Kannapolis is a city located in both Cabarrus and Rowan counties within North Carolina. It lies to the northwest of Concord and to the northeast of Charlotte, serving as a suburb within the Charlotte metropolitan area.
By 1914, Cannon Manufacturing had gained recognition as the top global manufacturer of sheets and towels. Following this achievement, Mr. Cannon established facilities in Rowan County, Concord, and South Carolina, employing a workforce of 20,000 individuals. In 1928, Charles A. Cannon, the youngest son of mill founder J.W. Cannon, combined all the individual mills into the expansive Cannon Mills Company.
The city covers a total area of 34.06 square miles, with 33.50 square miles being land and 0.56 square miles (1.64%) being water, as reported by the United States Census Bureau.
According to the 2020 census, the city was home to a population of 53,114 individuals, 17,248 households, and 12,092 families.
The Meek House and Harvey Jeremiah Peeler House have been included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Museums
Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports
Sports
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Class “A” Baseball Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
Stewart-Haas Racing, a NASCAR Cup Series team founded by Gene Haas
Haas F1 Team, a Formula One team, also founded by Gene Haas
Kannapolis offers a variety of public outdoor spaces for recreational activities, such as parks, sports fields, and walking trails. One of these public parks, Vietnam Veterans Park (previously known as North Cabarrus Park), is managed by Cabarrus County. Other recreational areas in Kannapolis include Bakers Creek Park, Dale Earnhardt Plaza, Veterans Park, Village Park, and Walter M. Safrit Park. Additionally, there are private facilities like The Club at Irish Creek (formerly Kannapolis Country Club) and Kannapolis Recreation Park.
The education system in Kannapolis City is primarily operated by Kannapolis City Schools for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Cabarrus County Schools and Rowan–Salisbury School System also provide education within the region.
Faith Christian Academy, a private and non-profit educational institution, has been providing quality Christian education to students since 1982. Operated by Faith Baptist Church, FCA combines the A Beka program for K5-2nd grade and the Alpha-Omega computerized, individual learning program for 3rd-12th grade, offering a unique and well-rounded educational experience.
Franklin Heights Christian Academy (FHCA) is a Christian educational institution run by Franklin Heights Baptist Church. Established in 2009, the school is currently not in operation.
Kannapolis hosts a Shaw University extramural location, which provides a range of academic opportunities, including undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs.
Ambassador Christian College, located in Kannapolis, provides both undergraduate and graduate programs in theology. Dr. Keith Slough established the college in 2003.
The North Carolina Research Campus, located in Kannapolis, spans 350 acres and serves as a research facility.
Kannapolis is situated next to Interstate 85, around 20 miles (32 km) to the northeast of Charlotte.
Rider, formally known as Concord Kannapolis Area Transit, offers several bus routes that service the local area, with the furthest destination being Concord Mills Mall.
CATS offers various transportation choices such as bus, vanpool, or carpool services. CATS also offers a bus stop and parking facilities at the Home Depot parking lot in Kannapolis.
The Amtrak station in Kannapolis can be found at the address of 201 South Main Street.
Some notable individuals include Tavis Bailey, an Olympic discus thrower who represented Team USA in 2016, and George Clinton, the leader of the famous funk and rock band Parliament-Funkadelic. Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, is also included in this list, along with his son Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is also a former NASCAR driver and member of the Hall of Fame. Kelley Earnhardt Miller, a successful businesswoman and vice president of JR Motorsports, is another notable person, as well as Kerry Earnhardt, a former NASCAR driver, and Ralph Earnhardt, another former NASCAR driver. Carl Ford, a member of the North Carolina Senate, and Daniel Hemric, a current NASCAR driver, are also mentioned. The list continues with Ethan Horton, a former NFL tight end, Argie Johnson, an educator, Kameron Marlowe, a country music singer-songwriter, and Glenn McDuffie, a retired World War II sailor who was famously photographed in Times Square on V-J Day. James McDuffie, a North Carolina Senator, and Eddie Mills, an actor, are also included, as well as Melissa Morrison-Howard, a track hurdler and Olympic bronze medalist, and Mike Morton, an NFL linebacker and Super Bowl XXXIV champion with the St. Louis Rams. Brandon Parker, an NFL offensive tackle, Corey Seager, a MLB shortstop and 2020 World Series champion and MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kyle Seager, a MLB third baseman, are some of the other notable individuals mentioned. Lastly, George Shinn, the former owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and Haskel Stanback, a former NFL running back, are also included in this list of notable people.
The Library of Congress chose a silent movie made by filmmaker H. Lee Waters in 1941 to be part of the United States National Film Registry in 2004. This film showcases the daily lives of regular individuals in Kannapolis and is considered a typical example of the “town portrait” films that were popular during the 1930s and 1940s.