Kannapolis, Urban center in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States
Kannapolis sits northeast of Charlotte at 253 meters elevation, spreading across Cabarrus County and Rowan County within the Charlotte metro area. The city connects residential neighborhoods with a downtown research complex and links to nearby towns.
J.W. Cannon founded the city in 1906 after purchasing roughly 400 hectares of land and building a textile mill that grew into the world's largest towel manufacturer. The mill closed in 2003, ending a century of industrial production and prompting a shift toward biotechnology and science.
The city takes its name from Greek words meaning loom, reflecting its origin as a company town built around textile mills. Today the downtown area hosts research facilities where scientists work on nutrition questions and plant studies, creating a hub for food science.
Drivers reach the downtown area through Interstate 85, while bus routes connect to Concord and other neighboring towns. The train station serves passengers traveling to Raleigh or Washington, linking the city to destinations along the East Coast.
The Earnhardt racing family grew up here, shaping the local motorsports culture across generations. A Formula 1 team maintains its headquarters in the area, connecting the city to international racing series.
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