The primary settlement whose ruins are submerged beneath Lake Norman is the Mill Village that was part of the Long Island Cotton Mill operations.
History of the Submerged Village
While Lake Norman was formed by damming the Catawba River, creating a vast reservoir, it covered areas that were once home to various communities and industrial sites. Among these, the most significant and often referenced is the Mill Village connected to the historic Long Island Cotton Mill.
- Establishment: This mill and its accompanying village were originally built in the latter half of the 1800s, thriving as a center for textile production.
- Closure and Submergence: The entire complex, including the mill and its village, was shut down in the 1950s specifically to make way for the formation of Lake Norman. Today, the ruins of the Long Island Cotton Mill and its associated Mill Village remain resting at the bottom of the lake, a testament to the area's industrial past.
These submerged remnants offer a unique glimpse into the historical landscape of the region before the creation of North Carolina's largest man-made lake. For more general information about the area, you can visit Explore Lake Norman.
