Mooresville was founded in the late 1800s and named for John Franklin Moore, who convinced the Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio railroad to run tracks through the center of town. With the tracks came the mill industry. Mooresville became home to many large businesses such as Burlington Industries.

The buildings of downtown have been carefully preserved to showcase the history of the town. One such building is the D.E. Hardware store which is more than 100 years old.

Mooresville maintains its quaint Southern charm, even as the community is booming with new industry and business. Home to more than 60 race teams, as well as headquarters for several national companies such as Lowe´s Companies, Inc., Mooresville was voted a "Top Ten Place in the U.S. for Economic Development" in 2006.

Mooresville is a prime destination for any race fan. You can spend the day touring race shops, or explore the history of auto racing in one of the auto museums.

The calm waters of Lake Norman offer a great alternative to those not interested in the racing industry. You can take a lunch cruise on the Catawba Queen, a replica Mississippi paddleboat, or rent a pontoon boat or jet ski for the day. Lake Norman State Park is just a short drive from Mooresville and offers swimming, hiking, bike trails and camping.

 Another Mooresville attraction is the the Lazy 5 Ranch which offers a safari park featuring more than 750 exotic animals. Feed the animals, have a picnic, and let the kids enjoy the petting zoo.