In 1906, J.W. Cannon bought over 1,000 acres of land to build a textile mill. After years of success, Cannon’s textile mill industry grew and drew in over 20,000 workers, leading to the development of Kannapolis as it stands today. The city was incorporated in 1984. The textile mills folded in the early 2000s, so the town pivoted and became a hub of research, music and outdoor recreation. Dale Earnhardt Sr. learned to race in Kannapolis, and the city has maintained a strong NASCAR pride with a park in his honor and the naming of state Route 3 after his race car number.
Jim Straatmann is a co-team lead of The Straatmann Group and has sold many homes throughout the city and surrounding areas. “People still think of Kannapolis as an old mill town, but they really need to give it a better look because it’s an up-and-coming area,” Straatmann says. “Private investors and the city have done some really neat things downtown.” Kannapolis may be a northern Charlotte suburb, but it has its own identity and unique draws. “I just saw the other day that Charlotte is one of the top 10 most affordable places to live, but Kannapolis has an even better cost of living in the area. Another big draw is the whole area is being redeveloped. Downtown has a lot of new restaurants and clubs. They just moved the Cannon Ballers minor league team to a brand-new stadium downtown, too.”
An aerial view of downtown Kannapolis, Car Town.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was born and raised in Kannapolis, also known as Car Town.
An aerial view of Atrium Health Ballpark, home of the Kannpoilis Cannon Ballers in Car Town.
The downtown area of Kannapolis in Car Town still has a small town feel.
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Renovated mill homes and brand-new construction
Homes in Kannapolis take an average of 41 days to sell, slightly less than the national average of 44. The median price is $295,000 compared to the $418,700 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors. “Georgetown Crossings is a new townhome neighborhood, while Kellswater Bridge is a more established neighborhood with resort-style amenities. Both are big in Kannapolis, and there are a lot of new neighborhoods going in along the city’s outskirts.” Ranch-style homes and small mill homes make up the $200,000 to $400,000 range, while townhouses built as recently as 2024 start in the $300,000s. “Our son bought one of those mill houses about eight years ago, and he sold it for double what he bought it for,” says Straatmann. “He bought it before they started redeveloping downtown, which just shows how much the demand has grown.” Craftsman homes with at least three bedrooms start in the $400,000s and reach into the $600,000s. Flooding is uncommon in Kannapolis, but the manufactured homes along Tiffany Drive had significant flooding in 2023 during severe rainfall. Otherwise, the city has hot and humid summers followed by mild winters.
A craftsman home that's for sale in the Irish Creek golf course community in Car Town.
A ranch home with brick columns in Car Town.
A nice ranch home in Kannpolis, with a large front porch
A cottage style home with manicured landscaping in Car Town.
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Cannon Ballers baseball and annual city events
Kannapolis has six parks, and the city organizes dozens of events throughout the year. Many concert series and recurring events are held at Village Park, the city’s largest park with an amphitheater, greenway and splash pad. The Club at Irish Creek is one of the top 50 courses in North Carolina and hosts multiple events, including the Collegiate Championship for the greater Charlotte area. Jiggy With the Piggy is a downtown festival that celebrates all things barbecue, with vendors, fireworks, a pork tasting competition and a 5K run. The festival is one of the largest events in the country sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Baseball fans watch the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers compete against other minor league teams at Atrium Health Ballpark, built in 2020. Kannapolis is a community that strongly emphasizes overall health and well-being, so much so that the city brand is 'Discover a Healthy Life.’ Loop the Loop is a city-wide program that encourages residents to track their steps as they walk, bike or run designated routes that circle downtown and are marked by color-coordinated signs.
According to the Kannapolis Police Department’s 2023 annual report, the city’s crime index rate was 50% lower than statewide numbers. There was an 11% increase in reported violent crimes from 2022 to 2023 but reported nonviolent crimes dropped 1.5%, according to the FBI. "We are extremely fortunate to be next door to a major metro city and still have a low crime rate," Keller says. "We have a fantastic police chief and staff that stay on top of everything.” KPD also partnered with Target to create the annual Cops Target Kids for Christmas program, where children are paired with a police officer and spend a whole day shopping, dining and visiting Santa.
Kannapolis residents enjoy the Christmas lights at Village Park.
Veterans Park in Kannapolis is a beautiful park in downtown.
The playground at the ballpark is always available to the public in Car Town
Irish Creek, a great private golf club is a hidden gem in Kannapolis.
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Downtown grows with new restaurants and shops
The West Avenue District is the popular commercial area of town, and Main Street and West Avenue are some of the most notable hallways of shopping and dining. "The city has undergone a huge revitalization and now has a huge urban streetscape," says Anette Keller, Director of Communications. "We saw nearly 30 businesses open near the West Avenue District during COVID, and they are all still thriving." Coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, historic theaters and the Atrium Health Ballpark fill the area. West Avenue District is designated as a social and commercial district, even with sidewalks designed to have extra space for cycling or walking. The Blind Fox, which opened in 2022, offers memberships to bourbon and cocktail connoisseurs who want something more than a standard bar. “It’s an old speakeasy in one of the Cannon Mills bomb shelters,” Straatmann says. “You go down steps into the shelter and knock on a secret door to get in. It’s a whole experience.” Most commercial shopping centers are in southern Kannapolis, like the Carolina Mall.
The Swanee Theatre always has something going on in Downtown Kannapolis.
West Avenue brings you through the heart of Downtown Kannapolis.
The fountain in Downtown Kannapolis is a popular spot for people to gather.
There's many entertainment options in Downtown Kannapolis.
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Working in health, manufacturing or distribution
Kannapolis is the 20th largest city in Charlotte, with roughly 60,000 residents and a growing economic scene. The leading industries are food tech, distribution, manufacturing, motorsports and healthcare. The city is also home to the North Carolina Research Campus, where eight universities and private companies conduct nutrition research. Some residents commute south to Charlotte to work in the second-largest banking center in the country.
In 2022, Site Selection Magazine named Kannapolis as one of the top 15 cities for corporate headquarters relocation. The City Council works to attract more companies and small businesses to the area. Multiple commercial parks are currently in development or planning and will be built along Interstate 85, like the 85 Exchange campus, which will hold seven buildings and feature a nearby multifamily building.
The North Carolina Research Campus is located in Car Town, Downtown Kannapolis.
An aerial view of downtown Kannapolis, Car Town.
Kannapolis has easy access to all major interstates, including 85.
The NC Research Campus is a huge part of Downtown Kannapolis.
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Busing around town or commuting to Charlotte
Driving is the primary way to get around town, but there are public bus lines that connect Kannapolis commuters to nearby cities. CATS buses travel into Charlotte, while CK Rider buses have seven routes that wind throughout Kannapolis and Cabarrus County. Downtown has customer-only spaces in front of shops and designated free parking lots, making it easy to park and walk to the train station or ballpark. AMTRAK trains run daily services from the Kannapolis station to the Charlotte station and dozens of other stops up the East Coast. The Concord Regional Airport, 13 miles south along I-85, offers three airline options when flying to East Coast destinations, but the Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 30 miles away and has a broader reach. Atrium Health Cabarrus and Atrium Health Kannapolis Internal Medicine are off I-85, 4 miles from downtown.
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is just over 30 minutes from Kannapolis.
Concord Regional, is a small private airport just 20 minutes from Kannapolis.
Atrium Health Cabarrus is a major employer of Cabarrus County and Kannapolis residents.
Hwy. 29 and Interstate 85 connect in Kannapolis.
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Two school districts and future upgrades
Three different school districts serve the Kannapolis area, with the Kannapolis City School District receiving a B from Niche and getting a B-plus for college preparation. "One of the great things about the schools is they don't say no if there is a need; they say let's see how we can solve this," Keller says. "They are always thinking of better ways to improve things." Students looking to continue their education can head to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in nearby Salisbury, or well-known universities Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State are all about 144 miles away in the Raleigh area.
A. L. Brown High School in Kannapolis is home to the Wonders
The entrance to Concord Lake STEAM Academy in Kannapolis
Rowan Cabarrus Community College has a campus in Kannapolis
The entrance to Charles E. Boger Elementary School in Kannapolis.
I am Chelsea Desourdy - Owner of Handy Earth and your lively partner-in-crime for all things Real Estate! After a staggering 31 moves across the country, I understand every aspect of the industry and the emotions, stress, and strategy needed to make a smooth transition. I am not your standard Real Estate Agent - Handy Earth's mission is to be a one-stop shop for all things Homeownership; from Real Estate to Remodels and Home Maintenance - we believe everyone deserves to live in their dream home and provide the tools and resources to get you there.
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