About Lake Norman
Lake Norman is just north of Charlotte, NC and is surrounded by Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba, and Lincoln county. We’ve created a guide to the area that includes information about:
- General area information.
- Schools report cards.
- Area taxes and utility companies.
Thirty years ago, Lake Norman – 25 miles to the north of Charlotte – was primarily a weekend retreat, its shores dotted with tin-roofed boathouses, mobile homes and fishing cabins.
That began to change, however, with the completion of Interstate 77 in 1976. Suddenly it was possible to live like you were on vacation all year round only a quick 20-minute drive from work, shopping and entertainment in the big city.
Lake Norman is a “working” lake, created by Duke Energy in 1963 for the generation of hydroelectric power. It covers 520 miles of shoreline in four counties – Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln and Catawba. At nearly 34 miles long and eight miles across at its widest point, it is larger than the Sea of Galilee and often referred to as “The Inland Sea.”
As any developer will tell you, retail follows rooftops and the Lake Norman area is no exception. Lake shoppers can now browse unique boutiques, quaint village shops, upscale specialty stores or national chains. In the town centers, entrepreneurs are converting homes, warehouses, old mills and train depots into craft, consignment, antiques and clothing shops. Restaurants, which used to look at Lake Norman as a secondary location, are now opening here first, then branching out to Uptown and other parts of Charlotte.
Unless you’re on a boat or have access to private land, 1,600-acre Lake Norman State Park in Troutman is the only place public swimming is allowed from Lake Norman shores. The park features a new beach, boat ramps, picnic shelters, campsites, and mountain biking and hiking trails.
