119-532: McAdenville is a small town in Gaston County, North Carolina , United States. It is a suburb of Gastonia and located east of Gastonia . The population was 890 at the 2020 census . McAdenville was incorporated in 1881. It was named after Rufus Yancey McAden, president of McAden Mills, the town's textile mill. McAden had served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1862 to 1867, and
238-584: A 13.8-mile segment between Greensboro and Whitsett , an 18.3-mile segment between Henderson and the Virginia line, and the last section being a 22.2-mile segment between Whitsett and Efland . A section of I-85 from the end of the "Charlotte Bypass" to the NC 273 interchange near Belmont was planned to open on December 1 by the end of the year. This section of the Interstate had an estimated cost of $ 3 million with
357-474: A 46-mile (74 km) section between West Durham and Greensboro opening to traffic that year. A portion of US 29/US 70 also became I-85 after grade separations and access control were completed and secured. Before the end of the year, several other sections of I-85 were also completed and opened, with a 14-mile (23 km) section of the "Charlotte Bypass", a 15.4-mile segment of the Salisbury Bypass,
476-649: A Fort at the Point at the junction of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers. The fort was built because of ongoing hostilities with the Cherokee , but it was apparently never attacked. Tensions between the settlers and the Native American inhabitants (primarily of the Catawba tribe ) were eased considerably when the boundary dispute between North Carolina and South Carolina was settled in 1772, after which most of
595-416: A branch line leads south to Crowders . CSX rail lines pass through the northwestern and northeastern corners of Gaston County. In the northwest, a line between Lincolnton and Shelby passes through Cherryville . In the northeast, a line between Lincolnton and Charlotte passes through Stanley and Mount Holly . Progressive Rail operates state-owned trackage between Gastonia and Mount Holly with
714-559: A cost of $ 2 million. However, the segment of I-85 in Durham was still under development, but would open in December 1971, closing the I-85 gap. On December 15, 1970, governor Bob Scott announced that about a year from then, all of I-85 would be completed in the state except for a stretch between Greensboro and Lexington. Scott also announced that by June, the remaining 8 miles (13 km) of
833-443: A couple more exits before reaching I-785 (its third auxiliary route), I-40 , and I-840 , the former and latter of which have their southern and eastern terminus at I-85 respectively. I-40 merges onto I-85 and the two routes share a rather long concurrency which travels entirely east–west for 31 miles (50 km). I-40/I-85 enters more industrial areas and meets NC 61 before entering Alamance County . It travels right through
952-469: A female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.96. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
1071-515: A highway fencing project during the Interstate's construction began to experiment with safety along the highway. As the first fencing project in the state, the contract price, done by the Butler Brothers of Greensboro, was estimated at a total of $ 103,000. Authorities announced that the fence would be worth the price if it would help cut down the number of accidents along the Interstate. Both sides–north and southbound–would have fencing extend
1190-483: A hybrid interchange containing several flyover ramps. It then traverses the northern part of Charlotte, and the routing through this portion, while it does not serve the central business district of the city directly, does pass through largely suburban and urbanized areas near Uptown . More interchanges with minor but significant thoroughfares through the city such as Graham Street, Sugar Creek Road, and North Tryon Street appear. Here, I-85 turns northward and enters
1309-477: A length of approximately 4.7 miles (7.6 km) and ended at NC 273. While the pavement at the interchange had been laid, traffic lights were not installed at the junction with Wilkinson Boulevard yet. The proposal was indefinitely delayed later on due to complications. Although the interchange was mostly complete, construction was still progressing on the south side of the intersection with traffic lights still to be installed. In addition, cold weather had also played
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#17327931005631428-430: A local militia company, on September 29, 1750. Gaston County was founded in 1846, partitioned from Lincoln County . It is named for William Gaston , a U.S. Representative from North Carolina and member of the state supreme court. Between 1845 and 1848, Gaston County experienced an industrial boom. During this three-year period, the first three cotton mills in the county were established. Some sources claim that
1547-461: A median income of $ 33,542 versus $ 23,876 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,225. About 8.30% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over. Gaston County is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. Two members are elected from Gaston Township and one each from the other five townships of Gaston County. They are elected on
1666-596: A new project by NCDOT called the "Integrated Corridor Management System" began along I-85 in Mecklenburg and Gaston counties. The project used cameras, electronic signs, and traffic lights that were remote-controlled. This also involved upgrading 94 traffic lights, adding two signs, and placing 11 cameras into the system to help predict any potential accident. In 2024, from the US ;321 interchange to I-485 through Gaston and Mecklenburg counties, due to congestion along
1785-472: A new six-lane section opened, resulting in the "Temporary 85" designation to be dropped. The Interstate had a total mileage of 133.6 miles (215.0 km) through the state, which was more than any other Interstate in North Carolina at the time. From 1969 to 1972, several more segments of I-85 were opened to traffic. On December 22, 1969, an 11.4-mile (18.3 km) section from China Grove to Concord
1904-405: A partisan basis to four-year staggered terms. Those that file for a particular seat must live in the township. However, the vote is countywide or "at-large." The offices of Sheriff, District Attorney, Clerk of Superior Court, and Register of Deeds are also elected offices, elected on a countywide, partisan basis. Gaston County currently is divided into forty-six (46) voting precincts. The county
2023-418: A plaintiff requests assignment to a magistrate and the amount in controversy is $ 5,000 or less. There is no jury and usually no lawyers. A person who loses in small claims court may appeal for a trial by jury before a judge in district court. Magistrates are appointed for two-year terms by the senior resident superior court judge upon nomination of the clerk of superior court. In recent years, voters in most of
2142-524: A ribbon. Upon snipping the ribbon, it officially opened this segment of I-85 that would skirt around the northern portion of Gastonia. By 1965, I-85 from the South Carolina border to Charlotte was complete, while it took until 1970 for the section between Charlotte and Durham to be completed. However, the "Temporary 85" designation would remain on the segment between Lexington and Greensboro until 1984 because there were too many access roads. That year,
2261-495: A rocky monadnock which sharply rises over 800 feet (240 m) above the city of Gastonia . King's Pinnacle rises 1,690 feet (520 m) above sea level, and is part of Crowders Mountain State Park . As of the 2020 census , there were 227,943 people, 85,705 households, and 55,868 families residing in the county. At the 2004 census estimate , there were 194,459 people, 73,936 households, and 53,307 families residing in
2380-419: A role in the delay. However, on January 17, 1961, this link of I-85 between Charlotte and Belmont opened to traffic at approximately 3:30 pm. To control traffic flow, special ultra-sonic vehicle detectors were placed over the Interstate. They were the first vehicle detectors to be used in the North Carolina highway system, and the detectors would count the number of vehicles and regulate the traffic lights along
2499-694: A single-point urban interchange. US 52 merges onto I-85 and the highway exits Salisbury. At Spencer , I-85/US 52 enters Davidson County and crosses the Yadkin River on the Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge . The route then meets with US 29, US 70 , and NC 150 near the unincorporated community of Linwood at an unusual interchange. The interchange allows for direct access to NC 150 northbound and US 29/US 70 southbound. US 29 and US 70 converge with I-85/US 52 for
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#17327931005632618-602: A spur extending to Belmont. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is a major, full-service airport with passenger flights. It is across the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County in Charlotte . The city of Gastonia owns and operates Gastonia Municipal Airport , which is a general aviation airport with a single runway, Runway 3/21, an asphalt runway that is 3,779 feet in length. Piedmont Lithium
2737-409: A study was planned to try and remedy traffic along the corridor after 3 traffic jams occurred at Greensboro, Burlington, and through US 15. Commissioner Cliff Benson announced that an extension of I-40 could be done along a southern route between Durham and Raleigh. Another solution that was thought of was if I-85 could be widened to six lanes between Greensboro and Durham. Problems arose, however, due to
2856-516: A total of about 18 miles (29 km). Fencing would not be required if the highway passed over steep cuts or high fills. There were two types of fencing that would be used. Near interchanges and through cities, heavy chain-link fencing would be placed. On the northern and western ends, woven wire fastened to wooden posts would have barbed wire both top and bottom. The project was estimated to use over 47,000 feet (14,000 m) of chain-link and 55,000 feet (17,000 m) of woven wire. In December 1971,
2975-420: A very brief distance, about two miles (3.2 km), before I-85 reaches an interchange that is accessible northbound only: I-285 . At this point, all three U.S. Highways that overlapped I-85 leave the Interstate, with I-85 continuing on its own again. After the interchange, I-85 passes underneath the bridge, turning slightly east for one mile (1.6 km), and intersects NC 47 (Hargrave Road). Because
3094-615: Is Interstate 85 , with access to the town from Exit 23. Other important highways include U.S. Route 29 / U.S. Route 74 (Wilkinson Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (Main St./Hickory Grove Rd./Riverside Dr./McAdenville Rd.). Public education in McAdenville is administered by the Gaston County Schools public school system. The only school in McAdenville is McAdenville Elementary School. Some elementary age children from
3213-516: Is a community college located in Dallas offering associate degree, Certificate, and Diploma programs. Belmont Abbey College is a Roman Catholic Liberal Arts College located in Belmont . The Gaston County Public Library has 10 branches spread throughout the county. Gaston County's most significant natural heritage sites are distributed across the county. They range from Crowders Mountain in
3332-523: Is a mining company currently in the process of proving economic mineral recovery of lithium in Gaston County. After five years of surface prospecting , the company began drilling many sample cores in 2021 across 2,300 acres (930 ha) of land it owns or has mineral rights to the county proving economic viability of mining lithium for the boom in battery demand to support electric vehicle and other uses. Public education in Gaston County
3451-607: Is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs 666.05 miles (1,071.90 km) from Montgomery, Alabama , to Petersburg, Virginia . In the U.S. state of North Carolina , I-85 crosses the entire state from southwest to northeast (though is signed north–south), at the South Carolina state line near Grover to the Virginia state line near Wise . Running for over 231.23 miles (372.13 km),
3570-538: Is a science museum and planetarium located in Gastonia that features both permanent and touring exhibits. Crowder's Mountain State Park is noted for its resident raptors and sheer vertical cliffs which drop 150 feet (46 m). From Crowders Mountain, the highest point in Gaston County, views stretch for more than 20 miles (32 km). The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a recreation and training facility. Set among 1,300 acres (5.3 km ) of wooded land along
3689-504: Is administered by a full-time professional County Manager. Gaston County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments . North Carolina has a unified statewide and state-operated court system, called the General Court of Justice. It consists of three divisions: appellate courts, superior courts, and district courts. In Gaston County, there is also a small claims Court. Small claims court handles civil cases where
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3808-1212: Is administered by the Gaston County Schools public school system. The system is governed by the nine-member Gaston County Board of Education which sets policy and establishes guidelines for school operations. Board members are elected on a nonpartisan, county wide basis, with seven representatives chosen from the six townships and two members selected at-large. Gaston County Schools has 54 public schools, including 9 high schools, 11 middle schools, 32 elementary schools, one alternative school (middle and high school age), and one separate school (Webb Street School in Gastonia) serving students ages 3 to 22 with moderate to severe disabilities. Gaston County has four charter schools : Community Public Charter School (K-7) in Stanley, Ridgeview Charter School (K–4) in Gastonia, Piedmont Community Charter School (K–12) in Gastonia, and Mountain Island Charter School (K–12) in Mount Holly. There are two colleges in Gaston County. Gaston College
3927-688: Is known as the Dr. John H. Franklin Highway, named after John Hope Franklin , an American historian and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom . This name was approved on October 5, 2017. Between Flemingtown Road (exit 220) to the Vance/Warren county line, the Interstate is known as the Andrea L. Harris Highway after Andrea Harris, a civil rights activist from the state. This designation
4046-514: Is land and 7.93 square miles (20.5 km ) (2.18%) is water. It belongs to the southern Piedmont physiographic province . Most of Gaston County is in the drainage basin of the Catawba River , except for small areas along the western edge of the county which are in the basin of the Broad River . Both the Catawba and Broad Rivers are in the greater Santee River basin. The Catawba forms
4165-724: Is often congested due to the lanes merging into one. Drivers wanting to access I-77 can get off at the interchange, or simply keep driving on I-85 to reach the Charlotte Douglas International Airport . A couple of miles later, I-85 has an exit for the airport via Little Rock Road at a single-point urban interchange (SPUI) and enters the city of Charlotte . It has an interchange with Billy Graham Parkway , as well as two more single-point urban interchanges with NC 27 (Freedom Drive) and NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard). I-85 then directly intersects with I-77 and US 21 at mile marker 38 with
4284-462: Is tenth in population. The county has fifteen incorporated towns. In addition to fifteen incorporated towns and cities, there are several unincorporated communities such as Hardin, Lucia, Crowders Mountain, Sunnyside, Alexis, Tryon, and North Belmont. The earliest European settlers of Gaston County were principally Scots Irish , Pennsylvania Dutch , and English . In the 1750s, Dutch settler James Kuykendall with Robert Leeper, and others constructed
4403-744: Is the oldest extant structure in Gaston County. Located on the Dallas-Stanley Highway above the South Fork Catawba River, it was built around 1760 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden covers 110 acres (0.45 km ) in the South Point area of Gaston County, on South New Hope Road. The Gaston County Museum is located in the town of Dallas, North Carolina . The Schiele Museum of Natural History
4522-624: Is the site of the old WBTV television transmitter. It was from this site that the first commercial television signal in North Carolina was broadcast, when WBTV signed on the air in 1949. The tower remains on the mountain today, but is no longer in use as WBTV's primary transmitter. It is used by NWS for its NOAA Weather Radio transmission signal. Townships are administrative divisions of unincorporated county land and do not have any government function. Interstate 85 in North Carolina Interstate ;85 ( I-85 )
4641-476: Is water. The town lies in the Cramerton Watershed. The McAdenville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 890 people, 330 households, and 274 families residing in the town. As of the census of 2000, there were 619 people, 247 households, and 182 families residing in the town. The population density
4760-489: The Catawba River on the Cameron Morrison Bridge, entering Mecklenburg County . Right after entering Mecklenburg County, I-85 reaches a weigh station occasionally serving trucks in both directions. Crossing through more suburban development, the Interstate passes right next to the station building for Fox affiliate WJZY . After that, I-85 meets I-485 at a stack interchange . This portion of I-85
4879-553: The Concord Mills Mall and Charlotte Motor Speedway . Several miles later, it has a diverging diamond interchange with NC 73 and then crosses Coddle Creek . It meets US 29 a second time as well as US 601 nearing Kannapolis , the exit of which US 29 provides access to the North Carolina Research Campus . US 601 merges onto I-85, forming another concurrency as
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4998-520: The Saponi and Occaneechi , often trading with the Cherokee and Catawba tribes, both of whom were enemies at the time. While the path was rather narrow and made by animals, it later became much easier to navigate through. Starting with the Europeans' arrival in the 1670s, the fur trade boomed and increased the demand for furs, leading the trail to become a wagon road in the 1740s. Beginning in what
5117-509: The Tar River and comes to another rest area. It meets US 15 at another interchange just near mile marker 202 nearing Oxford. Interchanges with NC 96 and US 158 immediately follow, then I-85 cuts into Vance County . It immediately reaches the city limits of Henderson before meeting up with US 158 (Dabney Drive), and US 158 merges on I-85 to follow a short concurrency with it. The highway intersects NC 39 ,
5236-621: The U.S. state of North Carolina . As of the 2020 census , the population was 227,943. The county seat is Gastonia . Dallas served as the original county seat from 1846 until 1911. Gaston County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area , which had an estimated population of 2,805,115 in 2023. The county is located in the southern Piedmont region. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, Gaston County ranks 74th in size, consisting of approximately 364 square miles (940 km ), and
5355-503: The University City area. it meets NC 24 (Harris Boulevard) in this stretch, crosses Mallard Creek , and has an interchange with I-485 again, this time at a turbine interchange . I-85 then crosses into Cabarrus County , immediately entering the city of Concord and dense commercial development. It passes exit 49 (Bruton Smith Boulevard/Concord Mills Boulevard), which provides access for several major attractions such as
5474-577: The poverty line , including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over. McAdenville is governed by a mayor and a five-member town council. Fire protection is provided by the Cramerton Fire Department. McAdenville is in South Point Township . The town is patrolled by the town of Cramerton Police Department and Gaston County Police Department. The primary east-west highway passing through McAdenville
5593-475: The "Charlotte Bypass" at the time, this portion of the Interstate was fully opened to traffic on September 9, 1958. At the time, I-85 only served as a bypass of Charlotte, and was also referred to as the "US 29 bypass". Since I-85 was nothing more than a few segments of eleven and twelve-mile stretches, service stations were not far away by any means. Green guide signs were also erected to warn of any upcoming access roads ahead in case travelers would want to exit off
5712-524: The 34 known sites containing bigleaf magnolias in North Carolina, 29 are in Gaston County. Two sites are important because they provide habitat for the bog turtle ( Glyptemys muhlenbergii ). The bog turtle is the single most significant rare animal species surviving in Gaston County. Crowders Mountain State Park is the largest natural heritage site in the county. It covers over 3,000 acres (12 km ) of topographically, botanically, and zoologically diverse land. Six natural plant communities are found in
5831-544: The Catawba River, the multiuse facility has a climbing center, mountain-biking trails and running trails. Christmas Town USA - McAdenville, North Carolina - Each December, hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights turn this small mill town into a spectacular holiday display. Visitors stroll down Main Street surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas. Spencer Mountain , which is located in central Gaston County,
5950-486: The Catawba settled on a reservation near Fort Mill, South Carolina . Most early farms in the area were small, cultivated primarily by white yeoman farmers of English ancestry. North Carolina's colonial policy restricted the size of land grants , and in Gaston County they tended to be about 400 acres (1.6 km ) each. One of the earliest grants in the area was given to Captain Samuel Cobrin, commander of
6069-494: The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, supports a stand of Schweinitz's sunflower ( Helianthus schweinizii ), a federally endangered species. The Armstrong Ford site near Belmont is the only place in western North Carolina (and one of only two sites in the state) where magnolia vine ( Schisandra glabra ) has been found. The Hoyle Historic Homestead , with notable German-American construction features,
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#17327931005636188-617: The Great Trading Path had become a major thoroughfare through the state, with lots of cargo being transported. The amount of commerce brought through the route continued into the present day, where the road would then become known as I-85. Parts of I-85 were already constructed before federal aid was available in the 1950s, as the state had been constructing sections of the Interstate Highway System since 1949. The Lexington Bypass north of Lexington —which at
6307-667: The Guilford−Alamance county line to east of NC 54 in Graham, I-85, concurrent with I-40, is known as the Sam Hunt Freeway, named after R. Samuel Hunt , a representative for North Carolina's 25th House district as well as the Secretary for NCDOT. This designation was approved on September 5, 1997. From Cole Mill Road (exit 173) to its interchange with US 70 (exit 178) in Durham, I-85, concurrent with US 70,
6426-806: The I-77/US ;21 interchange and the I-85 Connector (exit 42) in Charlotte, the route is known as the Julius Chambers Highway, named in honor of Julius L. Chambers . From Charlotte to the Mecklenburg/Cabarrus county line, the route is known as the Jeff Gordon Expressway after NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon . This section of the highway was signed on May 25, 2012. From mile marker 92 to 96,
6545-573: The Interstate in North Carolina would be opened. Explaining that the Henderson bypass was finished and the "missing link" from Durham to Henderson was still in construction but opens the year after, he noted that just 20 miles (32 km) of Interstate Highway built in a state costed a total of $ 19 million, or about $ 1 million every mile, but explained that interstate highways were much safer than regular highways. Through September 1971, another 7-mile (11 km) section of I-85 from Oxford to Henderson
6664-779: The Interstate is known as the Bob Timberlake Freeway after the artist of the same name . On mile marker 96 to 102, I-85 is known as the Richard Childress Freeway after the NASCAR driver . At Alamance Church Road (exit 128) to the I-40 interchange (exit 131), I-85 is known as the Congressman J. Howard Coble Highway, signed on December 1, 2016, after Howard Coble , who represented North Carolina's 6th congressional district for over 30 years. From
6783-425: The Interstate meets US 74 at a weave interchange and US 29 splits off from I-85 for US 74 east. At this point, I-85 crosses into Gaston County . It enters suburban areas and traffic begins increasing from here. The Interstate then reaches Gastonia and has an exit for NC 274 (Bessemer City Road). Then it has a major interchange with US 321 , signed north for Lincolnton and south for
6902-632: The Interstate, the lanes are being widened to accommodate larger amounts of traffic. The I-85 Corridor Improvement Project , located in Rowan and Davidson counties, was a two-phase project to replace the narrow bridge over the Yadkin River and widen the freeway from four to eight lanes. In the first phase, all traffic from the old bridge moved to a new $ 201-million (equivalent to $ 264 million in 2023 ) bridge in August 2012. The second phase of
7021-463: The Interstate. The opening of the section joined all sections north of Durham, resulting in a trip taking approximately 35 minutes from the city to Henderson. The completion of I-85 in this area officially connected the Interstate as a 235-mile (378 km) route through North Carolina. Since its completion, many widening projects have been undertaken on I-85, particularly along the stretch of highway between Gastonia and Durham. On December 19, 1958,
7140-472: The Interstate. To mitigate stress and panic, the common I-85 interstate shield with the colors red, white, and blue would occasionally show up to keep drivers relaxed, calm, and figuring out which way they were going. In 1960, I-85 underwent major renovations, with its first finished section in that year being an 18-mile (29 km) segment within Vance and Warren counties, with the next segment after that being
7259-488: The South Point Community south of Belmont . Gaston County still leads all other counties in the country both in the number of spindles in operation and in the number of bales of cotton consumed. The county seat moved from Dallas to Gastonia in 1911. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 363.68 square miles (941.9 km ), of which 355.75 square miles (921.4 km )
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#17327931005637378-477: The bridge started in 1955 (this date is shown on a plaque, and most sources have used the date), but the lanes were not as wide as federal standards required, and the road had a sharp curve north of the bridge. Both of these characteristics saved money, and the bridge, finished a year earlier, was grandfathered despite not meeting standards. The very first stretch of I-85 would later be completed, an 11.3-mile (18.2 km) segment through Mecklenburg County. Known as
7497-402: The city of Thomasville , where I-85 meets NC 109 . It crosses into Randolph County as it enters the city of Archdale and intersects NC 62 . I-85 enters High Point and has a parclo interchange with I-74 and the former routing of US 311 . The exits are signed east for Asheboro and west for Winston-Salem . I-85 then passes through another forest with more trees lining
7616-570: The city's main business district. Traffic from US 321 south before 2017 was often congested due to I-85, and a new interchange was developed to help relieve it. Past it, I-85 turns southeast, then east as it goes through more suburban and residential areas of the city. Along here, it intersects more state highways serving as Gastonia's main thoroughfares, including NC 7 (Ozark Avenue), NC 279 (New Hope Road), and NC 7 (McAdenville Road/Main Street) again; NC 7 provides access to
7735-454: The city, which was often congested and avoid over 22 traffic lights along the road. On January 10, 1964, the dedication of the I-85 link officially began with federal highway administrator Rex M. Whitton giving a rather short dedication speech. He noted that this link of I-85 was part of 107 miles (172 km) of the entire Interstate's length in North Carolina. A ribbon-cutting ceremony then commenced with Whitton and his wife being driven to
7854-594: The county have favored Republicans, though Democrats retain some electoral strength in the city of Gastonia. Gaston County is served by Amtrak , with a stop in Gastonia . Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway , CSX and Patriot Rail . The Norfork Southern main line passes from west to east across the county, passing through Kings Mountain , Bessemer City , Gastonia, Ranlo, Lowell, Cramerton and Belmont . From Gastonia,
7973-588: The county. Its thin soils are dominated by hickory species and it is also home to several smaller species such as Talinum teretifolium (fame flower), Sedum smallii (syn. Diamorpha smallii , Small's sedum), and Hypericum gentianoides (pineweed) that are found only in this type of habitat. A farm site contains an old growth forest dominated by beech, yellow poplar, oaks, and maples - some trees with diameters of nearly 3 feet (0.91 m). Another 25 sites are listed as being of local significance. Two of these are home to extremely rare plants. Catawba Cove, near
8092-404: The county. The population density was 534 people per square mile (206 people/km ). There were 78,842 housing units at an average density of 221 units per square mile (85 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 83% White , 13.9% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 1% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 0.3% from other races , and 1% from two or more races. 3.00% of
8211-469: The eastern border of the county and much of the central part of the county is in the drainage basin of its right tributary, the South Fork Catawba River. The county is located in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina, which consists of gently rolling terrain frequently broken by hills, river and creek valleys, and low, isolated mountain ridges. The highest point in Gaston County is King's Pinnacle ,
8330-610: The entire town in Christmas lights. The event is called Christmas Town USA. The Christmas Town USA contains 375 lit trees and over 200 wreaths attached to city light poles. The lights attract visitors from all over the country and is one of the biggest light shows in the US. Begun in 1956 with the assistance of Pharr Yarns, many trees and buildings in the town are covered in Christmas lights and some form of decoration. More than 600,000 vehicles visit each year. The McAdenville Historic District
8449-444: The fact that if an Interstate was completed, it would be the state's responsibility to maintain the corridor. Due to this, engineers said that the widening of I-85 would possibly only be completed around 1976 or 1978. By 1988, widening I-85 to six lanes from Greensboro to Burlington was being considered. The plan was later changed to eight lanes. The $ 175-million (equivalent to $ 374 million in 2023 ) project began in 1989. With
8568-422: The family were killed in the accident involving five cars. 11 others, including 5 children, were badly injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. On May 31, 2023, a large tractor-trailer hit and damaged the NC 86 bridge (exit 165) over I-85. While the crash did not cause any damage to I-85 itself, the southbound lanes were closed for several days to repair and maintain the bridge while directing traffic along
8687-738: The first one was established by Thomas R. Tate on Mountain Island , near the present site of Duke Energy's Mountain Island Dam and Hydroelectric Station. Other sources say that the first mill was established by the Linebergers and others on the South Fork River near McAdenville . Most sources agree that among the first three mills in operation in the county was the Stowesville Mill, founded by Jasper Stowe and associates in
8806-511: The heart of Burlington and large commercial areas upon mile marker 141, intersecting several of the city's main state highways, including NC 62 again, NC 49 , NC 87 , and NC 54 , then crosses the Haw River . Past a diverging diamond interchange with NC 119 (Mebane-Oaks Road), the highway enters Orange County and reaches another truck weigh station. I-40 then splits off southeast from I-85 to serve Chapel Hill ,
8925-488: The highway makes its way across Falls Lake . US 15 departs I-85 at mile marker 186 to serve the town and city of Butner and Creedmoor respectively, whereas I-85 bypasses these areas but still contains some exits leading to Butner. From here to Oxford , US 15 parallels I-85. The Interstate then intersects NC 56 outside of Butner and continues to make its way through the forest for about 10 miles (16 km) without any other interchanges. I-85 then crosses
9044-411: The highway was often nicknamed "the missing link," considered as one of the deadliest roads in the state. The opening resulted in most of I-85 being interstate standard and four-laned. Initially in December 1970, the 2.3-mile (3.7 km) stretch in Henderson as well as the 11-mile (18 km) segment from Oxford to Henderson costed a total of $ 30 million, which was a part of the "missing link" segment of
9163-613: The interchange ramps. There are four auxiliary routes and one business loop in the state. I-285 runs concurrently with US 52 connecting I-85 to I-40 in the Winston-Salem metropolitan area. I-485 forms a beltway around Charlotte , serving as a bypass for I-85 and I-77. I-785 serves as a spur route, forming a portion of the eastern part of the Greensboro Urban Loop and in the future will connect to Danville, Virginia . I-885 connects I-85 to I-40 in
9282-542: The interchange to allow proper traffic safety. The Interstate would later on continue towards the South Carolina state line by avoiding Gastonia to the north. On December 9, 1963, the County Commissioner of the state received a letter notifying that the Gastonia link of I-85 would be set for dedication on January 10. This link of I-85 would allow drivers to bypass Franklin Boulevard, the main street through
9401-543: The interchange, while US 421 joins I-85 from I-73 in a wrong-way concurrency . Because I-85 was rerouted around Greensboro after February 2004, it now follows the southern half of the Greensboro Urban Loop . Leaving the massive interchange, I-85/US 421 stays connected for just four miles (6.4 km) before US 421 departs the concurrency at exit 126 to head southeast for Sanford . Meanwhile, I-85 maintains its northeastward track and passes by
9520-523: The left side of the road. The reversed lanes of I-85 then pass over Squire Bowers Road and reach a rest area, as well as access to the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park. Once the reversed lanes of the Interstate cross Johnsontown Road, the northbound lanes pass above the southbound lanes and return to the normal direction (right side of the road). The forest gradually thins out and gives way to
9639-569: The main Catawba River between Gaston and Mecklenburg counties is known as the Cameron Morrison Bridge, which was named after Cameron A. Morrison , the 55th governor of North Carolina and known as the Good Roads Governor. It was signed on March 11, 1983. Despite the naming of the bridge, it has sparked controversy due to Morrison being remembered for leading the Red Shirts group. NCDOT has not announced any new petitions to change
9758-424: The main exit for Henderson, then US 158 splits off from the concurrency shortly after. At mile marker 218, I-85 has a southbound exit for US 1 , which begins paralleling it for the rest of the Interstate's length through the state. I-85 passes just west of Middleburg and has a parclo interchange with US 1/US 158 (Flemingtown Road) for the town of Norlina . I-85 then enters its final county in
9877-618: The median and crosses the Randolph and Guilford branches of the Richland Creek as it enters Guilford County . Just outside Greensboro , it has a southbound interchange with US 29 (and the former routing of US 70) again. US 29 forms a brief concurrency with I-85 before the route enters suburban areas once more and reaches a very large and complex interchange with Groometown Road, Grandover Parkway, I-73 , US 220 , and US 421 . US 29 splits off through
9996-434: The name, but explained that applications could be considered. The path that would eventually be developed into I-85 existed as a long trail running from Petersburg, Virginia all the way to Augusta, Georgia with a distance of over 500 miles (800 km), known as the " Great Trading Path ". Most of this land was unexplored, with animals mainly traveling along it. American Indians had unique ways to mark their path by tying
10115-567: The northern part of McAdenville attend Lowell Elementary School in Lowell . Most McAdenville students in grades 6-8 attend Holbrook Middle School in Lowell, except for those in a small section of town who attend Belmont Middle School in Belmont . High school-age students attend Stuart W. Cramer High School in Cramerton. Gaston County, North Carolina Gaston County is a county in
10234-480: The northern terminus of NC 147 (Durham Freeway), which connects to downtown Durham. I-85/US 70 then reaches the main city center, becoming somewhat urban in nature. It then has an interchange with US 15 and US 501 , which both also join the concurrency. The highway passes a diamond interchange with NC 157 (Guess Road), and then US 501 splits off at Duke Street to head north. The other three highways continue on their way before meeting
10353-550: The opening of a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) section in Alamance County on November 23, 1994, 21 miles (34 km) of I-85/I-40 were eight lanes. An additional 14 miles (23 km) were to be ready by 1996, giving the Interstate eight lanes to where I-40 turned southward at Hillsborough. In addition, I-85 was relocated in 2004, south of Greensboro, forming part of the Greensboro Urban Loop , allowing through traffic to bypass that city's downtown area. Between 2004 and 2008, I-85
10472-439: The park, and the area supports a diversity of wildlife species. Some animals documented in the park have not been documented elsewhere in the county. A second natural heritage site, Pinnacle Road, has recently been incorporated into the park. This site is most significant for the occurrence of dwarf juniper ( Juniperus communis ) along its ridgeline. The Stagecoach Road site is the largest and best preserved granitic outcrop in
10591-403: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 92,094 males and 98,271 females in Gaston County. Of these 39,492 are under 15, 23,082 are aged 16–24, 59,096 are aged 25–44, 44,710 are aged between 45–64 and 23,985 are 65 and over. The median age is 36.89 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 39,482, and the median income for a family was $ 46,271. Males had
10710-419: The previous exit is northbound-only, drivers going southbound must use NC 47 to access I-285. After its interchange with NC 8 (Cotton Grove Road), which is the main exit for Lexington, I-85 enters a large forest and crosses Abbotts Creek , then has an interchange with US 64 . Past Holly Grove Road, the northbound lanes cut under the southbound lanes and cross Hamby Creek, diverting traffic to
10829-539: The process of building the inner lanes easier. Trucks were also required to use these ramps to reduce the number of truckloads that were along the Interstate. Upon completion of the project, this resulted in the Belmont Road interchange (exit 86) being reconstructed and the Clark Road interchange (exit 85) being closed permanently. A study by GPS tracking company Teletrac determined that I-85 in North Carolina
10948-675: The project involved widening the northern segment of I-85 to a length of 3.8 miles (6.1 km). On March 9, 2013, all eight lanes of the I-85 bridge opened to the public. The project finished eight months ahead of schedule and $ 44 million (equivalent to $ 57.7 million in 2023 ) under budget. In addition to this, it also included placing 1.2 million cubic yards of embankment material, install 4 new miles of storm drainage, and ready about 320,000 square yards of road to add new pavement on it. Storm water would also be controlled by adding and modifying over 1,000 erosion control features. Other features of construction included temporary ramps to make
11067-789: The route include rolling hills and gently sloping terrain of the Appalachian Mountains at its southernmost stretch, the urbanized neighborhoods of the Piedmont cities through the center of North Carolina, and flat farmlands in the northeast towards Virginia. Along its route, the Interstate parallels several other older U.S. Routes for its entire length. It follows US 29 from South Carolina to Greensboro, US 70 from Greensboro to Durham, US 15 from Durham to Oxford , and US 1 from Henderson to Virginia. It shares an extensive concurrency with I-40 from Greensboro to Hillsborough , and has four auxiliary routes : I-285 , I-485 , I-785 , and I-885 . The first segment of I-85 to be complete
11186-408: The sapling of a tree into a knot. Because of this, the top of the tree would always point to the correct direction. Although the tree was located somewhere within the territory of the present Cherokee tribe, authorities determined that the tree was located on or near the Great Trading Path within this area. The path, lesser known as the "Occaneechi Path", was mainly traversed by the two Siouan tribes,
11305-542: The segment of I-85 is the longest of the five states it passes through and the second-longest Interstate Highway in North Carolina after I-40 . From southwest to northeast, I-85 crosses the large Piedmont region through its course in the state. Within this region, the Interstate connects three of the state's four most populous cities, Charlotte , Greensboro , and Durham . I-85 also serves to connect several smaller communities and suburban cities, such as Gastonia , Salisbury , High Point , and Henderson . Landscapes along
11424-505: The small town of Grover . Most of the Interstate for its first few miles passes through gently rolling terrain and is primarily rural in nature. It has its first interchange with NC 216 , which provides access to Kings Mountain National Military Park , with a welcome center shortly after. Later, the southbound lanes have an exit for US 29 , which merges onto I-85 and begins a concurrency. At mile marker 10,
11543-428: The southern portion of Durham and downtown Raleigh while I-85 continues eastward towards northern Durham. The following interchanges of I-85 before Durham County are rather substandard in quality due to the Interstate retaining its original narrow design of four lanes. It meets NC 86 and later US 70, which forms another concurrency once again before entering Durham County. At mile marker 172, it meets
11662-421: The southwest corner to sites east of Stanley and at the mouth of the South Fork Catawba River. Gaston County has twelve natural heritage sites listed as being of state or regional significance. Six of these are listed because of the presence of the bigleaf magnolia ( Magnolia macrophylla ). This magnificent plant has the largest simple leaf of any species in the temperate world, and one of the largest flowers. Of
11781-452: The state and designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway . The Interstate carries an average annual daily traffic volume of approximately 65,000 vehicles a day; roughly 25–40% of that traffic is commercial vehicles. In 2023, the busiest stretch along the Interstate was from the I-77 interchange to Graham Street in Charlotte, which carried a total of 200,529 vehicles per day. The lowest number
11900-402: The state, Warren County . Before long, it bypasses Manson and continues to go through generally flat farmland and bumpy terrain with no development along the road. Just before leaving North Carolina, I-85 has its final interchange in the state with US 1 and the northern terminus of US 401 near the unincorporated community of Wise , with the southbound lanes then having an exit for
12019-401: The time was signed US 29 and US 70 —is now a part of I-85 Bus . This was part of an 80-mile (130 km) expressway completed in 1955 between Lexington and Hillsborough . One planned road was the Salisbury Bypass, 15 miles (24 km) long with a $ 1-million (equivalent to $ 8.88 million in 2023 ) 880-foot (270 m) twin-span bridge over the Yadkin River . Construction on
12138-661: The town of China Grove . Like the prior project, I-85 is being doubled in capacity, expanding from two travel lanes in each direction to four travel lanes in each direction. The project is now complete as of May 2021. The first phase (from exit 55 to exit 63) began in early 2014, and the second phase (from exit 63 to exit 68) began in early 2017. Construction was completed by December 2017, which left I-85 with at least six lanes of highway between exits 10 (US 29 north/US 74—Kings Mountain and Shelby) and 164 (I-40 in Hillsborough). Around November 2021,
12257-568: The town of McAdenville . Just east of McAdenville, I-85 crosses the South Fork River on the William James Pharr Bridge. From here, the Interstate passes through considerably high residential development as it continues on its eastward track to Belmont . The Interstate then has an exit for Belmont at Main Street and passes right off the campus of Belmont Abbey College as it reaches another interchange for Belmont with NC 273 (Beatty Drive) one mile later, then crosses
12376-453: The trail then split in two, with one of them heading for Columbia and the other towards Cherokee land near present-day Augusta. In 1670, John Lederer became the first European to explore the trail and describe it in his writings. In 1700, explorer John Lawson began his journey through the path. The trip took 59 days and covered a distance of over 550 miles (890 km). In 1799, when William Whedbee Kirkland built his house, Ayr Mount ,
12495-552: The two routes continue northward and meet a rest area. The highway runs to the south of Kannapolis with several exits available, then the road crosses the Cold Water Creek , which parallels the highway, before entering Rowan County . Passing through a mix of suburban and rural development, the highway approaches Salisbury and US 601 splits from I-85 at exit 75 for Jake Alexander Boulevard. The Interstate then enters Salisbury where it meets US 52 at exit 76 with
12614-637: The welcome center. Shortly after this, it exits North Carolina and crosses the state line into Mecklenburg County, Virginia . I-85 in North Carolina features a few dedicated or memorialized stretches of freeway. The entire length of the Interstate is known as the Blue Star Memorial Highway , approved on May 5, 1967. Through Gaston County, the name of I-85 is known as the Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway, being signed on October 3, 1997. Between
12733-619: The western terminus of NC 55 (Avondale Drive). Just before exiting Durham, US 70 departs the concurrency as well to head east alongside I-85's fourth and final auxiliary route, I-885 (Durham East End Connector), for the Raleigh–Durham International Airport and Raleigh itself while I-85 and US 15 remain connected together. North of Durham, I-85/US 15 passes several more minor interchanges before entering Granville County and suburban areas. The landscape gives way to rural areas and yet another forest as
12852-457: Was Speaker of the House in 1866. He came to Charlotte in 1867 to become president of the two-year-old First National Bank. Pharr Yarns, a yarn manufacturing company, was founded in McAdenville in 1939. It grew to become a major employer and sponsored various projects in the town during its existence. It was sold in 2019. A Christmas tradition in the town for many years has been the decorating of
12971-553: Was 20,224 vehicles per day at the US 1 interchange near Henderson and Middleburg. I-85 for most of its length in the state is generally a four to eight-lane configuration, with the exception of Durham, where it widens to ten lanes briefly. All of I-85 is a part of the National Highway System , a network of roads important for the country's economy, defense, and mobility. I-85 enters Cleveland County, North Carolina from Cherokee County, South Carolina , near
13090-406: Was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 36,513, and the median income for a family was $ 40,750. Males had a median income of $ 30,781 versus $ 21,481 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 18,130. About 6.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below
13209-441: Was 450.1 inhabitants per square mile (173.8/km). There were 282 housing units at an average density of 205.1 per square mile (79.2/km). The racial makeup of the town was 95.80% White , 1.94% African American , 0.97% Native American , 0.97% Asian , and 0.32% from two or more races. There were 247 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had
13328-499: Was an 11.3-mile (18.2 km) segment through Mecklenburg County, opened in 1958. Later segments were eventually completed through bonds, contracts, and extensions, with the final segment opening in 1972. Since then, most of the route has been widened and renovated to accommodate rapid growth within the region. I-85 is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for its entire length in
13447-434: Was approved on December 15, 2023, by Governor Roy Cooper . I-85 also has two dedicated bridges it crosses, both in Gaston County. The bridge which the Interstate crosses over the South Fork River, a branch of the Catawba River , is known as the William James Pharr Bridge, named after William James Pharr Sr., a mayor of McAdenville for over 25 years. This was approved on August 5, 1994. The bridge which I-85 crosses over
13566-626: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. McAdenville is located on the South Fork Catawba River . McAdenville Lake is formed by a dam on the South Fork in central McAdenville. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km), of which 1.4 square miles (3.6 km) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km), or 4.33%,
13685-493: Was one of the deadliest and most dangerous roads to travel on in Charlotte, ranking 15th out of 30. The Interstate was estimated to have over 0.613 deaths per mile of highway, with over 408 deaths over its entire length, and the most common month being May. The most deadly accident to ever occur along I-85 was in Salisbury, when a family from Maryland was traveling to South Carolina for vacation on July 8, 1995. Three members of
13804-512: Was open, which left a 12.5-mile (20.1 km) portion of the highway from the Neuse River to Oxford remaining and under construction. Another 35-mile (56 km) segment of the highway from Greensboro to Salisbury was undergoing an environmental study and not planned to be let to contract yet. On January 13, 1972, a 16-mile (26 km) stretch of I-85 north of Durham was completed and opened. Costing approximately $ 16 million, this stretch of
13923-404: Was opened, allowing traffic to use it, with the commission adding that around the next year, another 8.6-mile (13.8 km) portion of the highway from Concord to Mecklenburg County as well as a connector to Charlotte would also be completed. The stretch of I-85 from Henderson to the Virginia state line, a distance of approximately 3.1 miles (5.0 km) opened to traffic on December 2, 1970, with
14042-538: Was then known as Fort Henry and now is Petersburg, the travelers made their way into the state through the land now part of Granville County . This trail went through the counties of which I-85 would pass through, and the travelers eventually met the tribal groups that would form the names of several of the state's areas. The trail then made its way across the Tar , Haw , Uwharrie , and Yadkin rivers, most of them paralleling I-85. Upon reaching what would become Charlotte ,
14161-495: Was widened to eight lanes around Salisbury. From May 2010 through April 2014, I-85 was widened from four to eight lanes between exit 49 (near Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills ) and exit 55. Following the completion of the widening of I-85 from milemarker 49 to 55, a new project was started to widen I-85 from exit 55 ( NC 73 ) in Concord, Cabarrus County northward to exit 68 ( NC 152 ) in
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