Local History

In 1841, Cleveland County was formed from the existing counties of Rutherford and Lincoln. The county's name was chosen in honor of Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Benjamin Cleveland.

In 1842, the county seat was established and named Shelby after Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Isaac Shelby. Shelby became the center of Cleveland County's government and the official county seat. The founders of Shelby named the main streets after Revolutionary War heroes Lafayette, Marion, Warren, DeKalb, Sumter, Morgan, and Graham.

From the 1800s to the 1960s, Cleveland County's primary form of subsistence was agriculture. Wheat, sweet potatoes, and oats were all grown in the area, but cotton was king. Cotton was so plentiful that in the 1940s, Cleveland County produced a larger yield per acre of cotton than any other county in the entire United States.

Today, the county's economy is largely made up of manufacturing firms, distribution centers, and small businesses.

More information about the local area's history is available through the Cleveland Country Chamber.