Detailed Demographic and Statistics for
the Mecklenburg County area of Lake Norman
The three North Mecklenburg Towns of Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson call the Lake Norman Area home. Each of these communities offers residential and recreational opportunities on the lake. The close commute to downtown Charlotte (15 miles for Huntersville, 20 miles for Cornelius, or 22 miles for Davidson) combined with the peaceful yet active lifestyle of Lake Norman has been responsible for a population boom in north Mecklenburg since the mid 1990s.
During this same period, relationships forged with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County produced extended coverage of utilities like water and sewer and work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) improved roadways and increased access to Interstate 77. These efforts paved the way for residential growth indicated in the chart below:
Population
1990
2000
2004*
14-year Growth
Huntersville
3,014
24,960
34,332
1039%
Cornelius
2,581
11,969
17,875
593%
Davidson
4,046
7,139
8,343
106%
LakeNorman Region
9,641
44,068
60,550
528%
Source: US Census Bureau
*2004 figure is an estimate
The growth rate of the Lake Norman region is also much greater than that of the State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte. This chart shows the extent of the growth in Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson compared to fairly consistent growth that took place in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Population
1990
2000
2004*
14-year Growth
State of North Carolina
6,628,637
8,049,313
8,541,221
29%
Charlotte Metro Area
1,024,643
1,334,679
1,437,427
40%
Mecklenburg County
511,433
695,454
771,617
51%
Charlotte
395,934
540,828
594,359
50%
Lake Norman Region
9,641
44,068
60,550
528%
Source: US Census Bureau
*2004 figure is an estimate
In 1990, only two percent of Mecklenburg County was comprised of residents from Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson. However, based on estimates from the US Census, that number grew to nearly 8% in 2004. That fact is important when you realize that Charlotte's residents have consistently accounted for about 77% of the population of Mecklenburg County over that same period 14-year period.
Additional information about each of the North Mecklenburg Towns in the Lake Norman region can be found below, listed in order as you travel North from the City of Charlotte.
Town of Huntersville
The US Census estimates that the 2004 population of Huntersville was 34,332, an increase of 37.55% from the 2000 Census. It is reasonable to expect that many of the population figures below increased by the same rate.
Town of Huntersville Demographic Breakdown
Source: 2000 US Census
Number
Percent of Population
Total Population
24,960
100
By Sex
Male
12,330
49.4%
Female
12,630
50.6%
By Age
18 years and over
17,885
71.7%
65 years and over
1,542
6.2%
By Education
Population 25 years and over
16,400
65.7%
High School Graduate or Higher
15,018
60.2%
Bachelor Degree or Higher
7,618
30.5%
By Economics
Total Population In Labor Force (over 16 yrs old)
13,880
55.6%
Median household income in 1999 (dollars)
$71,932
Median family income in 1999 dollars)
$80,821
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars)
$30,256
Median Home Value (dollars)
$182,800
By Race
White
22,070
88.4%
Black/African American
1,865
7.5%
Asian/Hispanic/American Indian
479
1.9%
Town of Cornelius
The US Census estimates that the 2004 population of Cornelius was 17,875. This is an increase of 49.34% from the 2000 figure of 11,969. It is reasonable to expect that many of the population figures below that were based on the 2000 US Census also increased by the same rate.
Town of Cornelius Demographic Breakdown
Source: 2000 US Census
Number
Percent of Population
Total Population
11,969
100
By Sex
Male
6,069
50.7
Female
5,900
49.3
By Age
18 years and over
9,288
77.6
65 years and over
946
7.9
By Education
Population 25 years and over
8,442
70.5%
High School Graduate or Higher
7,916
66.1%
Bachelor Degree or Higher
4,173
34.9%
By Economics
Total Population In Labor Force (over 16 yrs old)
7,008
58.6%
Median household income in 1999 (dollars)
$71,259
Median family income in 1999 dollars)
$89,945
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars)
$45,023
Median Home Value (dollars)
$236,500
By Race
White
10,969
91.6%
Black/African American
673
5.6%
Asian/Hispanic/American Indian
507
4.2%
Town of Davidson
The US Census estimates that the 2004 population of Davidson was 8,343. This is an increase of 16.87% from the 2000 figure of 7,139. It is reasonable to expect that many of the population figures below also increased by the same rate.
Town of Davidson Demographic Breakdown
Source: 2000 US Census
Number
Percent of Population
Total Population
7,139
100
By Sex
Male
3,488
48.9%
Female
3,651
51.1%
By Age
18 years and over
5,633
78.9%
65 years and over
766
10.7%
By Education
Population 25 years and over
3,932
55.1%
High School Graduate or Higher
3,534
49.5%
Bachelor Degree or Higher
2,424
34.0%
By Economics
Total Population In Labor Force (over 16 yrs old)
3,578
50.1%
Median household income in 1999 (dollars)
$78,370
Median family income in 1999 (dollars)
$100,961
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars)
$31,571
Median Home Value (1999 dollars)
$270,000
By Race
White
6,320
88.5%
Black/African American
581
8.1%
Asian/Hispanic/American Indian
109
1.5%
Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), also referred to as the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA, covers the larger Charlotte Metro region and includes counties with at least 25 percent of their working population commuting to work in the central county of Mecklenburg. In 2004, the US Census estimated a population of 1,437,427 in the Charlotte MSA. This indicates 7.7% growth over the 2000 population of 1,334,679.
