North Carolina counties began creating townships in 1868 when the state adopted the Township and County Commissioner Plan. The plan was based on provisions in Pennsylvania’s constitution:
- The plan divided each county into townships, and each township was given its own board.
- The township boards were made up of two justices of the peace and a clerk, who were elected to two-year terms.
- The boards were responsible for roads, property tax assessments, and township finances.
- Townships also elected constables and local school committees.
Cleveland County was divided into 11 townships. They were:
- Township 1, River
- Township 2, Boiling Springs
- Township 3, Rippys
- Township 4, Kings Mountain
- Township 5, Warlick
- Township 6, Shelby
- Township 7, Sandy Run
- Township 8, Polkville
- Township 9, Double Shoals
- Township 10, Knob Creek
- Township 11, Casar
In 1877, the North Carolina General Assembly stripped townships of their government system. However, townships were still used as informal subdivisions for infrastructure maintenance and the census. Today, townships are used as districts for electing county commissioners and sub-county referendum elections.
Cities and Towns
Cleveland County currently has two cities, 13 towns, and one census-designated area. Since the formation of Cleveland County in 1841, some towns have formed and lasted until now, while others have changed names over time. Still others formed and became extinct. The Heritage of Cleveland County, Vol. 1 (pg. 25) provides a summary of Cleveland County towns with post offices. Below is a map of the county as it was between 1841 and 1850.
The table below includes three municipalities which were incorporated, had their incorporation repealed, then were reincorporated at a later date. There are various circumstances for a repeal–a town may decide it wants a simpler government, there may be a lack of candidates for local office, or there could be a concern over limited resources.
| cities | year settled | year incorporated | 1st mayor |
| Kings Mountain | 1830s | 1874 | William Andrew Mauney |
| Shelby☆ | 1841 | 1843, 1849 | |
| towns | |||
| Belwood | 1875 | 1978 | Robert Decatur Warlick |
| Boiling Springs | 1843 | 1911 | Drury Joseph Hamrick |
| Casar | early 1800s | 1890 | Hamp Brackett |
| Earl | 1840 | 1891 | J. S. Thomasson |
| Fallston | 1880s | 1893, 1971 | Thomas Falls |
| Grover | early 1800s | 1887 | J. Frank Wood |
| Kingstown | 1960s | 1989 | Clarence Withrow |
| Lattimore | early 1880s | 1895 | A. M. Lattimore |
| Lawndale | 1888 | 1903 | John F. Schenck |
| Mooresboro | 1878 | 1885, 1943 | B. H. Bridges |
| Patterson Springs | 1830 | 1973 | Edwin A. Patterson |
| Polkville | 1791 | 1971 | Richard Whisnant |
| Waco | early 1840s | 1880 | A. J. Beam |
| ☆ county seat |
Cleveland County History 