Long known as the "International Gateway to the South," Charlotte is located along North Carolina's border with South Carolina. With a population of 622,405, it's the largest city in North Carolina and home to some of the nation's top financial institutions.
Overview
Also called the Queen City, Charlotte is named for Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of Britain's King George III. Charlotteans enjoy the pace of a southern city in a mild climate; temperatures generally range from the 40s in the winter to the low 90s in the summer.
Despite the economic slowdown, Charlotte continues to draw thousands of new residents a year, thanks to a diverse manufacturing base. It has been known as a thriving financial center, home to both Bank of America and Wachovia, which was bought by Wells Fargo in the wake of the financial crisis. Currently, Wells Fargo is making Charlotte its East Coast base.
Charlotte is also home base for NASCAR fans. The city is home to 80 percent of Spirit Cup drivers, and the Lowe's Motor Speedway hosts several major races. The NASCAR Hall of Fame, slated to open during 2010, will feature nearly 1,000 pieces of racing memorabilia and a giant 64-screen video wall.
For thrill-seekers, there's the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a 307-acre Olympic-quality facility for adventure sports ranging from whitewater rafting and kayaking to mountain biking. Cultural entertainment can be had at the Mint Museum of Art, which maintains one of the state's most notable collections and offers educational programs.
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Charlotte is home to the PGA's Quail Hollow Championship (formerly known as the Wachovia Championship) and a die-hard community of golf fans. The city has some 40 public courses, and one of America's premier golf destinations is 90 miles away in Pinehurst, N.C.
Charlotte Schools
Charlotte boasts several universities, including the 24,000-student University of North Carolina–Charlotte and Davidson College, a liberal arts college 20 minutes north of the city. In 2006, the Charlotte School of Law became the city's first law school. Other private universities include Johnson and Wales University, Queens University of Charlotte, and Johnson C. Smith University.
Charlotte Health Care
The 581-bed Presbyterian Hospital ranks as one of U.S. News' Best Hospitals. The Carolinas Medical Center, run by Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare System, is the third-largest non-profit public-health system in the nation. Both were recently included on AARP The Magazine's list of the top 125 U.S. hospitals. There are 59 hospitals within 30 miles of the city.
Charlotte Jobs
The financial sector remains Charlotte's largest employer, and the city is currently waiting to see how merging Wachovia into the eastern headquarters of Wells Fargo will affect jobs and the economy. Unemployment in the Charlotte metro area rose to 11.7 percent in February, well above the national average. But the city contains a wide variety of employers, including manufacturing, retail, and education. The Charlotte metropolitan area is also home to the corporate headquarters of Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, SPX, Nucor and Goodrich Corp., Lowe's, and Family Dollar. The median household income is $49,555.
Charlotte Real Estate
The real estate slump has had a noticeable impact on the Charlotte area. Home sales in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte is the county seat)were 37 percent below a year ago as of April. The county also had the highest rate of foreclosures in the state as of April. The median home price in 2008 was $153,087.
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