2 minute read
The Towns of Lake Norman — Cornelius
BY RENEE ROBERSON
Cornelius
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A lake lifestyle with plenty of amenities
BY RENEE ROBERSON OLD TOWN CORNELIUS OFFERS QUAINT SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.
Photography by Brant Waldeck/Old Town Cornelius, www.oldtowncornelius.com
Full disclosure: I technically live in Davidson, but because “my” half of my neighborhood falls within the town limits of Cornelius, I get to enjoy the best of two amazing towns. Having been in this area since 2003, I’ve watched Cornelius grow and love how much it has to offer area residents.
I don’t live on the lake, but if I want to dip my toes in the water we have the lakefront beach area at Ramsey Creek Park, or we can simply drive 10 minutes up the street to the Lake Norman YMCA for stand up paddleboarding or kayaking. There are plenty of boat clubs where we can rent a boat for a day if we want to do some lake sightseeing. For a fun meal right on the water, there’s Port City Club or Hello Sailor!
You can get a sense of the rich history of the town (legend has it that the town’s origin has been traced to a dispute over cotton weighing) by driving down Catawba Avenue. A historic building that once housed a mill sits adjacent to Town Hall in Old Town Cornelius, and you can attend monthly arts and culture festivals right in the heart of Cornelius, complete with food trucks and familyfriendly entertainment. The Cain Center for the Arts will soon add even more cultural opportunities to an already vibrant town. Bailey Road Park is often the site of festivals, concerts as well as the annual fireworks show.
Cornelius has plenty of unique boutiques, like FlairTRADE Consign, Sweet Magnolia, Walls of Books and Luna’s, plus Dutchman’s Designs and Home, Heart & Soul for gifts and home décor and design. We have everything from comfort food to fast food chains, breweries like Eleven Lakes and D9 and popular grocery stores like Aldi, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter and Publix.
Whether you live in a historic craftsman-style home in the heart of town, a townhouse or a lakefront property, the town has a variety of neighborhoods with amenities to please every member of the family. The town is so popular it has attracted the likes of celebrities and professional athletes, along with corporate executives who enjoy the slower pace of life on the lake.
Cornelius is a great example of how to marry small-town charm with modern amenities, and I appreciate being connected to all it has to offer.
Cornelius by the numbers
Year incorporated: 1905 Population: 30,257 Median household income: $90,542 Median value of owner-occupied housing units: $322,400 Source: www.census.gov
