A Town By Any Other Name

From the Catawba tribe, to cotton fields, to country clubs — the tale of Cornelius’ history is rich with stories, anecdotes and images that span more than 300 years.

Based on extensive historical research, and drawing from in-depth interviews with many Cornelius residents and business people, A Town By Any Other Name charts the growth of a town that began as a Catawba trading ground and grew to be a significant and vibrant part of the North Carolina Piedmont. 

Beautifully illustrated maps by Davidson, NC artist, David Wilgus, show the lay of the land long before Duke Power created Lake Norman, while a spectacular collection of more than 100 photographs and archival images bring the town’s story to life.

Leslie Rindoks

A writer and designer originally from the Chicago area, Leslie Rindoks holds an MFA from Purdue University and studied at Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She is the executive editor at Lorimer Press and has written five books including A Town By Any Other Name.