U L Rusty Patterson

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shelby was established in 1841 as the seat of newly formed Cleveland County. Once a textile center surrounded by thousands of acres of cotton fields, Shelby is experiencing an exciting economic revival with a diversified mix of business and industry. The 1907 courthouse will be the center of a Southern music and heritage museum highlighting local musicians Earl Scruggs and Don Gibson. In Images of America: Shelby, U. L. Rusty Patterson and Barry Hambright have taken another look at Shelby, with special attention paid to the people who were responsible for the progress of the city; the many business, civic, religious, and social leaders within the community; the old Shelby public schools; and Shelby's proud sports heritage.

First National Bank is a locally owned community bank committed to providing quality, personal, caring service to all people in the towns and communities that make up its service area. The Hometown Bank has a talented team of people who care about the communities and people they serve. The bank's main office occupies a much enlarged space in the same building where itbegan 130 years ago. The illustrious history of First National Bank can be traced to 1874, when Jesse Jenkins and H.D. Lee organized a private bank in Shelby, North Carolina, known as J. Jenkins and Company. Burwell Blanton became a partner soon after the bank was established, and members of his family have headed the bank for nearly 130 years. In 1998, the bank acquired First Carolina Federal Savings Bank of Kings Mountain, North Carolina.