Mecklenburg County was formed in 1762 from the western part of Anson County. It was named for the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), who had become queen consort of King George III the previous year. She is also the eponym of Mecklenburg County's county seat and largest city, Charlotte.
In 1768 the part of Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River became Tryon County. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was allegedly signed on May 20, 1775; if the document is indeed genuine, Mecklenburg County was the first part of the Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. In 1792 the northeastern part of Mecklenburg County became Cabarrus County. Finally, in 1842 the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County was combined with the western part of Anson County to become Union County.
Its county seat is Charlotte. It is the most populous county in the state.
In 1959, the North Carolina State Legislature revised laws that govern how cities may annex adjacent areas, allowing municipalities to annex unincorporated lands without permission of those residents. Due to decades of an aggressive annexation policy, cities (especially Charlotte) have greatly expanded their borders, diminishing or totally engulfing all of the original 15 Townships of Mecklenburg County. Although seldom mentioned by residents anymore, the U.S. Census still recognizes all of the Townships except Sharon Township.
* Charlotte Township - completely annexed into the City of Charlotte
* Mallard Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Crab Orchard Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Clear Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte and Mint Hill annexation
* Morning Star Township - almost entirely annexed by Charlotte, Mint Hill, and Matthews
* Sharon Township - completely annexed into Charlotte and eliminated
* Providence Township - almost entirely annexed into Charlotte
* Pineville Township - mostly annexed by the City of Pineville
* Steele Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Berryhill Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Paw Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Long Creek Township - greatly reduced by Charlotte annexation
* Deweese Township - reduced by Davidson and Cornelius annexation
* Huntersville Township - reduced by Huntersville annexation
* Lemley Township - mostly beneath Lake Norman since it was created in 1963, and reduced by Huntersville annexation
James Knox Polk, the eleventh President of the United States, was born here in 1795 in what is now Pineville.
