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The Town of Cornelius NC is a charming, growing town with more than 24,000 residents and offers a delightful blend of the old and the new. With more than 520 miles of beautiful shoreline, life in Cornelius revolves around Lake Norman and its countless water sports and lake-related activities. Downtown Cornelius is a very inviting and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that contains many beautiful and historic, century aged homes. While the out skirts of town are very modern and suburban with many resturants, shopping, and entertainment. Two popular parks are very popular among the town’s very active community.

Jetton Park is a large 105-acre park with something for just about everyone, from a non-swimming lakefront beach, picnic areas, multiple tennis courts, children’s playground, along with 1.3 mile biking trail, and a 1.5 walking/ rollerblading trails. Jetton Park is also the perfect place to hold a wedding from the Jetton Gardens and Gazebo to the waterfront beaches. For gazebo, beach, waterfront hall and deck reservations, please call 704-336-7600.

Ramsey Creek is a 44-acre waterfront park that contains a boat launch, fishing pier, 2 horseshoe pits, volleyball court, multiple picnic areas, walking and nature trails, as well as a three-acre dog park.

History of Cornelius North Carolina

The town of Cornelius NC was founded in 1893 but was not incorporated until March 4, 1905. The town's origin has been traced back by several historians to a disagreement over cotton weighing. In the late 1800´s, two flourishing cotton firms located in Davidson disagreed on whether a certified town cotton weigher should be appointed. After an intense election was held and legislation passed, a town cotton weigher was hired and the firm which opposed the appointment decided to move ample amounts of its operations just south of the Davidson town limits.

After many heavy rains, the road linking Davidson and the Pre-Cornelius settlement would become impassible. The hill entering Davidson would become so muddy and dangerous that numerous cotton farmers found it much safer and more accessible to conduct their business just south of Davidson in a small frame building avoiding the hill.

The success of the cotton purchasing business inspired the owners to build a cotton mill where raw cotton could be converted into cloth. The owners of the cotton firm needed the money to make the idea of a cotton mill a reality; however, they knew the right person who could deliver the financial backing. Joseph Benjamin Cornelius (1833-1914) provided the needed investment and the mill was opened.

Although the town was originally established as "Liverpool," the town´s name was soon transformed to Cornelius to honor J.B. Cornelius, the principal stockholder in the cotton mill.

The success of the cotton purchasing business inspired the owners to build a cotton mill where raw cotton could be converted into cloth. The owners of the cotton firm needed the money to make the idea of a cotton mill a reality; however, they knew the right person who could deliver the financial backing. Joseph Benjamin Cornelius (1833-1914) provided the needed investment and the mill was opened. Although the town was originally established as "Liverpool," the town´s name was soon transformed to Cornelius to honor J.B. Cornelius, the principal stockholder in the cotton mill.

After numerous years of industrial growth, Lake Norman was formed by the damming of the Catawba River which led to increased recreational activities and the production of hydroelectric power in the area. The building of the lake was just as influential to Cornelius as the previous cotton mills once were. Not only did the building of Lake Norman increase development and growth substantially, but it provided the area with many miles of beautiful lakefront properties.

‘Business Week’ calls Cornelius affordable 

Looking for a nice, affordable suburb in which to live? Look no farther than the Town of Cornelius.

So say the editors of “Business Week” magazine and their data-crunching partners at On board Informatics. Data relating to affordability, as well as some other lifestyle concerns such as crime, education, pollution and commuting distances, showed Cornelius to be the nation’s seventh-most affordable community with a population between 5,000 and 60,000.

Cornelius finished just behind South Weber, Utah, and just ahead of West Des Moines, Iowa. Pewaukee, Wisc. – a suburb of the somewhat better known Milwaukee –was rated as the most affordable ‘burb. Cornelius officials were delighted with the ranking, even if it did put them behind Pewaukee. “It’s better than being in the bottom 10,” said Mayor Jeff Tarte, “and we didn’t even have to lobby for it.”

Added Town Manager Anthony Roberts, “Just be sure you note that I was town manager when it happened.”

To qualify for the ranking, towns had to fit the population guidelines (5,000 to 60,000) and be within 25 miles of one
of the nation’s most populated cities. Charlotte turned Cornelius into a qualifier, and, for good measure brought Fort Mill, S.C., (number 10 in the rankings) in, too. Only for the top-ranked ‘burb in each state was listed.

Magazine editors said they “weighted a variety of factors including livability (short commutes, low pollution, 
green space), education (well-educated residents, high test scores), crime (low personal and property crime), economy (high job growth, low unemployment rate, high family income) and affordability (median household income, cost of expenditures), but noted that “affordability was most heavily weighted in our calculations.” The stats came from a variety of (mostly) government sources.

The “Business Week” editors noted the fact that “about 31 percent of residents (in Cornelius) are married with children,” and that “the average commute is 31 minutes.” Cornelius had a higher median household income ($87,016) than Pewaukee, but lagged behind in median household price (actually a good thing vis-à-vis affordability). Pewaukee had more households with children, a shorter commute and a lake of its own (Pewaukee Lake). On the other hand, it’s rooted to Wisconsin’s frozen tundra, so, presumably, there were some minus points for that.

Cornelius NC real estate brings a lot to the table. However small town,Cornelius boasts an amazing mix of available real estate options. The proximity to Charlotte - just down the road also helps to alleviate the town from any normal small down doldrums.

Homes in Cornelius NC border the eastern and southern coast of the largest freshwater body in North Carolina, Lake Norman. Lake Norman offers activities for those interested insailing, swimming, boating, and skiing, Live on the water or in one of the many subdivisions around the lake.

Neighboring Charlotte give the adventure seeker limitless possibilities for activity. The city plays host to almost any form of entertainment or shopping imaginable.Catch a performance of the Charlotte Symphony, or spend a day in one of the amazing shopping centers downtown or uptown. The commute is barely noticeable at 25 minutes.

Maybe you are a golfer or a yachtsman. The Lake Norman NC coastline allows you to choose from any number of country clubs sporting championship courses or Yacht clubs with amazing marinas for ready access to the lake. Cornelius real estate shares all the excitement of a bustling city with all the refinement of a decadent lakeside community

Cornelius NC has waterfront homes and waterfront lots that will meet the needs of first time buyers and all in between up to the most discriminating luxury home buyer.

  Lake Realty - Real Estate Lake Norman, NC
19900 W. Catawba Ave, Cornelius, North Carolina, 704-892-6350, 800-315-5947