Cleveland County

As of the most recent estimates, Cleveland County, NC, has a population of approximately 99,000. The racial composition is about 72% White, 21% African American, and 4% Hispanic or Latino. The median age is around 42 years. The median household income is approximately $40,000, and around 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. Education-wise, about 80% of residents are high school graduates, and nearly 15% hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

As of recent data (2023), Cleveland County, NC has a median home value of approximately $140,000. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $700 per month. The homeownership rate is about 66%, and the vacancy rate is approximately 11%. The housing market has seen a moderate appreciation of roughly 5% annually. The area features a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, with new housing developments on the rise.

As of the most recent election cycle, Cleveland County, NC, holds elections for several key positions, including county commissioners, sheriff, and various other local offices.

County Commissioners (2022 Election):

• Doug Bridges (Republican) - Incumbent
• Deb Hardin (Republican) - Incumbent
• Ronnie Whetstine (Republican) - Incumbent

Sheriff:

• Alan Norman (Republican) - Incumbent

Election Turnout and Results (as of the most recent data):

• Voter turnout: Approximately 28,000
• Commissioners: Republican candidates won with around 70% of the vote

Recent Important Dates:

• Primary Election: May 17, 2022
• General Election: November 8, 2022

Registered Voters:

• Around 62,000

These elections determine leadership impacting local law enforcement, public policy, and community development.

Cleveland County, NC, has an educational attainment where approximately 85.6% of residents aged 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Around 18.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Comparatively, the national average for high school attainment is about 88%, and for a bachelor's degree or higher, it is approximately 33.1%. On the state level, North Carolina's averages are close to the national figures, with 87.8% for high school graduates and 31.3% holding a bachelor's degree or more. Thus, Cleveland County trails behind both state and national averages in higher education attainment, reflecting a gap that may affect various socioeconomic factors in the region.

Cleveland County, NC, has an employment landscape characterized by a labor force participation rate of approximately 55-60%. As of the most recent data, the unemployment rate hovers around 4.5%, which is close to the national average of approximately 3.5-4%.

Top industries in Cleveland County include manufacturing (20%), healthcare and social assistance (15%), and retail trade (12%). Manufacturing, in particular, employs a higher percentage of the workforce relative to the national average of about 8.5% in this sector. Healthcare and social assistance are slightly below the national average of 16%, while retail trade aligns closely with the national level of roughly 11-12%.

The state of North Carolina as a whole has a somewhat similar industry distribution but with a lower emphasis on manufacturing (around 11%). The county's higher dependence on manufacturing makes it unique within the state and compared to national trends.

As of the latest available data, the average household income in Cleveland County, NC, is approximately $45,000. This figure is notably lower than both the North Carolina state average, which is roughly $57,000, and the national average, which stands at around $68,700. These differences highlight the economic disparities between Cleveland County and broader averages.

This table emphasizes the economic challenges faced by residents in Cleveland County when compared to state and national benchmarks.

As of the most recent data, Cleveland County, NC has a crime rate of approximately 3,200 incidents per 100,000 residents annually. This encompasses both violent and property crimes. For context, here is a summary table with types of crimes and their approximate counts:

Note: These values are approximations based on recent crime data and may vary year by year.