CLEVELAND COUNTY
County Offices
311 East Marion Street
Shelby 704-484-4900
https://www.clevelandcounty.com/main/
Chamber of Commerce
200 South Lafayette Street
Shelby 704-487-8521
https://clevelandchamber.org/
Services
Panoramic Cleveland County enjoys a strategic location in the rolling Piedmont of the southwestern portion of North Carolina. This region serves as the gateway between Asheville and Charlotte but also straddles two of the state’s leading metropolitan areas: Charlotte and Greenville/Spartanburg. Residents of Cleveland County enjoy a small-town atmosphere, superb recreational opportunities, and efficient services. Area youth receive a quality education in the Cleveland County Schools public education system, although opportunities for private education are available in Shelby. Institutions of higher education that are easily accessible to students of all ages include Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, Cleveland Community College in Shelby, and Ambassador Baptist College in Lattimore. The regional community college provides vocational and technical programs, adult studies, and a wide variety of associate degree and college-track programs. The four-year, liberal arts institution of Gardener-Webb University is only eight miles west of Shelby. Among its accolades, received special recognition in U.S. News and World Reports Guide to America’s Best Colleges and was one of three nationally recognized “Executive Forum” emerging U.S. business schools. The University enriches the surrounding area with cultural attractions in its Millennium Playhouse Theater.
State-of-the-art healthcare is available close to home for Cleveland County residents at the Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Boiling Springs, part of the Carolinas HealthCare System. The medical center also manages Crawley Memorial Hospital, which combines the personalized care of a smaller hospital with comprehensive acute, skilled, and intermediate care. Also a part of the Carolinas HealthCare System, Kings Mountain Hospital adds a wide variety of specialized care and services, including emergency air transport to the Carolinas Medical Center to meet special needs. Throughout the county, skilled professionals in every major specialty combine with emergency centers and family practice clinics to meet every need. Wellness programs, community education, and public health screenings ensure that every resident has the opportunity to enjoy the peak of health and well being.
Lifestyle
Balmy summers, mild winters, dazzling autumns, and delightful springs are just four of the reasons why newcomers are drawn to Cleveland County, “Connecting the Best of the Carolinas.” Nature’s finest playground for outdoor adventure and activities includes everything from water sports at Moss Lake and the Broad River Greenway to hiking at the Kings Mountain National Military Park. Created by the river’s journey to the sea, the Broad River Greenway offers picnic areas, canoe and inner tube rentals, and multipurpose trails. For a handcrafted recreational attraction that displays the finest in American folk art, few can compare to Shelby’s City Park Carrousel dating back to 1919. Regional wonders like Crowders Mountain State Park, South Mountains State Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway combine with local parks, sports centers, outstanding public and private golf courses, tennis courts, and sports fields to please every age group and interest.
In spite of the major metropolitan centers that surround this region, Cleveland County claims the largest county fair in the state. Festivals and celebrations are the hallmark of every community, enhancing the close-knit spirit of small-town living with holiday events and displays of cultural pride. Preservation of the area’s rich heritage is evident throughout the county, especially in the Central Shelby Historic District with its arts center, historical museum, and farmers market. The Central School Historic District in Kings Mountain features the “oldest unchanged house” in the area, while Lawndale showcases a private narrow gauge railroad.
Within the small towns and communities of Cleveland County, residents have also been preserving the family values, slower pace of living, and the Southern festival atmosphere of yesterday. Quick smiles and friendly greetings are commonplace on the local streets. Within a reasonable drive from home are the high western mountain areas and the sun-drenched Atlantic Ocean beaches. Business and industry are discovering the benefits of Cleveland County, with its balance of country living, economic opportunity, and urban advantages. Cleveland County Arts Center encourages artistic expression through exhibits, performances, and classes. Cleveland Community College hosts theatrical productions throughout the year, and Gardner-Webb University provides a beautiful performing arts center for diverse programming. Shelby supports community theater and a children’s theatre initiative that focuses on community outreach. From every perspective, Cleveland County is a comfortable and exciting place to call home.
Boiling Springs
Municipal Offices
704-434-9419
www.boilingspringsnc.net
Chamber of Commerce
704-487-8521
https://clevelandchamber.org/
The small town of was named for an underground spring that is now located on the campus of Gardner-Webb University. Measuring approximately five feet wide and bubbling up to about eight inches above the surface, this phenomenon created a regional attraction. Visitors would arrive to drink from these natural waters. Modern Boiling Springs offers the intellectual stimulation, cultural enrichment, and overall appeal of a college-town atmosphere. The sprawling university campus features more than 200 acres of rolling landscape raced by with lush landscaping and mature trees. Audience-pleasing theatre and musical productions open to the public to provide regional cultural enrichment. Craven E. Williams Observatory offers public viewing nights throughout the year. The Lake Hollifield Complex offers six acres of natural beauty with a scenic lake, lighted walking trails, picnic areas, and the landmark of the Hollifield Carillon—a 60-foot bell tower.
Kings Mountain
Municipal Offices
704-734-0333
https://www.cityofkm.com/
Chamber of Commerce
704-487-8521
https://clevelandchamber.org/
Newcomers to the City of Kings Mountain will discover what the local residents already know: This welcoming small community is a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Located just 30 minutes away from the bright lights and world-class attractions of Charlotte, the city preserves the small-town charm and slower pace of country living a world apart from suburban sprawl. Incorporated in, 1874, the city took its name from the historical Revolutionary battle that occurred five miles away. The city name underlines the meaning of its motto, “The Historical City,” a legacy displayed at the Kings Mountain Historical Museum. Students attend local schools that are known statewide as “Schools of Excellence” and “Schools of Distinction.” Kings Mountain is an active, caring community where government, business, industry, and individuals work cooperatively to ensure a high quality of life. The major county thoroughfares of Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 74 run through the city to ensure a quick and easy trip to regional attractions.
Shelby, Moss Lake Area
Municipal Offices
704-484-6866
https://www.cityofshelby.com/
Chamber of Commerce
704-487-8521
https://clevelandchamber.org/
Recognized as an All American City and a Main Street City, Shelby is gaining popularity as a premier location for commuters to Charlotte. This area encompasses the scenic Moss Lake area, encircled with beautiful new homes and custom builds. Shelby also offers an historical uptown district, charming shops and antique stores, a regional hospital, outstanding schools, a community college campus, and the Kings Mountain Battleground Park. Diners arrive at Shelby from across the nation to sample the famous hickory-smoked fare at local barbecue restaurants. Recreational attractions include a dozen parks that cover nearby 170 acres with open space, swimming pools, sports fields, tennis courts, and recreation centers. Leisure attractions and activities include a restored train and historic carrousel, private country clubs, golf courses, waterfront recreation, live-stage and musical productions, and colorful annual festivals. Graced by azaleas, tulips, roses, Bradford pear, dogwood and pine trees, the City of Shelby stands in a class of its own for beauty and charm.
