Before Kannapolis was officially a city, the area was largely rural farmland and small communities in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties. In 1906, industrialist J.W. Cannon purchased over 1,000 acres of farmland to build a textile mill town for his workers. By 1908, Cannon Manufacturing began operating, and housing, schools, utilities, and community infrastructure were built around the mill — creating a classic company town. The town remained unincorporated until 1984, when Kannapolis officially became a city. The textile industry dominated for much of the 20th century, but a turning point came in 2003 when Pillowtex, a successor in the textile chain, declared bankruptcy and laid off thousands of workers. In response, the city made bold moves toward revitalization, including repurposing mill land for the North Carolina Research Campus, a hub for biotech and nutrition research. A major cultural and community anchor is the city’s baseball infrastructure. From 1995 to 2019, Intimidators Stadium served as home to the Kannapolis minor league team. In 2020, the team moved into Atrium Health Ballpark, a new $52 million downtown stadium built on former mill lands. The modern ballpark now serves as a catalyst for downtown redevelopment, hosting games, concerts, and community events. With the move, the team rebranded as the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers — a name honoring both the city’s textile heritage and its future identity. Today, Kannapolis is a city blending its mill-town roots with aspirations for innovation and growth. The downtown area is undergoing revitalization with investments in retail, public space, mixed-use housing, and infrastructure. The presence of the ballpark, the research campus, and cultural assets like the Gem Theatre and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame give the city a multifaceted identity.