Before Concord became one of the fastest-growing cities in the Charlotte metro area, the land was settled in the mid-18th century by German and Scots-Irish immigrants. In the late 1700s, as Cabarrus County was being formed, a dispute arose between these groups over where to place the county seat. A compromise was reached: a 26-acre site was purchased, and in 1796 the town was laid out on a ridge near an old Indian trading path. The settlement was named Concord, meaning “harmony,” to reflect the spirit of the agreement. Concord was incorporated in 1837 on a one-square-mile tract. Over time, Concord grew as an agricultural trade center, especially for cotton farming in the antebellum era. By the turn of the century, Concord became a notable textile and mill town. Mills like theOdell-Locke-Randolph Cotton Mill (originating around 1839) played a key role in industrial growth. Another significant mill, the Coleman-Franklin-Cannon Mill, was founded in 1898 byAfrican-American entrepreneur Warren Clay Coleman, later expanded under subsequent owners. As textiles dominated much of the region, Concord’s downtown and neighborhoods developed with Victorian, Craftsman, and other historic architectural styles. In the mid-to-late20th century, as textile manufacturing declined, Concord diversified its economy, expanding into retail, services, education, manufacturing, and motorsports. Historic preservation also became a focus, with institutions like the Concord Museum (originally Memorial Hall, founded in 1939) preserving the city’s heritage.

Today, Concord balances its deep historic roots with rapid suburban growth and economic diversification. It remains the county seat of Cabarrus County and continues to evolve as a significant community in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area.