Where is Cornelius, North Carolina, USA?

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: April 28, 2026 | 14:51 ET

Where is Cornelius Located? - Cornelius is a city located in the Mecklenburg County of North Carolina, United States. Cornelius lies between 34.5199402 Degrees North latitudes and 105.8700901 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Cornelius, North Carolina

Where is Cornelius, North Carolina

Cornelius Map, North Carolina, USA

Where is Cornelius?: The Google Map showing the location of Cornelius in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Where is Cornelius Located?

Cornelius is a city located in the Mecklenburg County of North Carolina, United States. Cornelius lies between 34.5199402 Degrees North latitudes and 105.8700901 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Cornelius city is 31412 people and the city has a total area of 12.88 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Cornelius, North Carolina Quick Facts

FieldValue
CityCornelius
CountyMecklenburg County
StateNorth Carolina
State CapitalRaleigh
US RegionSoutheastern United States
Latitude35.4868°N
Longitude80.8601°W
Elevation840 ft (256 m)
Land Area17.3 sq mi
Water Area0.9 sq mi
Total Area18.2 sq mi
Population31,412 (2020 Census)
Population Density~1,815 per sq mi
ZIP Codes28031, 28078
Area Code704, 980
Time Zone (Standard)Eastern Standard Time (EST) UTC -5
Time Zone (DST)Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) UTC -4
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code37-14740
Congressional District12th District

Nearby Cities to Cornelius, North Carolina

  • Huntersville, North Carolina - South - 6 mi
  • Davidson, North Carolina - North - 4 mi
  • Mooresville, North Carolina - North - 12 mi
  • Charlotte, North Carolina - South - 18 mi
  • Statesville, North Carolina - Northwest - 30 mi
  • Concord, North Carolina - East - 22 mi
  • Kannapolis, North Carolina - Northeast - 28 mi
  • Harrisburg, North Carolina - Southeast - 25 mi
  • Gastonia, North Carolina - Southwest - 35 mi
  • Lowesville, North Carolina - West - 10 mi

Cornelius, North Carolina Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January51323.5
April72503.4
July90714.2
October74523.1
Annual725244.0
Climate AttributeValue
Climate Classification (Köppen)Humid Subtropical (Cfa)
Annual Rainfall~44 inches
Annual Sunshine Days~215 days
Tornado RiskLow to Moderate
Snowfall1–3 inches annually

Driving Distances from Cornelius, North Carolina

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
HuntersvilleNC610 min
DavidsonNC48 min
MooresvilleNC1215 min
CharlotteNC1825 min
ConcordNC2228 min
KannapolisNC2835 min
StatesvilleNC3040 min
GastoniaNC3545 min
HarrisburgNC2530 min
Winston-SalemNC651 hr 10 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Cornelius, North Carolina

ModeDetails
AirportCharlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
PortNot applicable (inland city)
Major HighwaysI-77, NC-73, US-21
Rail/AmtrakAmtrak service available in Charlotte
Local TransitCharlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
  • I-77 - major north-south interstate connecting Cornelius to Charlotte and Virginia
  • NC-73 - east-west route connecting Lake Norman area communities
  • US-21 - local connector route through Lake Norman region

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Cornelius, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
Lake NormanLake / Recreation Area
Jetton ParkLakefront Park
Robbins ParkCommunity Park
Bailey Road ParkRecreation Park
Cain Center for the ArtsCultural Center
Smithville Park (nearby)Historic Park
Memory Lane Museum (nearby Mooresville)Museum
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame (nearby)Museum

Places to Visit in Cornelius, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
Lake Norman State Park (nearby)State Park
Jetton ParkLakefront Park
Ramsey Creek ParkWaterfront Park
Robbins ParkCommunity Park
Latta Nature PreserveNature Preserve
Historic Downtown DavidsonHistoric District
Birkdale Village (nearby Huntersville)Shopping District
McDowell Creek GreenwayGreenway Trail

Colleges and Universities in Cornelius, North Carolina

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (nearby)PublicUniversityEngineering & research programs
Davidson College (nearby Davidson)PrivateUniversityLiberal arts excellence
Central Piedmont Community College (North Campus)PublicCommunity CollegeCareer & technical education

Waterbodies in Cornelius, North Carolina

Lake Norman, McDowell Creek, Torrence Creek, Jetton Lakefront Waters, Ramsey Creek

Golf Courses in Cornelius, North Carolina

The Peninsula Club, Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club, Birkdale Golf Club (nearby), Mooresville Golf Course (nearby)

Cornelius, North Carolina - Key Historical Facts

  • Cornelius developed as part of the Lake Norman region after the creation of the reservoir in the 1960s.
  • The town was incorporated in 1905 and originally grew as a small farming community.
  • Lake Norman transformed Cornelius into a residential and recreational lakeside town.
  • Rapid suburban growth began in the late 20th century due to its proximity to Charlotte.
  • The town became part of the Charlotte metropolitan area’s expansion corridor.
  • Today, Cornelius is known for waterfront living, parks, and boating culture on Lake Norman.

References

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