In 1753, Scots-Irish Presbyterians and German Lutherans, who had originally settled in Pennsylvania, began arriving in what would become Statesville in 1789[5] to plant crops in the fertile soil where game and water were also plentiful.

Fort Dobbs combined the functions of a military barracks, fortification, refuge for settlers, provisioning depot and center for negotiations with Native Americans.

In 1800, there were 95 inhabitants in "States Ville", including 68 free white persons and 27 slaves.

[9] As early as 1833, Statesville's leaders began laying track for railroads to connect the Piedmont area of North Carolina with the rest of the country.

[5] By 1858, Statesville was growing rapidly and soon afterward began leading the state in the production of tobacco and tobacco products, the manufacture and blending of whiskey, and became a large distribution center for roots and herbs.

[11] Statesville is in central Iredell County, in the western part of the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Both creeks flow east, joining just before reaching the South Yadkin River near Cooleemee.

Statesville has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) like most of the state of North Carolina, although its higher elevation leads to cooler temperatures than much of the Piedmont.

[13]As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,419 people, 10,628 households, and 6,536 families residing in the city.

The former Wayside building is currently home to the UAW 3520 headquarters, while the former Alan D. Rutherford site is home to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Administrative Annex, now known as the Alan D. Rutherford Education Building.

In the 2008–2009 academic year, it became the first community college in the United States to be accepted into NASA's University Student Launch Initiative competition.

[24] In addition, the signals of many stations from the Charlotte area and Piedmont Triad region reach Statesville.