Why does this Charlotte-area community share the name of another state’s capital?
Denver, an unincorporated community on Lake Norman’s western shore, is home to thousands of families and is one of the most densely populated areas of Lincoln County.
Notable residents include the late Paul Silas, a legendary NBA player and coach, and NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, who is selling his Lake Norman mansion for a whopping $13 million.
Drivers traveling south on N.C. 16 Business toward Denver will eventually see a welcome sign that reads “Denver of the East,” a sign that hints at the existence of another place with the same name.
But why does the community share the name of Colorado’s most populous city?
A short history of Denver
The community settled in the late 18th century and was originally called “Dry Pond,” named for a pond at the intersection of N.C. 16 Business and Campground Road that dried up during the warmer months, according to the Lincoln County Historical Association.
According to longtime Denver resident David Rohr, who gathered information from the N.C. Office of Archives and History, residents were concerned that the name “Dry Pond” would hinder their chances of obtaining railroad service through the area.
To attract railroad planners and boost the community’s economy, David Matthew Thompson, the principal at Rock Springs Seminary (now Rock Springs Elementary School) renamed the town “Denver” in 1875, after Colorado’s bustling capital city.
Denver was officially incorporated in 1877, but due to the lack of a rail line, the town did not have the funds to maintain its infrastructure, and lost its incorporated status in 1971.
Since then, there have been at least two attempts to incorporate Denver, with the most recent effort in 2020. However, most Denver residents have long been opposed to incorporation, largely due to the additional taxes it would bring.
In 2018, a survey conducted by N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, who represents Lincoln County, found that 80% of Denver residents did not support incorporation, the Lincoln-Times News reported.
“Taxes would go up pretty dramatically,” Lincoln County Commissioner Bud Cesena previously told the Observer. “It adds another layer of government that is not necessary at this point.”
