1916 Shelby Map Pt5
Hotel Charles
1905 Shelby Map Pt2
Freight Car full of shoes
Shelby National Bank
1909 Shelby Map Pt6
Early Cleveland Springs Hotel
The Yellow Brick Elizabeth Baptist Church
1920s A.V. Wray And F. Stough Wray with shoes
1890 4th of july parade
Contact Us
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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?
Shelby Once Had a Tobacco Boom That Almost Rivaled Cotton
In the early 1880s, Shelby briefly became a tobacco center before cotton took over. According to a pamphlet published in 1884, about 25 acres of tobacco were planted in Cleveland County in 1883, but by 1884 that number had jumped to around 500 acres, producing an estimated 100,000 pounds of leaf tobacco. Shelby had at least four tobacco factories at the time, including one operated by D. D. Suttle, the county sheriff, who even brought in an experienced tobacco man from Virginia to manage production. At its peak, some of the finest leaf tobacco reportedly sold for as much as $1.50 a pound, though the average price was closer to 14 cents. Eventually, heavy taxes and easier cotton farming caused the tobacco industry to fade.
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