M.P. Coley Insurance parade float in 1919
1916 Shelby Map Pt11
1921 SHelby Map Pt6
Uptown aerial photograph of Shelby
Clyde R. Hoey
Charles C. Blanton
1904 Fourth of July parade
Sheriff Charles Blanton
New Princess Theatre
Webb Theater
Contact Us
Questions? Comments? Want to contribute materccarchive.orgclevelandcountyhistory.org
We welcome contributions of photographs, documents, and stories related to Cleveland County history.
Welcome
Welcome to the Cleveland County History Project! Step back in time and discover the people, places, and stories that shaped our county. From the early settlers before 1841 through the Golden Age of the 1920s, our history comes alive here. Whether you're researching family roots, exploring local landmarks, or just curious about the past, you'll find something meaningful in these pages.
Did You Know?
Cleveland County Was Known by Eight Different Names Before It Existed
Long before Cleveland County was created, the land that now makes up the county passed through a series of changing political names. After the Crown bought back the Carolina territory in 1729, the area was first known as Bath. It then became part of Bladen County in 1734, Anson County in 1748, Mecklenburg County in 1762, and Tryon County in 1769. Tryon County later disappeared, and its lands were divided into Lincoln and Rutherford counties, from which Cleveland County was finally formed. Over little more than a century, the same land had been governed under eight different county names.
Source: Mamie Jones
Features
- Browse by category: Towns, Institutions, Businesses, Hotels, People, and more
- Search by tags and categories
- Historical eras: Pre-1841 through the Golden Age (1900-1930)
- Full-screen zoom viewer: Click any image to pan and zoom in detail
- High-resolution images available for most items
- Detailed descriptions and historical context
- Designed to be approachable, not intimidating like traditional archives
Announcements
- January 2026: Project launched with initial collection
- We're actively seeking contributions from community members
- Check back for new additions