Concord’s three historic districts (North Union, South Union, and Edgewood) comprise one of the largest and most intact collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth century homes in all of North Carolina. Most prominent are mansions built for the founders of the textile industry which dominated the region’s economy for over a century, as well as the homes of leaders in banking and other supporting enterprises. Two are featured as examples of late Victorian architecture in A Field Guide to American Homes, published by Alfred A. Knopf: the James William Cannon house (65 North Union Street) and the N. Felix Yorke house (103 North Union).

More numerous but no less handsome are a wide array of family-sized dwellings, the earliest of which were built along Greek Revival lines around the time of the Civil War. Among the best preserved of the few survivors from this period is the William C. Boyd house at 139 North Union Street. The majority were constructed in later Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman styles, all of which are intermingled on tree-lined streets.

Those accustomed to the typical sameness of modern neighborhoods may be surprised to see how gracefully these distinctly designed homes have melded into a unified streetscape. Set among mature oaks, each has acquired an identity from successive generations of families, the names of which remain associated with a number of houses in town.

Perhaps the most compelling example of such continuity is a large Italianate dwelling sited on a lot of nearly an acre at 109 Cabarrus Avenue West. Built in 1878 for George M. Lore, a Confederate veteran and prominent local merchant, it remained in the immediate family until the death of his daughter, Eugenia, in 1993. Between published sources and the memories of long-time residents, colorful stories have been preserved about the Lore house and others with similarly rich traditions.

Aside from aesthetics and heritage, historic Concord offers a number of advantages in quality of life. Unlike in the suburbs, there are sidewalks which actually lead somewhere besides the end of a cul-de-sac! Many residents live within walking distance of their church, banks, the Charles A. Cannon Memorial Library, and the Old Courthouse community theater. With the ongoing revitalization of the central business district, shopping and dining are increasingly accessible as well.

The two elementary schools which serve the historic districts have been recognized by the State Department of Public Instruction for fostering academic achievement. Along with excellent instruction, children benefit from the nurturing, close-knit environment which only a true neighborhood school can provide. This same sense of community extends to the members of the Residents of Historic Concord, which exists both to promote fellowship and to advocate when issues arise which affect our collective quality of life. Recognizing our responsibility to maintain the unique character of old Concord for generations to come, R.H.C. has been increasingly successful in advancing preservation as a core value in planning, zoning, and other decisions related to the future of the neighborhood.

When the town was incorporated in 1796, the name "Concord" arose from an agreement on the location of the first courthouse between German and Scotch-Irish settlers living on opposite sides of Cabarrus County. It remains appropriate today as a reflection of an evolving harmony between historic sensibilities and the best of modern living.