The name of the town is derived from its location approximately halfway between Charlotte and Oakboro on the railroad line.

[citation needed] Formerly, the economy of Midland was essentially agricultural with some textile-related manufacturing jobs.

With the growth of Charlotte to the west, farming has played a decreasing role in the economic life of the town.

Increasingly, Midland has become a bedroom community for those commuting to work in nearby Charlotte and Concord.

The Reed Gold Mine is now a historic site under state management and is open to the public.

Corning operates a large-scale fiber-optic cable manufacturing plant in Midland that underwent a $50M expansion in 2012.