In Iredell County, Statesville is known for its active arts scene, outdoor recreation and annual events. The city is called the “Hot Air Balloon Capital of the East” for its Carolina BalloonFest, the country's second oldest hot air balloon event. Annual activity aside, Statesville is quiet, with spacious parks and a large manufacturing industry. A.W. Myers is a Greenfield Realty LLC Realtor with over 19 years of experience who specializes in the Rowan and Iredell County areas. “Statesville is a quiet community,” Myers says. “They just got done significantly repaving the roads and landscaping in the downtown area. It’s very pleasant to the eyes. Statesville is also the county seat, and they have a very active chamber of commerce.”
The city was founded in 1789, shortly after North Carolina became a state, but it was incorporated in 1847. Multiple fires destroyed the downtown area throughout the 19th Century, but residents rebuilt and continued on. Today, the Downtown Statesville Commercial District joins four other local areas on the National Register of Historic Place Districts. Museums, art shops and restaurants fill the downtown scene, while shopping and distribution centers are on the outskirts.
Brittany Marlow, executive director of Downtown Statesville Corporation and longtime Statesville resident, says the community makes the city special. “That’s one of our greatest assets: our people. We have a lot of folks moving here from other states, and they always comment on how kind and supportive we are of each other,” Marlow says.
One thing that locals know Statesville for is the annual hot air balloon festival.
Red Buffalo Brewing is a popular destination for locals from all over Statesville.
Statesville is home to many churches with deep history and roots with the local community.
Statesville is a city filled with a rich history North of Charlotte via I-77.
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Manufacturing jobs and a growing population
Manufacturing, distribution and retail jobs are most common, with over 8,000 employees in the city alone, according to the Iredell County Economic Development Corporation. Most of the plants and centers crowd around West Front Street in the western half of the city and Crawford Road in the north. As of 2023, over 30,000 people live in Statesville, an over 6% increase from the 2020 U.S. Census. The city hopes to construct hundreds of single and multi-family homes within the next decade through projects like the Land Development Plan 2045 and the Northpoint Development near Interstates 40 and 77.
There are small shopping centers scattered around Statesville for the needs of residents.
84 Components and other industrial manufacturers are located on the outskirts of Statesville
Kewaunee and many other manufacturers have plants or headquarters in Statesville.
Iredell Memorial Hospital is a top medical provider of Statesville residents.
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Historic downtown homes and brand-new subdivisions
Myers points out that nearby Mooresville has its draws, but Statesville has lower prices. “As a general rule, you can get more bang for your buck in Statesville than in Mooresville because homes in Mooresville are priced higher,” Myers says. Statesville’s median home price is $305,000, lower than the national average of $416,700 reported by the National Association of Realtors. Move-in ready bungalows and ranch-style homes make up the lower end of the city’s price range, landing in the $200,000s. The Windmere subdivision holds the most expensive homes in the city, often selling between $900,000 and over $1 million for their lakeside views. Most properties are clustered around downtown, like in Westwood and Oakland Heights, and range between $200,000 and $300,000.
The city also holds six historic districts on the National Register, including Davie Avenue and Mitchell College; these areas feature early 20th-century four-bedroom Queen Anne and Colonial homes that can cost upward of $800,000. Newly built Craftsmans with at least four bedrooms fill the Greenbriar neighborhood and fall in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. The City Council approved a brand-new development that will add 1,378 homes near the intersection of Shiloh Road and Nabors Road.
There is history on almost every block of the downtown Statesville area.
Many of the homes in Statesville are rich in history themselves.
First Presbyterian was established in the 1700's in Statesville.
Many of the exhibits of the Iredell Museum are interactive and engage young learners.
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Prepping for the future at Iredell-Statesville Schools
The Iredell-Statesville School District serves Statesville and earns an A-minus from Niche. “I know a fella who’s an attorney in Salisbury, which is about an hour east of Statesville,” Myers says. “He and his wife moved to Iredell County, but he still drives to his practice in Salisbury. I asked him why they chose Iredell, and he said it was for the school system.”
Of the schools within Statesville’s city limits, Crossroads Arts Sciences Early College is the highest-rated option, earning an A-minus. Students attend honor-level classes on campus and college-level courses at Mitchel Community College to earn their high school diploma and associate's degree upon graduating. In 2023, the Iredell Industry and Education Alliance launched Iredell Ready. In this countywide initiative, local businesses partner with the district to get students on the graduation-to-employment pipeline in the community.
Statesville High School also houses the Crossroads Early College for students of the area.
Mitchell Community College is a great resource for local students of the area.
Iredell-Stateville Schools help to provide successful educations to local students.
The Discovery Program offers unique enrichment for Statesville students.
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Seeing the sights at Carolina BalloonFest
Ballooning is one of Statesville’s most unique forms of recreation, and multiple hot air balloon pilots live in the city. For almost 50 years, thousands of visitors have flocked to Statesville for the Carolina BalloonFest for live music, artisan vendors and hot air balloon rides. National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. DBA Carolina BallonFest is a nonprofit that hosts the event, and a portion of the money raised from ticket sales goes to other nonprofits and community groups in Statesville. “BalloonFest is done primarily in conjunction with the airport,” Myers says. “In the fall and spring, you’ll see balloons drifting east.” Folks can schedule a sunrise or sunset flight any time of the year when the weather allows, and on a clear day, Charlotte's skyline and Pilot Mountain's peak are visible while up in the sky.
The weather in Statesville is average, though the summers can get hot and humid while winters are often mild. The area can get heavy rain, often during hurricane season, as hurricanes that hit the East Coast usually downgrade to tropical storms by the time they reach Iredell County.
Statesville showcases local artists with the public art and murals around the city.
Fort Dobbs, in Statesville, used as defense during and after the French and Indian War.
One thing that locals know Statesville for is the annual hot air balloon festival.
Lake Norman of Catawba takes its name from the beautiful Lake Norman that the area surrounds.
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Interstate interchange makes traveling easier
Myers says that, aside from schools, interstate access is a major draw to the area. “The I-77 and I-40 interchange is in Statesville,” Myers says. “You can go south to Charlotte and east to Winston-Salem.” I-77 also leads 18 miles to Mooresville, an area known for its NASCAR industry and Lowe’s headquarters. Traffic can be heavy when driving south because of tourists traveling to Lake Norman, but drivers can pay a toll to use the I-77 Express Lanes for a quicker commute. Iredell Memorial Hospital is a mile north of downtown, and Statesville Regional Airport — mainly used for aircraft storage and maintenance — is located southwest of the city. For more travel options, folks can drive about 42 miles south to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Iredell County Area Transportation System vans are the only public transit in the area, providing on-demand trips to Troutman, Mooresville and Charlotte. Cyclists can use over 160 miles of roads fit for biking and 30 miles of rural routes that flow throughout the city, not to mention the Big Leaf Slopes and Signal Hill mountain biking loops for more recreational outings.
Churches in Statesville are primarily Baptist or Methodist. The First Presbyterian Church on North Meeting Street is the oldest in the city, established in 1756. First Presbyterian partners with multiple local nonprofits and county institutions to serve the community.
Hanging out downtown for events
Downtown Statesville is the city’s cultural hub for shopping, dining and art. Residents can walk along the brick sidewalks past historic buildings housing over 25 independently owned boutiques or stop into locally owned spots like Twisted Oak American Bar & Grill. The Crossroads shopping center in the north features more big box stores.
The Downtown Statesville Development Cooperation organizes events throughout the year to bring the community together and support small businesses. Along with colorful murals decorating downtown buildings, the area includes pottery studios, craft stores and open spaces for musical performances during the Friday After Five Summer Concert Series. The Pumpkin Festival draws a crowd with a classic car show and pumpkin pie eating contest, and the Full Bloom Film Festival is a weekend dedicated to watching indie and classic films in the Old Jail building.
The history of Statesville creates a relaxing and vintage feeling to downtown.
Historic downtown Statesville has shopping and dining options for any taste.
Locals of Statesville are friendly and treat each other as family.
Stop by one of the many bars or restaurants of Statesville to enjoy the friendly locals.
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Multiple parks and sprawling greenways
Statesville features 20 parks and recreation facilities throughout town, though Marc Anderson Park and Statesville Park and Soccer Complex are the largest. Statesville Parks and Recreation organizes Statesville Walks, a community activity where locals gather at different parks to explore the area and chat while getting their steps in. The Statesville Greenway spans over 6 miles with paved trails in the Fourth Creek Section and unpaved trails through wooded areas in the Gregory Creek Section. To learn more about the county’s architectural history, residents can check out the Iredell Museums or visit the Statesville Historical Collection in the Holland Building to see antique artifacts from life in 19th-century Statesville.
According to the FBI, Statesville had a slight crime rate increase from 2022 to 2023. There were 1,169 nonviolent crimes reported, and 1,169 violent crimes reported in 2023 alone. Locals can attend monthly community meetings hosted by the Statesville Police Department to voice concerns or hear about what’s going on in their neighborhoods. For teenagers and young adults interested in policing as a career, the department hosts the Explorer Program, where they teach shooter simulators and traffic stop scenarios. Recently, the department started a Juvenile Crime Prevention Council to encourage area youth to avoid crime.
The Statesville Soccer Complex is a massive park area loved by the community.
Residents of the area frequent the Statesville Soccer Complex for outdoor activities.
Mac Anderson Park offers Statesville locals great green space and walking trails.
Visitors can enjoy the views and activities of the popular Lake Norman State Park.
Nicole is a real estate ninja known for her "get stuff done" attitude and relentless pursuit of excellence. Since 2014, she’s led Premier Property Solutions, closing over 1,200 deals with 5-star service, earning her spot in the top 3% regionally and 2% nationally. With Keller Williams as her first home and her last, Nicole’s unmatched negotiation skills, streamlined processes, and client-first approach have set her apart as a force in the Charlotte Metro area. Balancing family, travel, and creative ventures with the same drive she brings to her business, Nicole’s dedication is evident in everything she touches. From building strong relationships to delivering results, she’s not just in the business; she’s redefining it.
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