Cabarrus County Genealogy
- Formed 1792
- Parent county / earlier Mecklenburg
- County seat Concord
- Neighbors mecklenburg, rowan, stanly, union, iredell
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1792 from Mecklenburg — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Concord · Library: Cabarrus County Public Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Cabarrus County was formed in 1792 from Mecklenburg. The county seat is Concord. Neighboring counties include mecklenburg, rowan, stanly, union, iredell.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
The county was formed in 1792 from Mecklenburg County. It was named after Stephen Cabarrus of Chowan County, speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons.
Gold was first discovered here by Conrad Reed in an unincorporated part of southeast Cabarrus county. Conrad Reed was the son of a Hessian Soldier brought over by British troops to fight in the Revolution. His father deserted and found a farm which later became the gold mine known as Reed's Gold Mine.
Cabarrus County includes the following townships: 1 (Central Cabarrus), 2 (Harrisburg), 3 (Concord), 4 (Poplar Tent) 5 (Odell), 6 (Kannapolis), 7 (New Gilead), 8 (Rimertown), 9 (Gold Hill), 10 (Mount Pleasant), 11 (Georgeville), and 12 (Midland)
The county is home to Lowe's Motor Speedway, which hosts three NASCAR events a year (the NASCAR All-Star Challenge, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Bank of America 500). The county is also home to several race shops, including Hendrick Motorsports (home to drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr) and Roush Fenway Racing (home to Matt Kenseth). Ken Schrader and Darrell Waltrip also have a racing shops in Cabarrus County.
The state's largest tourist attraction, Concord Mills Mall, is located in Cabarrus County.
The county is home to Reed Gold Mine, site of the first gold discovery in the United States in 1799.
Source Wikipedia
The County seat of Cabarrus County is Concord. The county name has been mis-spelled Cabarras county by some.
Historic Cabarrus, Inc.
PO Box 966
Concord, North Carolina 28026
Cabarrus Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2981
Concord, NC 28025-2981
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Cabarrus County Courthouse
PO Box 707
Governmental Center
Concord, NC 28026
Census
- 1850 Federal Census Index
- 1850 Federal Census Mortality Schedule transcription
- 1860 Federal Census Mortality Schedule transcription
Military Records
Roster of War of 1812 soldiers, Cabarrus County Regiment
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Cabarrus County:
- Barriers Mill
- Centerview
- Concord (County Seat)
- Finger
- Fisher Town
- Flowes Store
- Glass
- Harrisburg
- Kannapolis
- Midland
- Mount Pleasant
- North Concord
- Royal Oaks
- Shady Brook
- Sidestown
- Stonewall Jackson Training School Historic District
News related to Cabarrus County, NC
History notes
Cabarrus County (formed 1792 from Mecklenburg; seat Concord) combines gold-rush era fame (Reed Gold Mine) with later textile corridors (Concord/Kannapolis). Parent Mecklenburg still matters for early events; metro spillover links to Charlotte research patterns.
Local history & events
- Craig Andrew Mullis Obituary | Cabarrus Funeral Cremation & Cemetery | Kannapolis, NC - Tribute Archive
- Precious metalheads: Visitors find nuggets of history at Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County - Queen City News
- Cabarrus commissioner says Juneteenth is ‘based on a lie,’ drawing backlash - Charlotte Observer
- Follow Up: Cabarrus County EMS receives $10 million grant to expand community paramedic program - dailydispatch.com
- Cabarrus County state Senate seat to be major 2026 battleground - Carolina Journal
- Teenager accused of killing girlfriend’s father in Cabarrus County neighborhood - WBTV
Research tools
Record availability matrix
| Record type | Coverage | Years (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal census | good | 1790–1950 | Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1792– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1792– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Church & parish | partial | varies | Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives. |
| Newspapers | varies | varies | Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC. |
| Military | good | 1775– | Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units. |
| Cemeteries | partial | varies | Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books. |
| Court records | partial | 1792– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1792, search parent jurisdiction: Mecklenburg. |
| Tax lists | sparse | varies | Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts. |
Newspapers
Cemeteries & burial research
- Cabarrus County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Cabarrus County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.
Vital records
North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Cabarrus County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.
Cemeteries (legacy notes)
Cemetery surveys for Cabarrus County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.
Courthouse & contacts
The county seat is Concord. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Cabarrus County Public Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1792
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Mecklenburg — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):