I, Ruhrfisch CC-BY-SA-3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- 1841 Jan 11 — created from Rutherford and Lincoln counties. Named for Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, a hero at Kings Mountain. It is bounded by South Carolina to the south and NC counties: Rutherford, Burke, Lincoln, and Gaston.
- 1845 Jan 07 — part of Rutherford County was annexed by Cleveland.
- 1843 — The courthouse is in Shelby which was incorporated in 1843. You will find South Carolina deeds in the early deed books.
- 1874 — Double Shoals Mill, the first cotton mill in Cleveland County was built.
- 1887 Feb 10 — In the earlier years you will see Cleveland spelled Cleaveland. It was officially changed in 1887. It is the same county.
- 1915 Jun 24 — Article against women getting the right to vote
- 1916 Apr 6 — Local view of the US entering WWI
- 1916 Dec 04 — Part of Gaston County was annexed by Cleveland
- 1917 Feb 12 — annexation of Gaston confirmed by Legislature
- 1921 Feb 28 — Boundary between Cleveland and Gaston better defined.
cluster genealogy 
