Description
Located in southwestern North Carolina along the boundary with South Carolina, 82 km (51 mi) west of Charlotte; County Seat: Shelby.
History
Formed in 1841 from Rutherford and Lincoln Counties. Originally spelled "Cleaveland County". Honors Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland (1738-1806), a western explorer and hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain. (NC-T11/p109)