Town guide · Piedmont
Kings Mountain
A small city on I-85 west of Charlotte, named for the nearby 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain, with a historical museum downtown.
35.24° N · -81.35° W · Cleveland County
DRay Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain was first called White Plains. On incorporating in 1874 it took the name of the nearby 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina, which Thomas Jefferson called the turning point of the Revolution. A play at the local theater, Liberty Mountain, tells the story of the battle. Downtown has the Kings Mountain Historical Museum and the Mauney Memorial Library. The city lies about thirty miles west of Charlotte along I-85. Most of it is in Cleveland County, with a small part in Gaston. National Register listings include the Margrace Mill Village Historic District. Kings Pinnacle rises at its southeastern corner within Crowders Mountain State Park, where trails lead to the top. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Kings Mountain
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Kings Mountain eventsNothing posted for the next few weeks yet.
Make it a weekend
More towns in Piedmont
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Kings Mountain
- County
- Cleveland County
- Standing
- #42 of 60 graded towns
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | F |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | F |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | B |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | B |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | A |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | F |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | F |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | Inc. |
Overall
D
HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
For community leadersWhere Kings Mountain has the most room to grow, and the next steps that would raise its grade. Show the breakdownHide the breakdown
Where Kings Mountain has the most room to grow
- Local government support (grade F)
- Arts organizations (grade F)
- Arts education (grade F)
Next steps
- Send us the adopted arts budget lines, grant programs and arts office details, so support is counted from evidence.
- Make sure local arts nonprofits file with an arts (NTEE “A”) code and the town’s address.
- Ask the school district to publish its arts-education plan and arts leader, and list arts schools and camps.
- Add founding years to long-running venues, festivals and arts groups.
- Request the full Kings Mountain advisory report from the Ray Arts Foundation.
Free for venues, groups and artists
List your place or event, free.
Your listing may already be here, built from public records. Claim it to fix the details, add photos you own and post your events.