Huntersville, NC

Huntersville is a large town situated on the southern shores of Lake Norman and about 15 miles north of uptown Charlotte. As a rapidly growing suburb of Charlotte just above the I-485 loop, Huntersville is home to about 60,000 residents. The town boasts easy access to Lake Norman which spans 50 square miles and is the largest man-made lake in the state.

Huntersville, similar to nearby lakefront towns Cornelius and Davidson, was dependent on cotton farming in the 17th and 18th centuries. The town was renamed from Craighead to Huntersville to honor local farmer and landowner Robert Hunter. Historic Latta Plantation is a popular destination to learn more about farm life in the early years of the town. Officially incorporated in 1873, the town really began to boom with the construction of railroads and textile mills. More recent growth occurred as a result of the creation of Lake Norman, which was finalized in 1964 with the completion of the Cowans Ford Dam on the Catawba River. Today, Huntersville continues to grow exponentially as a thriving Mecklenburg County town.

Huntersville truly has everything; parks, a wide variety of restaurants, escape rooms, historic sites, you name it! The town has activities for the whole family to enjoy, especially along the southern banks of gorgeous Lake Norman. While boating, swimming, and fishing are guaranteed fun at the lake, Huntersville has numerous outdoor attractions on land as well! The Torrence Creek Greenway is about 2 miles of paved trail and is an awesome spot to go for a jog or bike ride. A few of Huntersville’s many parks include North Mecklenburg Park, Stephens Road Nature Preserve, Robbins Park, and Holbrook Park. Interested in observing nature and wildlife? Cowans Ford Wildlife Refuge is 850 acres of protected land and is a great spot to birdwatch, enjoy the peace and quiet, and even conduct research. Huntersville is also home to the Carolina Raptor Center, the hands-down best place to learn about birds of prey in the area.

Birkdale Village is a popular shopping center for its large variety of shops, restaurants, and offices. This local favorite destination frequently offers special events including live music in its main street setting. Huntersville is also home to some fantastic restaurants! Pinky’s Westside Grill was even featured in ‘Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives’ on Food Network. Other local favorite restaurants include Duckworth’s Grill and Taphouse, eeZ Fusion & Sushi, Cafe 100, and many more to choose from. Of course, the nearby city of Charlotte offers its own additional perks. Regardless if you’re cheering on the Carolina Panthers, rafting and rock climbing at the US National Whitewater Center, or visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame, you can’t go wrong.

Huntersville has a fantastic public school system as part of the Mecklenburg-County Schools district, which is home to almost 200 schools. There are 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 main high schools in Huntersville. There are many private schools as well, including Lake Norman Christian School, Southlake Christian Academy, St Mark Catholic School, and quite a few more. As a centrally-located North Carolina town, Huntersville is located near a large number of excellent colleges and universities. Davidson College, Belmont Abbey College, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Queen’s University, and Central Piedmont Community College are all located within 20 miles of Huntersville.

Industries in the area include manufacturing, contracting, healthcare, education, and banking. With such diverse businesses, job opportunities are plentiful in the surrounding area. Some of the largest employers include Irwin Industrial Tools, Rubbermaid, American Tire Distributors, Inc., Metrolina Greenhouses, McGuire Nuclear Station, and Presbyterian Hospital to name only a few. Many residents choose to work in Charlotte, as it is an easy commute. Top employers in Charlotte include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Duke Energy, Atrium Health, Novant Health, and Amazon.

People travel from all over to attend the Carolina Renaissance Festival held annually in Huntersville. This medieval-themed festival is a cherished event complete with jousting, costumes, a variety of shows, and delicious food featured in a village setting. There is no shortage of fun activities with comedy shows, juggling, axe throwing, arts and crafts, and more.