Concord has earned national recognition after HGTV placed its historic downtown among the “40 Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America“. The honor highlights the Cabarrus County seat’s mix of culture, history, and small-town appeal, all within a 32-minute drive from Uptown Charlotte.
HGTV praised Concord for its vibrant street art, including a Union Street mural honoring folk-rock band The Avett Brothers. The feature also spotlighted the city’s boutiques, independent art galleries, preserved architecture, and nostalgic Cabarrus Creamery.
To narrow its list, HGTV sought downtowns with historic architecture, inviting shops, local culture, and an overall sense of charm. The editors noted that many small-town gems win visitors over through festivals, family-owned eateries, and lively main streets.
According to HGTV: “Concord, North Carolina, is home to a lively historic district that wows with small-town charm and a vibrant street art scene, which includes a tribute mural on Union Street dedicated to The Avett Brothers, a popular folk rock band from Concord. Just 30 minutes northeast of Charlotte, Concord attracts visitors to its one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries, historic architecture and, of course, scoops from retro-style Cabarrus Creamery. Stop in the historic Cabarrus County Courthouse to admire the architectural styles and wander curated art galleries, then revel in the lush year-round gardens at Memorial Garden on Spring Street. It’s located on land bought in 1804 for the original log cabin sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Concord.”
