Bessemer City tourist information
Our location on Interstate 85 gives us easy access to Charlotte NC, home of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. To the west of us you will find Kings Mountain State Park, historically significant and full of fun things to do with your family. Recreation is easy to find in Bessemer City. Our six area parks use 75 acres of our land and distributed around the area, giving most residents access to walking tracks, basketball courts, ball fields, and a swimming pool. There are also a number of organized seasonal activities directed by the city's Recreation Personnel. Our elevation is 904 feet above sea level, our climate is temperate. Our people friendly. We are a proud city with a proud heritage.
In the year 1754, King George II of England granted some land to James Ormand. That land was located in what then was know as Tryon County, Carolina. Mr. Ormand established the Ormand Mining Company, and that company helped in the establishment of Bessemer City. The Old Ormand Furnace is the oldest stack of its kind in America. This is where they processed some of the iron ore that was mined in this area. Its has an elusive history, but one story is that it was built to make cannon balls for use in the Revolutionary War. Tryon County was split in 1846, and part of it became Gaston County. In 1893 Bessemer City was chartered as a city in Gaston County. Mr. John Askew Smith was one of the founders of Bessemer City. A house that he built in the early 1900's was called "Highacre", and is now owned by the Eury family, who live in it currently. The Old Ormand Furnace still exists, but is used as a picnic ground and gathering place for the Ormand Family Reunion, one of the oldest family reunions in America, it has been held annually ever since 1897. Agriculture was the chief occupation at that time, corn and cotton were the main crops. Cotton mills started to prosper in this area at about that time, also. The population of Bessemer City at the time of its charter was very small, there were only a few families in town, but by 1900 it had grownß to between 500 and 600 people.
Today Bessemer City is still in the mining business. One of our largest industries is FMC Lithium, Inc. They are the largest producers of lithium in both Americas. Lithium is used in pharmaceuticals, batteries, ceramics, etc. There is also still some agriculture in the form of Kiser's Dairy Farm, among others. Mr. Kiser is a descendent of one of the founding families of Bessemer City and he has about 200 animals. Recently, many diversified industries have discovered the many assets of Bessemer City and have chosen the opportunity to grow and prosper with us.
by Bessemer City North Carolina
Bessemer City aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Bessemer City aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Bessemer City.
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