courses in the area and Cornelius golf courses almost year round! Some golf courses play along the shores of Lake Norman that offer both challenges and breathtaking views.
One of the most exclusive communities on Lake Norman is The Peninsula Club in Cornelius NC. It sits along 11 miles of Lake Norman’s shore. The centerpiece of this Cornelius golf resort community is a Reese Jones designed 18-hole championship course. Other amenities included in The Peninsula are a Swim and Tennis Center and a full service clubhouse overlooking the Lake Norman. Residents may join the Golf, Swim or Tennis clubs through a one-time fee and monthly charges. Non-residents may join through sponsorship.
The Peninsula Yacht Club is also nestled in the community. It is a social and yacht club available to all.
If you love playing golf, the Lake Norman and Charlotte area offer plenty of opportunities. See other golf courses provided in Davidson, Denver, Huntersville and Mooresville.
 Shopping in Davidson NC, Davidson Shopping |
Cornelius shopping offers complete everyday necessities, unique boutiques and specialty stores. Within a 30 minute drive are national retail chains, big box stores and outlet malls.
The Cornelius shopping and retail environment is strong and growing, providing a complete shopping experience right where you live and work. Not only does Cornelius offer beautiful scenery, Cornelius offers numerous shopping opportunities. Cornelius shopping includes unique boutiques, quaint village shops and upscale specialty stores. All national chains are within a 20 minute drive in Charlotte. On West Catawba Avenue are the offices of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and Visit Lake Norman. Find grocery stores, fast food and restaurants on the shores of lake.
Jetton Village is anchor by Harris Teeter with specialty shops. Other Cornelius shopping is Oak Street Mill, Southlake Shopping Center, Shops On The Green, Cornelius Town Center, Turnbury Place, St. Andrews, Magnolia Place, Kenton Place and Harborview.
In nearby Huntersville, NorthCross Shopping Center off Sam Furr Road, features a Target, Black Lion, Rack Room Shoes, Harris Teeter, Kohl’s and Lowe’s. A Harris Teeter, CVS Pharmacy, and Blockbuster Video anchor Rosedale Shopping Center off Gilead Road.
The most popular spot in Huntersville; the creation of Birkdale Village in 2002, is an urban village of shops, luxury apartments, offices and restaurants where residents don’t need to drive to get what they need. Birkdale Village, which offers apartments located above the retail shops, provides a clubhouse, pool and an Arnold Palmer golf course just across the street that is hailed as one of the finest courses in the state.
Downtown Huntersville hosts a Growers Market on Main and Maxwell streets, near Town Hall. Davidson Farmers Market is also a very popular market. Both feature a variety of produce from local vendors.
Northlake Mall – to fill a retail void in north Mecklenburg, Northlake Mall opened in 2005; just south of Huntersville off I-77 and WT Harris. Anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, Hecht’s, and a 14-screen cinema megaplex, the mall includes more than 150 specialty stores. 6801 Northlake Mall Dr, Charlotte, NC 28216
Concord Mills Mall – it’s the largest shopping and entertainment destination of the Carolinas. This indoor discount mall features over 200 stores including manufacturer and retail outlets, off-price retailers, and unique specialty stores ranging from women’s apparel to sporting goods to jewelry. On-site is also a food court, a 24-screen AMC theatre, SEA LIFE Aquarium and North Carolina’s only Bass Pro Shops. 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC, 28027
SouthPark Mall – the Carolina’s premier luxury shopping destination in Charlotte NC with over 150+ stores featuring Apple, Burberry, Porsche Design, Lilly Pulitzer, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co and more. While at SouthPark you’ll also want to visit The Village at SouthPark.
Phillips Place – just down from SouthPark in Charlotte, Phillips Place is an exquisite shopping experience with Old World charm! Upscale shopping for home furnishings, jewelry, boutique clothing and fine dining.
31,021 people live in Cornelius, where the median age is 45.4 and the average individual income is $82,210. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Cornelius, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including The Coffeeshop, Cookies with an Accent, and CoCo Couture.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2.2 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Dining | 3.73 miles | 17 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.56 miles | 5 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 4.64 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.77 miles | 5 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 3.91 miles | 10 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 1.33 miles | 8 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 4.68 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 2.38 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 2.49 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.67 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 2.46 miles | 16 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 2.24 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 2.17 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.11 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
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Cornelius has 13,088 households, with an average household size of 2.37. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Cornelius do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 31,021 people call Cornelius home. The population density is 2,219.05 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar:
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