The Bulletin 



county is marked by gently rolling to rolling and broken surface fea- 

 tures. Along the streams are narrow strips of flat bottom-land, and 

 flanking these areas are the roughest parts of the uplands, being eroded 

 and broken in many places. In general, the greater part of the county 

 lies admirably for farming purposes. 



ELEVATION 



The elevation above sea level varies considerably in different parts 

 of the county. The highest elevations are in the northern part. The 

 elevation at Concord is 704 feet, farther west near Eocky Kiver 716 

 feet, at Flows Store 678 feet, and Eocky Eiver near Harrisburg 568 

 feet. 



DKAINAGE 



The general slope and drainage of the county is to the southeast ex- 

 cept along the northeastern border, and here it is to the south, as re- 

 vealed by the drainage system. The county is traversed by Eocky 

 Eiver and Coddle, Little Buffalo, Cold Water, Dutch Buffalo and 

 Eeedy creeks. These streams with their numerous branches and wet 

 weather tributaries ramify all parts of the upland and furnish ade- 

 quate drainage or outlets for every farm. The streams have cut their 

 channels from a few feet to 60 feet or more below the general level of 

 the county. They are fairly swift flowing, and along some of the larger 

 creeks and Eocky Eiver water power is developed and used for grinding 

 corn, wheat, ginning cotton and as auxiliary power to operate small 

 cotton mills. 



SETTLEMENT 



Cabarrus County was originally a part of Mecklenburg County, but 

 was given separate organization by the State Legislature in 1793-. Settle- 

 ment began between the years 1730 and 1740 by a colony from Switzer- 

 land. Shortly after the Eevolutionary War, the Dutch and Germans 

 came in large numbers from Pennsylvania and settled in the eastern 

 part, while the Scotch-Irish took up lands along the western border of 

 the county. Settlement advanced slowly until the close of the Civil 

 War, when a great impetus was given by the high prices of cotton, corn, 

 and wheat. The population at present consists principally of the 

 descendants of the original settlers and those who have moved into the 

 county from various parts of North Carolina. 



