Mecklenburg County Health Department records

The Mecklenburg County Health Department traces its origins back to the 1890s when the office of County Physician became an elective office. Dr. S. W. Bratton was chosen by the County Commission as the first physician to fill this post. Prior to the creation of this office, the sheriff coroner would solicit the services of a doctor at a specified rate per day. A severe smallpox epidemic precipitated the creation of the office of City Physician in 1896. Dr. F. O. Hawley was elected to fill that post and he served until his death in 1916.

The Health Department was organized in 1917 and Dr. C. C. Hudson was hired as the first health officer. In addition to a staff of four full-time and two part-time people, the Red Cross sent a unit of five nurses to assist in the Department's work. During the 1920s, the city and county departments were consolidated. By 1960, the Charlotte and Mecklenburg Health Department had been placed under one health director; the staff expanded to 128 for the city and 36 for the county. The Mecklenburg County Health Department currently operates out of facilities at 249 Billingsley Road and 2845 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte.

In 1973, the North Carolina General Assembly transferred all duties and responsibilities of a local policy Board of Health to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. As such, the Mecklenburg County Board of Health was officially terminated on December 17, 1973. When the County Commissioners assumed control on January 31, 1974, it created the Mecklenburg County Health Commission. The Commissioners mandated the Health Commission to review and consider all health matters and to make suitable recommendations to the Commissioners. The Health Commission held its first meeting on May 7, 1974, with dental surgeon E. U. Austin, serving as the first chair.