Southwest North Carolina Cities

City
Rank
County
2026 Pop. ↓
Charlotte1Mecklenburg County982,070
Concord2Cabarrus County116,559
Gastonia3Gaston County88,392
Huntersville4Mecklenburg County69,892
Kannapolis5Cabarrus County63,053
Mooresville6Iredell County57,078
Hickory7Catawba County46,353
Indian Trail8Union County45,201
Monroe9Union County44,007
Salisbury10Rowan County37,239
Cornelius11Mecklenburg County35,796
Matthews12Mecklenburg County33,406
Statesville13Iredell County32,809
Mint Hill14Mecklenburg County30,054
Waxhaw15Union County23,746
Shelby16Cleveland County23,531
Harrisburg17Cabarrus County21,106
Mount Holly18Gaston County19,287
Stallings19Union County18,117
Albemarle20Stanly County18,027
Davidson21Mecklenburg County17,023
Belmont22Gaston County16,672
Weddington23Mecklenburg County14,807
Newton24Catawba County13,935
Lake Norman of Iredell25Iredell County13,669
Lincolnton26Lincoln County12,769
Kings Mountain27Cleveland County12,279
Pineville28Mecklenburg County12,089
Lake Norman of Catawba29Catawba County11,456
Wesley Chapel30Union County9,759
St. Stephens31Alexander County9,559
Conover32Catawba County9,022
Unionville33Union County7,471
Marvin34Union County7,182
Cherryville35Gaston County6,606
Dallas36Gaston County6,480
Locust37Stanly County6,409
Bessemer City38Gaston County5,910
Cramerton39Gaston County5,788
Long View40Alexander County5,436
Westport41Catawba County5,322
Midland42Cabarrus County5,240
Sawmills43Alexander County5,115
Wadesboro44Anson County5,026
Ranlo45Gaston County4,913
Boiling Springs46Cleveland County4,816
Wingate47Union County4,702
China Grove48Rowan County4,694
Troutman49Iredell County4,427
Stanley50Gaston County4,290
Lowell51Gaston County3,994
Maiden52Catawba County3,963
Landis53Rowan County3,921
Lowesville54Catawba County3,920
Bethlehem55Alexander County3,862
Lake Park56Union County3,680
Mineral Springs57Union County3,585
Enochville58Rowan County3,500
Spencer59Rowan County3,478
Granite Quarry60Rowan County3,157
Marshville61Union County2,784
Cajah's Mountain62Alexander County2,700
Norwood63Stanly County2,607
Denver64Lincoln County2,523
Rockwell65Rowan County2,439
Oakboro66Stanly County2,353
Taylorsville67Alexander County2,339
Badin68Stanly County1,884
Mount Pleasant69Cabarrus County1,845
Claremont70Catawba County1,805
Hemby Bridge71Union County1,798
Stanfield72Stanly County1,773
East Spencer73Rowan County1,664
Polkton74Anson County1,541
Northlakes75Alexander County1,445
Springdale76Gaston County1,378
Stony Point77Alexander County1,297
McAdenville78Gaston County973
Cleveland79Rowan County910
Red Cross80Cabarrus County860
Faith81Rowan County852
Grover82Cleveland County812
JAARS83Union County809
Alexis84Gaston County782
Catawba85Catawba County742
Iron Station86Lincoln County714
New London87Stanly County674
Kingstown88Cleveland County670
Misenheimer89Stanly County657
High Shoals90Gaston County645
Richfield91Stanly County640
Fallston92Cleveland County638
Harmony93Iredell County632
Patterson Springs94Cleveland County593
Lawndale95Cleveland County580
Polkville96Cleveland County517
Gold Hill97Rowan County494
Lattimore98Cleveland County472
Ansonville99Anson County462
Crouse100Lincoln County441
Millingport101Stanly County422
Lilesville102Anson County399
Peachland103Anson County395
Aquadale104Stanly County348
Morven105Anson County330
Waco106Cleveland County317
Casar107Cleveland County309
Mooresboro108Cleveland County298
Light Oak109Cleveland County236
Earl110Cleveland County212
Love Valley111Alexander County187
Hiddenite112Alexander County168
McFarlan113Anson County96

About Southwest North Carolina

Sources

  1. US Census: 2025 Gazetteer Files
  2. City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024