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Statesville began in the 1750s as the Fourth Creek Congregation, a settlement of Scots-Irish Presbyterians and German Lutherans who came down from Pennsylvania to farm the fertile land west of Salisbury. In 1756 the colony built Fort Dobbs nearby to guard the frontier during the French and Indian War. When Iredell County was created in 1788, the settlement became its county seat and was renamed Statesville the following year.
Railroads arrived in the mid-1800s and the town grew into a busy center for tobacco, whiskey distilling and the trade in medicinal roots and herbs. Downtown Statesville still shows that prosperity, with a historic Main Street, the striking red brick Romanesque City Hall built as a federal post office in the 1890s, and leafy neighborhoods of Victorian homes.
Today visitors come for Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, the historic downtown and its museums, and the Carolina BalloonFest each October, one of the oldest hot air balloon festivals in the country. Lake Norman State Park is a short drive south.
The site of a frontier fort built in 1756 during the French and Indian War, where settlers and soldiers fought off a Cherokee attack in 1760. A full-scale reconstruction of the fort now stands on the site, with living history programs and a visitor center. Admission is free; check event days for reenactments.
The oldest burial ground in Statesville, dating to the mid 1700s when Scots-Irish settlers formed the Fourth Creek congregation around which the town grew. It holds graves of early settlers and Revolutionary War soldiers behind First Presbyterian Church. It is free to walk; please be respectful.
A striking Romanesque Revival building completed in 1892 as the federal post office and courthouse, with a tall tower, rounded arches and brickwork. It became city hall in the 1900s and is a centerpiece of downtown. Admire the exterior on a walk; it is a working government building on weekdays.
The college's Old Main building, a stately columned brick structure from the 1850s, was built for a female college and is one of the finest antebellum buildings in the region. The campus is close to downtown and pleasant to walk. Visitors can view the exterior and grounds at any time.
Statesville's downtown along Center and Broad streets has late 1800s and early 1900s buildings with antique shops, restaurants and small businesses, as well as murals and seasonal events. The historic district is easy to walk. Free parking is available on the street and in public lots.
A local museum organization in Statesville with exhibits on Iredell County history, natural science and art, plus a heritage center and changing displays drawn from its collections. It is a compact, family-friendly stop near downtown. Admission is low cost; check opening hours, as the museum closes on some weekdays.
One of the oldest hot air balloon festivals in the Southeast, held in Statesville each October, with dozens of balloons launching at dawn and dusk, tethered rides, evening balloon glows, live music and food vendors. Flights depend on the weather, so check updates and arrive early for the launches.
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North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
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Photo: Witchywoman331, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0