History
Cannon Mills
For most of the twentieth century, the mill was the town: employer, landlord and civic patron at once.
A company town
Cannon built housing, stores and community facilities for workers. Because the company owned so much of the town, Kannapolis remained unincorporated for decades — a fact that still shows up in how its streets, lots and housing were laid out.
Change and closure
After the Cannon family era, the company was sold in 1982 and later merged into Fieldcrest Cannon, which was acquired by Pillowtex. Pillowtex closed in 2003, eliminating thousands of jobs across the region in a single day.
Not every older house is a mill house
Many homes in older parts of the city date from the mill era, but not all were company housing and few are formally designated historic. Check property records rather than assuming.
Continue Your Research
Homes
Established Homes
Older Kannapolis homes can offer mature trees, walkable streets and character — and they reward careful due diligence.
Research & Employment
North Carolina Research Campus
Built on the former Cannon Mills plant site, the campus is a public-private research center — not a single university.
History
Kannapolis History
Few American cities were shaped as completely by a single company — and few have had to reinvent themselves so publicly.
History
Downtown Development
When a city buys its own downtown, the result is a decade of visible work. Here's how to read it.