Kings Mountain, named for one of the two peaks in its namesake state park, is a quiet little town in rural North Carolina’s Cleveland County. Major industries include manufacturing and agriculture; Frito-Lay, Firestone Fibers & Textiles and Revolution Performance Fabrics are top local employers. “It’s a very small town, with not a whole lot going on. But it is a quaint, cute little place,” says Colleen Essick, an Allen Tate Realtor with several years of experience working with clients in the area. She says it’s the atmosphere and affordability that appeal most to homebuyers. “The taxes aren’t unreasonable, and the home prices aren’t unreasonable. Plus, there’s been a lot of growth, specifically new construction homes,” Essick says. Realtor Choon Kim, also of Allen Tate, a current resident, agrees, noting that while property values tend to be higher than those in the neighboring town of Shelby, it’s still a much more affordable place to buy a home than Charlotte. Plus, many homes here don’t actually go on the market. “People in Kings Mountain don’t move," Kim says. "They’ll hand over the property to their children or relatives, so they don’t go through the typical sales channels, which means that if a home goes up for sale on the general market in Kings Mountain, it’s highly desirable.”
Kings Mountain State Park features trails, lakes, wildlife viewing and more for visitors.
The beauty of Kings Mountain is found in the vast open acres of untouched nature surrounding the city.
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New construction on the rise
Kings Mountain’s median single-family home price is $275,000, far lower than Charlotte’s median of almost $450,000 and the national median of $406,100. Midcentury bungalows and ranch-style homes are common all over town; Traditional and Modern Transitional-style new builds are popping up, too. Some are scattered throughout town individually, but Kim observes that there are many new developments on the southeast side, in the Pinnacle area close to Crowders Mountain State Park. “In 2024, we had a 23% increase in new listings, so we’re definitely selling more homes here,” Essick says, adding that the average days-on-market is 56. That’s slightly higher than the national average of 44. “Kings Mountain is one of those places where we’ve seen an increase in both the average sale and the number of listings. The larger lot sizes and new construction are appealing, especially to young families," Essick continued. "People are able to get a new construction home on a larger lot than in Charlotte or Rock Hill, where builders are putting new construction on small, tiny little lots.”
New communities are being developed around Kings Mountain helping to draw new residents to the area.
Newer homes can be found hidden among the well established communities spread around Kings Mountain.
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Kings Mountain Gateway Trail will connect to mountainous parks south of town soon
Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park, a Revolutionary War battle site, are about 15 miles south of town. Technically, they’re in South Carolina, but Kim says North Carolinians from as far as Charlotte visit for day trips to hike the scenic mountain trails. “It’s a great area for people to go out and get some exercise and fresh air,” she says. Essick agrees, adding that Crowders Mountain State Park is equally popular for hiking and mountain views. Just north of the state border, it’s even closer to town. As the Ridgeway Trail expands, hikers will soon be able to access the three parks via the Kings Mountain Gateway Trailhead off South Battleground Avenue. The Catawba Two Kings Casino, off Interstate 85 just south of town, also draws visitors from around the region.
According to the Trust for Public Land, 13% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park in Kings Mountain proper. The city is in the final planning stages of the Davidson Park Renovation Project, an estimated $5.3 million update to the northwest side’s park that will add a new tot lot, fitness stations and pickleball courts. Deal Park hosts Kings Mountain’s annual Revolutionary Fourth celebration on July 4th, billed as the largest fireworks show between Charlotte and Asheville. Essick: “It’s a pretty big crowd-raiser for the area.” Patriots Park, downtown, also hosts annual events, like the NC BeachBlast Festival celebrating Carolina beach music in August, the Great Pumpkin Parade in October and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December.
Kings Mountain locals can learn more about Crowders Mountain State Park at the visitors center before heading to the trails.
The beauty of Kings Mountain is found in the vast open acres of untouched nature surrounding the city.
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Kings Mountain High School offers dual enrollment with Cleveland Community College
Kings Mountain students are zoned to attend seven schools within the Cleveland County Public Schools system, which earns an overall B-plus from Niche. The average student-teacher ratio is 15 to 1. While open enrollment/school choice is unavailable, Cleveland Early College High School in the neighboring city of Shelby offers an application-based college-prep magnet program. Kings Mountain High School works with Cleveland Community College to provide dual enrollment classes. Private school options include C-rated Grace Christian Academy and A-minus-rated Gaston Christian School, both nondenominational. Gaston Christian School’s Kings Mountain campus serves preschool through seventh graders in the historic Central School building downtown. The main campus, in Gastonia, about 16 miles east, serves preschool through 12th graders.
Older students in the area attend Kings Mountain High School.
Gaston Christian School is a private educational institution in Kings Mountain receiving an A- from niche.
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Some local shops and restaurants, more options in nearby Shelby
“Kings Mountain and Shelby are kind of intermingled in terms of shopping and dining. Most stores and restaurants are in Shelby, but Downtown Kings Mountain, right where the post office is, has some small shops, the city government building, the utilities building, and a few restaurants,” Kim says. Additional retailers are found in shopping centers along Business Route 74 and North Carolina Routes 161 and 216. Kim observes that while locals do gather for the occasional event in Downtown Kings Mountain, Shelby tends to host bigger events (and more often), like the NC Liver Mush Festival, which celebrates a popular regional dish. “Liver Mush is basically the exact same thing as scrapple, but it’s made from liver and cornmeal, whereas scrapple is everything but the oink, if you know what I mean,” Essick says. The annual event is held in Uptown Shelby every October, with liver mush and other food vendors, live music and a pet parade and costume contest.
Kings Mountain is a small town with big Southern charm welcoming visitors and new residents.
There are a variety of small and locally owned eateries and more for Kings Mountain locals to enjoy in nearby Shelby.
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Car-dependent but close to highways
With no public transportation available, Kings Mountain residents are car-dependent. However, Interstate 85 and U.S. Route 74 are nearby, connecting to bigger cities like Gastonia, about 11 miles east. Charlotte is another 15 miles farther east, typically a 45-minute drive, depending on traffic.
Cleveland County’s property crime rate is lower than North Carolina’s
While Kings Mountain crime states aren't readily available, Cleveland County's violent crime rate increased by just over 6% between 2022 and 2023. The county’s property crime rate declined by over 1% over the same period. Cleveland County’s violent crime rate is higher than the state’s, while the county’s property crime rate is lower than the state’s.
Written By
Megan Quintin
Photography Contributed By
Justin Stapp
Video By
Everett Hall-McNeill
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On average, homes in Kings Mountain, NC sell after 59 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Kings Mountain, NC over the last 12 months is $299,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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