The City of Mount Holly, North Carolina's estimated population is 16,135 according to the most recent United States Census Bureau calculations from 2017.  Mount Holly is the 58th largest city in North Carolina out of 532 incorporated municipalities located within the State.  Mount Holly is a part of the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which is defined as seven counties in North Carolina and three counties in South Carolina. The population of the MSA was 2,636,883 according to 2019 Census estimates.  The Metrolina Region, as it has often been referred to, had the nation’s 13th-highest count of new residents.  Mount Holly seems to be experiencing some of this overall growth as well, having had a 3.41% increase in population in 2018, which was rated in the Top 5 out of nearly 30 towns in the Charlotte region.  The 2020 US Census will likely see the City’s population increase to over 17,000 people, given the latest annual growth, which is not reflected in the latest official estimate.  

Did You Know?  

Comprising a Land Area of 10.38 square miles, the population density of Mount Holly is 1554.13 people/mi² (600.05 people/km²).

The overall median age is 36.9 years, 34.7 years for males, and 39.1 years for females. For every 100 females there are 95.0 males.

According to the latest US Census Bureau report, the median income for households in Mount Holly is $55,880, while the median household income for North Carolina is $52,413.

According to the most recent American Community Survey, the racial composition of Mount Holly was:

• White: 75.86%

• Black or African American: 16.59%

• Other race: 3.82%

• Asian: 3.01%

• Two or more races: 0.61%

• Native American: 0.11%

• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.00%

Mount Holly, NC is located at (35.2982, -81.0159) in Gaston County, North Carolina.

Mount Holly utilizes two zip codes within the city limits, the zip code 28120 in Mount Holly proper, while the southern portion of the city has the zip code 28012, which is a Belmont address.  This was due to the City’s annexation of the unincorporated Catawba Heights Community in 1988.  During that time, the Mount Holly Post Office could not handle the large influx of new customers, and therefore, those citizens and businesses have their mail delivered through a Belmont address.  

Area codes in Mount Holly begin with 704 or 980.

While Mount Holly borders miles upon miles of shoreline along the Catawba River Basin, in what is commonly referred to as the Catawba River (Upper Lake Wylie) and Mountain Island Lake, officially the City can only count 0.08 square miles of water in its overall composition.  While Gaston County’s jurisdiction extends halfway into the lakes and rivers, meeting the Mecklenburg County line, the city limits of Mount Holly end at the water’s edge.  

Mount Holly’s Growth since 1990