Charlotte, North Carolina#Arts and culture

{{Short description|Most populous city in North Carolina, United States}}

{{Redirect|Charlotte, United States|other places|Charlotte (disambiguation)#United States}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Charlotte

| settlement_type = City

| nicknames = The Queen City, The QC, CLT, The Hornet's Nest{{Cite web|url= https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2014/10/so-is-charlotte-the-real-queen-city.html|title=So is Charlotte the real Queen City?|last=Wilson|first=Jen|date=October 13, 2014|website=Bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=June 6, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.meckdec.org/|title=The Mecklenburg Historical Association, Charlotte, NC|website=meckdec.org|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610085215/https://www.meckdec.org/|archive-date=June 10, 2020|url-status=dead}}

| website = {{official URL|charlottenc.gov}}

| image_skyline = {{multiple image

| border = infobox

| perrow = 1/2/2/2

| total_width = 280

| caption_align = center

| image1 = Uptown Charlotte 2018 taking by DJI Phantom 4 pro.jpg

| caption1 = Uptown Charlotte skyline

| image2 = Dubois Center UNC Charlotte northeastern face July 2022.jpg

| caption2 = UNC Charlotte

| image3 = NASCAR Hall of Fame (51417358372).jpg

| caption3 = NASCAR Hall of Fame

| image4 = Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.jpg

| caption4 = Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

| image5 = Featured Photo of the USNWC.jpg

| caption5 = U.S. National Whitewater Center

| image6 = Bank of America Stadium.jpg

| caption6 = Bank of America Stadium

| image7 = Carowinds aerial view, September 2017.JPG

| caption7 = Carowinds

}}

| image_flag = File:Flag of Charlotte, North Carolina.svg
File:Flag of Charlotte, North Carolina (green).svg

| flag_link = Flag of Charlotte, North Carolina

| image_seal = New seal of Charlotte, North Carolina.svg

| image_blank_emblem = Charlotte NC city logo.svg

| blank_emblem_type = Logo

| image_map = {{maplink

| frame = yes

| plain = yes

| frame-align = center

| frame-width = 270

| frame-height = 270

| frame-coord = {{coord|qid=Q16565}}

| zoom = 9

| type = shape

| marker = city

| stroke-width = 2

| stroke-color = #0096FF

| fill = #0096FF

| id2 = Q16565

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| map_caption = Interactive map of Charlotte

| pushpin_map = USA North Carolina#USA

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within North Carolina##Location within the United States

| pushpin_relief = yes

| map_caption1 = Interactive maps of Charlotte

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_name1 = North Carolina

| subdivision_name2 = Mecklenburg

| government_type = Council–manager

| governing_body = Charlotte City Council

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Vi Lyles (D)

| established_title = Settled

| established_date = 1755{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/travel/things-to-do-in-36-hours-in-charlotte-nc.html|title=36 Hours in Charlotte, N.C.|last=Dixon|first=Chris|date=August 27, 2014|website=The New York Times|access-date=November 11, 2022}}

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = December 3, 1768{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-around-town/article236144203.html|title=How to join Charlotte's year-long birthday celebration|last=Toussaint|first=Katie|date=October 13, 2019|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=October 1, 2022}}

| named_for = Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

| total_type = Total

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_total_km2 = 808.08

| area_total_sq_mi = 312.00

| area_land_sq. miles =

| area_land_sq_mi = 310.02

| area_water_km2 = 5.14

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.98

| area_water_percent = 0.63

| population_as_of = 2020

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 911311

| population_footnotes =

| population_rank = 41st in North America
15th in the United States
1st in North Carolina

| population_total = 874579

| population_density_sq_mi = 2821.06

| population_density_km2 = 1089.22

| population_urban = 1,379,873 (US: 37th)

| population_density_urban_km2 = 810.2

| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2,098.3

| population_metro_footnotes =

| population_metro = 2805115 (US: 22nd)

| population_demonym = Charlottean

| demographics_type2 = GDP

| demographics2_footnotes = {{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (MSA) |url= https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP16740 |website= fred.stlouisfed.org}}

| demographics2_title1 = Charlotte (MSA)

| demographics2_info1 = $228.9 billion (2022)

| timezone = EST

| utc_offset = −5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = −4

| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes

| postal_code = {{collapsible list

|title = 282XX

|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;

|list_style = text-align:center;display:none

|28201–28237, 28240–28247, 28250, 28253–28256, 28258, 28260–28262, 28265–28266, 28269–28275, 28277–28278, 28280–28290, 28296–28297, 28299

}}

| area_codes = 704, 980

| coordinates = {{coord|35|13|38|N|80|50|35|W|region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_ft = 673

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 37-12000

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2404032{{GNIS|2404032}}

| footnotes =

| seal_link = Seal of Charlotte, North Carolina

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}

| area_land_km2 = 802.94

| motto = "{{lang|la|Regina Civitatem}}" (Latin)
(Queen City)
"Charlotte's Got a Lot"{{Cite news |last=Washburn |first=Mark |date=March 30, 2018 |title=Charlotte's got a lot, but it needs a new slogan |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article207419239.html |access-date=June 7, 2023}}

}}

Charlotte ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɑ:r|l|ə|t|audio=En-us-charlotte.ogg}} {{respell|SHAR|lət}}) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census,{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Charlotte city, North Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/charlottecitynorthcarolina |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 16, 2024}} making Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the South, and the second-most populous city in the Southeast behind Jacksonville, Florida. Charlotte is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area, whose estimated 2023 population of 2,805,115 ranked 22nd in the United States.{{cite web |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2023 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division}} The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of an 18-county market region and combined statistical area with an estimated population of 3,387,115 as of 2023.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=United States Office of Management and Budget}}

Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents.{{cite web |date=May 2017 |title=Here's Why Charlotte Became The Fastest Growing City in The Country Over The Past Decade |url=http://www.charlottestories.com/heres-charlotte-became-fastest-growing-city-country-past-decade/ |website=Charlotte Stories}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-among-fastest-growing-american-cities-us-news-world-report/275-8ed9e1c1-3cc5-44f5-9587-b9481b9d04e3|title=Carolinas well represented on list of fastest growing U.S. Cities|website=WCNC.com| date=July 14, 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article270045082.html|title=Charlotte metro area's population among the fastest growing in the U.S., new study finds|last=Ramsey|first=Mary|date=December 15, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/05/18/us-census-bureau-population-estimates-cities-metro.html|title=Charlotte post nation's fifth-largest population increase in 2022, Census Bureau estimates show|last=Martin|first=Jenna|date=May 18, 2023|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=August 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotteregion.com/news/2023/07/11/alliance-news/number-of-people-moving-to-charlotte-region-climbs-to-highest-level-in-more-than-a-decade/|title=Number of people moving to Charlotte region climbs to highest level in more than a decade|date=July 11, 2023|website=Charlotte Regional Business Alliance|access-date=August 9, 2023|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232105/https://charlotteregion.com/news/2023/07/11/alliance-news/number-of-people-moving-to-charlotte-region-climbs-to-highest-level-in-more-than-a-decade/|url-status=dead}} Based on U.S. census data from 2005 to 2015, Charlotte tops the U.S. in millennial population growth.{{cite web|url= https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/06/18/millennials-continue-flocking-to-charlotte.html|title=Millennial mecca: Which Charlotte neighborhoods, suburbs rank tops for young professionals|website=Bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=October 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article243542292.html|title=Where are millennials moving? This North Carolina city ranks top 10 study finds|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/know-your-704/article274329810.html|title=Home purchases among millennials have surged in Charlotte, This chart tracks growth|last=Blackmon|first=Chyna|date=April 14, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 26, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article278451179.html|title=Charlotte is a vibe for young transplants, Why is it so popular among millennials|last=Marshall|first=Kendrick|date=August 22, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 26, 2023}} Throughout the 2020s, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox46.com/news/local-news/study-charlotte-among-fastest-growing-cities-new-yorkers-top-list-of-new-residents-coming-in/|title=Study: Charlotte among fastest-growing cities, New Yorkers top list of new residents coming in|website=Fox46.com|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319071539/https://www.fox46.com/news/local-news/study-charlotte-among-fastest-growing-cities-new-yorkers-top-list-of-new-residents-coming-in/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/charlotte-8th-fastest-growing-us-city-unc-research-shows/275-bcf59ea5-e00f-4aba-bdba-5fb6d74cdcaf|title=Report: Charlotte is the 8th fastest-growing city in U.S.|last=Lee|first=Hank|date=October 18, 2022|website=WCNC.com|access-date=November 24, 2022}}{{cite web|url= https://qcitymetro.com/2023/05/19/charlotte-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-cities-in-the-south/|title=Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. What's leading the growth?|last=Hill|first=Jalon|date=May 19, 2023|website=QCityMetro.com|access-date=August 9, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html|title=Large Southern Cities Lead Nation in Population Growth|date=May 18, 2023|website=census.gov|access-date=August 26, 2023}} Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans".{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-people/article236137853.html|title=31 signs you're a native Charlottean|author=|date=March 21, 2018|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625130556/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-people/article236137853.html|archive-date=June 25, 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/charlotte/popular-charlotte-phrases/|title=15 Phrases That Will Make You Swear Charlotteans Have Their Own Language|last=Mulvihill|first=Carolyn|date=November 14, 2017|website=Only In Your State|access-date=December 7, 2022}}

Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America, Honeywell, Truist Financial, and the East Coast headquarters of Wells Fargo, which, when combined with other Charlotte-based financial institutions, makes the city the second-largest banking center in the nation.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2021/04/05/changing-faces-of-nc--the-wall-street-of-the-south|title=Changing Face of NC: The Wall Street of the South|last=Solt|first=Katy|date=April 5, 2021|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|publisher=Spectrum News|access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/places/nc/charlotte/|title=Charlotte, NC – Forbes|website=Forbes|access-date=June 17, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-bank-branch-war-could-be-won-in-charlotte-171930680.html|title=The battle of U.S. banking giants could be won in Charlotte|last=Cheung|first=Brian|date=June 12, 2019|website=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=August 11, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2022/07/11/CLT-alliance-blog/charlotte-is-a-hot-spot-in-the-financial-services-industry/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Charlotte%20Regional,grown%20by%2032%25%20since%202016.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306215936/https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2022/07/11/clt-alliance-blog/charlotte-is-a-hot-spot-in-the-financial-services-industry/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Charlotte%20Regional,grown%20by%2032%25%20since%202016.|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2023|title=Charlotte is a hot spot in the financial services industry|date=July 11, 2022|website=Charlotte Regional Business Alliance|access-date=August 26, 2023}}

Charlotte's notable attractions include three professional sports teams, the Carolina Panthers of the NFL, the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, and Charlotte FC of MLS. The city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and U.S. National Whitewater Center.{{Cite web|url= https://www.carowinds.com|title=Welcome to Carowinds, The Carolinas Premier Entertainment Destination|website=Carowinds.com|access-date=June 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://billygrahamlibrary.org|title=Welcome to the Billy Graham Library|website=billygrahamlibrary.org|access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nascarhall.com|title=NASCAR Hall of Fame Official website|website=nascarhall.com|access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://mintmuseum.org/|title=The Mint Museum: North Carolina's First Art Museum|website=Mintmuseum.org|access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ganttcenter.org/|title=Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture at Levine Center for the Arts homepage|website=ganttcenter.org|access-date=June 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottemuseum.org/|title=The Charlotte Museum of History: Saving and Sharing Charlotte's History|website=charlottemuseum.org|access-date=June 7, 2022}}

Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate. It is located several miles east of the Catawba River and southeast of Lake Norman, the largest human-made lake in North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/41732/lake-wylie-lake-norman-guide-charlotte/|title=The ultimate guide to beaches, water activities and lakeside restaurants on Lake Norman and Lake Wylie|last=Levans|first=Katie|date=May 29, 2019|website=charlotte.axios.com|access-date=June 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/developer-plans-big-residential-project-lake-norman/HDRRNFBZINHMJFWTX3OOX6VC6I/|title=Developer plans big residential project on Lake Norman|date=May 14, 2022|website=WSOCTV.com|access-date=December 6, 2022}} Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller human-made lakes located near the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottestories.com/mountain-island-lake-the-hidden-gem-in-charlottes-crown/|title=Mountain Island Lake: The Hidden Gem in Charlotte's Crown|last=Formato|first=Brian|date=August 17, 2021|website=Charlottestories.com|access-date=June 5, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/04/05/measuring-the-impacts-of-major-development-on-lake-wylie-|title=Measuring the impacts of major development on Lake Wylie|date=April 5, 2023|website=Spectrum News 1|access-date=August 26, 2023}} As of 2024, 66% of the city's area is occupied by green spaces.{{cite web | url=https://www.hugsi.green/cities/Vilnius | title=How green is Vilnius? Find out at HUGSI.green }} The city ranks 1st in the United States and 29th in the world in the ranking of the greenest cities on the planet.{{cite web| author=| date=| url=https://www.hugsi.green/ranking| title=Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index. Quantifying the greenness of global cities| website=www.hugsi.green| accessdate=2023-05-07| language=en| archive-date=2023-05-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507184443/https://www.hugsi.green/ranking| url-status=live}}

History

{{For timeline}}

=Early history=

File:Queen-charlotte-1744-1818.jpg, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, {{circa|1779}}|left]]

The Catawba Indians were the first known historic tribe to settle Mecklenburg County in the Charlotte area and were first recorded around 1567, according to Spanish records.

=18th century=

By 1759, half the Catawba tribe had died from smallpox, an endemic disease among European colonists, which the Catawba had no natural immunity against. At the time of their largest population, the Catawba population was 10,000. But by 1826, the Catawba population dropped to 110.{{cite web|url=http://clclt.com/theclog/archives/2012/12/21/question-the-queen-city-who-were-the-native-americans-that-lived-here-before-charlotte-was-colonized|title=Question the Queen City: Who were the Native Americans that lived here before Charlotte was colonized?|website=Creative Loafing Charlotte|access-date=April 11, 2016}}

The city of Charlotte was developed first by a wave of migration of Scots-Irish Presbyterians, or Ulster-Scot settlers from Ulster, who dominated the culture of the Southern Piedmont Region and made up the principal founding population in the backcountry. German immigrants also settled in the area before the American Revolutionary War, but in smaller numbers. They still contributed greatly to the early foundations of the region.

Mecklenburg County was initially part of Bath County (1696 to 1729) of the New Hanover Precinct, which became New Hanover County in 1729. The western portion of New Hanover split into Bladen County in 1734, and its western portion split into Anson County in 1750. Mecklenburg County was formed from Anson County in 1762. Further apportionment was made in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War, with Cabarrus County formed from Mecklenburg.{{cite web|url=https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/mecklenburg-county-1762/|title=Mecklenburg County (1762)|publisher=North Carolina History Project|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626074059/https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/mecklenburg-county-1762/|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=dead}}

=19th century=

In 1842, Union County formed from Mecklenburg's southeastern portion and a western portion of Anson County. These areas were all part of one of the original six judicial/military districts of North Carolina known as the Salisbury District.{{cite web | url = http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriot_militia_nc_salisbury_district.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070713204516/http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriot_militia_nc_salisbury_district.html | archive-date = July 13, 2007 | title = The American Revolution in North Carolina | access-date = June 25, 2011}}

The area that is now Charlotte was first settled by European colonists around 1755 when Thomas Spratt and his family settled near what is now the Elizabeth neighborhood. Thomas Polk (great-uncle of President James K. Polk), who later married Thomas Spratt's daughter, built his house by the intersection of two Native American trading paths between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers.{{cite web| url = http://www.cmstory.org/content/1755-founding-new-city| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112246/http://www.cmstory.org/content/1755-founding-new-city| archive-date = May 18, 2015| title = The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: History Timeline: Founding a New City| work = cmstory.org Web Site | publisher = Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County| access-date = September 25, 2015}} One path ran north–south and was part of the Great Wagon Road; the second path ran east–west along what is now Trade Street.

Nicknamed the "Queen City",{{cite web|last1=Bernstein|first1=Viv|title=Welcome to Charlotte, a City of Quirks|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/03/welcome-to-charlotte-a-city-of-quirks/?_php=true&_type=blogs|work=The New York Times Caucus Blog|date=September 3, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2014}} like its county a few years earlier, Charlotte was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had become the queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland in 1761, seven years before the town's incorporation.{{cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/queen-charlotte|title=Queen Charlotte (19 May 1744 - 17 November 1818)|website=royal.uk|access-date=May 17, 2016}} A second nickname derives from the American Revolutionary War, when British commander General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out by hostile residents. He wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion", leading to the nickname "The Hornet's Nest".[https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/hornets-nest-book-one/welcome-cornwallis Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: A Welcome for Cornwallis] (Retrieved on 07–25–19)

Within decades of Polk's settling, the area grew to become the Town of Charlotte, incorporated in 1768.{{cite web |url=https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/history-timeline-rural-beginnings-1730-1772/1768-charlotte-chartered |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622062601/https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/history-timeline-rural-beginnings-1730-1772/1768-charlotte-chartered |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |title=1768- Charlotte Chartered |website=cmstory.org |access-date=May 31, 2020 }} Though chartered as Charlotte, the name appears as a form of "Charlottesburgh" on many maps until around 1800.{{cite web | url=https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ncmaps/id/467 | title=A Compleat map of North-Carolina from an actual survey | date=1770 | access-date=May 31, 2020 | website=library.unc.edu}} A form of "Charlottetown" also appears on maps of British origin depicting General Cornwallis' route of invasion.{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/item/74692779/ | title=The marches of Lord Cornwallis in the Southern Provinces, now States of North America; comprehending the two Carolinas, with Virginia and Maryland, and the Delaware counties | date=1787 | access-date=August 18, 2020 | website=loc.gov}} The crossroads in Piedmont became the heart of Uptown Charlotte. In 1770, surveyors marked the streets in a grid pattern for future development. The east–west trading path became Trade Street, and the Great Wagon Road became Tryon Street, in honor of William Tryon, a royal governor of colonial North Carolina.{{cite web

| url = http://www.cmstory.org/content/1770-designing-city

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518120812/http://www.cmstory.org/content/1770-designing-city

| archive-date = May 18, 2015

| title=The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: History Timeline: Designing a New City

| work = cmstory.org Web Site

| publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

| access-date=September 25, 2015}}

The intersection of Trade and Tryon is commonly known today as "Trade and Tryon", or simply "The Square", and formally as "Independence Square".{{cite web

|url = http://101independencecenter.com/

|title = 101 Independence Center

|access-date = September 25, 2015

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080605040203/http://101independencecenter.com/

|archive-date = June 5, 2008

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

While surveying the boundary between the Carolinas in 1772, William Moultrie stopped in Charlotte, whose five or six houses were "very ordinary built of logs".{{Cite news

|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/12/3005507/sc-nc-border-moving.html#storylink=misearch

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212225747/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/12/3005507/sc-nc-border-moving.html#storylink=misearch

|archive-date=February 12, 2012

|title=N.C.-S.C. border may move

|last=Beam

|first=Adam

|work=The State

|access-date=February 29, 2012

|date=February 12, 2012 }}

Local leaders came together in 1775 and signed the Mecklenburg Resolves, more popularly known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. While not a true declaration of independence from British rule, it is among the first such declarations that eventually led to the American Revolution. May 20, the traditional date of the signing of the declaration, is celebrated annually in Charlotte as "MecDec", with musket and cannon fire by reenactors in Independence Square. North Carolina's state flag and state seal also bear the date.

Charlotte is traditionally considered the home of Southern Presbyterianism, but in the 19th century, numerous churches, including Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic formed, eventually giving Charlotte the nickname, "The City of Churches".{{cite web

|url= http://www.cmstory.org/content/1800-city-churches

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150518165339/http://www.cmstory.org/content/1800-city-churches

|archive-date= May 18, 2015

|title= The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: History Timeline: The City of Churches

|work = cmstory.org Web Site

|publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

|access-date=September 25, 2015}}

In 1799, in nearby Cabarrus County, 12-year-old Conrad Reed found a 17- pound rock, which his family used as a doorstop. Three years later, a jeweler determined it was nearly solid gold, paying the family a paltry $3.50.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050103061621/http://www.blanchardonline.com/AmericanRarities/archive-08/dah.html Blanchard Online: American Rarities] (Retrieved on 05–22–07) The first documented gold find in the United States of any consequence set off the nation's first gold rush. Many veins of gold were found in the area throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the 1837 founding of the Charlotte Mint.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlottegold.net/history.html|title=History of the Charlotte Mint|website=Charlottegold.net|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128045746/http://www.charlottegold.net/history.html|url-status=dead}} North Carolina was the chief producer of gold in the United States, until the Sierra Nevada found in 1848,{{cite web|url=http://blanchardonline.com/AmericanRarities/archive-08/char.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419135250/http://blanchardonline.com/AmericanRarities/archive-08/char.html|archive-date=April 19, 2004 |title=The Charlotte Branch Mint |website=Blanchardonline.com |access-date=July 2, 2010}} although the volume mined in the Charlotte area was dwarfed by subsequent rushes.

=20th century=

File:North Carolina - Charlotte - NARA - 68146416 (cropped).jpg

Some groups still pan for gold occasionally in local streams and creeks. The Reed Gold Mine operated until 1912.{{cite web|url=https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/reed-gold-mine|title=Reed Gold Mine – NC Historic Sites|access-date=December 12, 2021}} The Charlotte Mint was active until 1861 when Confederate forces seized it at the outbreak of the Civil War. The mint was not reopened at the war's end, but the building, albeit in a different location, now houses the Mint Museum of Art.

The city's first boom came after the Civil War, as Charlotte became a cotton processing center and railroad hub. By the 1880s, Charlotte sat astride the Southern Railway mainline from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Farmers from miles around would bring cotton to the railroad platform in Uptown. Local promotors began building textile factories, starting with the 1881 Charlotte Cotton Mill that still stands at Graham and 5th streets.[https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/articles/history/the-history-of-charlotte The History of Charlotte, NC]. Retrieved May 2, 2022.

Charlotte's city population at the 1890 census grew to 11,557.{{cite web

|url = http://www.cmstory.org/content/population-statistics

|title = The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story

|work = cmstory.org Web Site

|publisher = Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

|access-date = September 25, 2015

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925111706/http://www.cmstory.org/content/population-statistics

|archive-date = September 25, 2015

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

In 1910, Charlotte surpassed Wilmington to become North Carolina's largest city with 34,014 residents.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmhpf.org/S&Rs%20Alphabetical%20Order/Surveys&rmeckcourthouse.htm |title=Survey and Research Report on the Mecklenburg County Courthouse|publisher=Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission|access-date=February 1, 2018}}

The population grew again during World War I, when the U.S. government established Camp Greene, north of present-day Wilkinson Boulevard. The camp supported 40,000 soldiers, with many troops and suppliers staying after the war, launching urbanization that eventually overtook older cities along the Piedmont Crescent. In the 1920 census, Charlotte fell to being the state's second largest city, Winston-Salem with 48,395 people, had two thousand more people than Charlotte. Charlotte would pass Winston-Salem in population by the 1930 census, and has remained North Carolina's largest city since.{{cite news|url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/northwest-almanac-when-winston-salem-was-the-state-s-largest/article_f91d8e8f-4071-5894-94aa-a675e9a5f4d6.html|title=Northwest Almanac: When Winston-Salem was the state's largest city|work=Winston-Salem Journal|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018}}

Until 1958, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad operated a daily passenger train from its own station (which had opened in 1896) to Wilmington.{{cite news |last=Gubbins |first=Pat Borden |date=August 7, 1988 |title=ALL ABOARD! TENANT SOUGHT TO RENOVATE SEABOARD DEPOT|work=Charlotte Observer}}{{cite journal |title=Seaboard Air Line, Table 38 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=91 |issue=3 |date=August 1958}}

The city's modern-day banking industry achieved prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, largely under the leadership of financier Hugh McColl. McColl transformed North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) into a formidable national bank that through aggressive acquisitions eventually merged with BankAmerica to become Bank of America. First Union, later Wachovia in 2001, experienced similar growth before it was acquired by San Francisco–based Wells Fargo in 2008. Measured by control of assets, Charlotte became the second largest banking headquarters in the United States after New York City.{{cite web | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/1991-nationsbank-soars | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112416/http://www.cmstory.org/content/1991-nationsbank-soars | archive-date= May 18, 2015 | title= The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: History Timeline: NationsBank Soars | work = cmstory.org Web Site | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}}

On September 22, 1989, the city was hit by Hurricane Hugo. With sustained winds of {{convert|69|mph|abbr=on}} and gusts of {{convert|87|mph|abbr=on}},[http://www.hurricanedisasterslive.com/HURRICANE-HUGO-1989.html Hurricanedisasterslive.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824203024/http://www.hurricanedisasterslive.com/HURRICANE-HUGO-1989.html |date=August 24, 2009 }}, Retrieved on July 30, 2009 Hugo caused massive property damage, destroyed 80,000 trees, and knocked out electrical power to most of the population. Residents were without power for weeks, schools were closed for a week or more, and the cleanup took months. The city was caught unprepared; Charlotte is {{convert|200|mi|km}} inland, and residents from coastal areas in both Carolinas often wait out hurricanes in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article235229007.html|title=Hurricane Hugo left Charlotte in the dark; the electric grid is smarter now|last=Henderson|first=Bruce|date=September 20, 2019|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=September 20, 2019}}

= 21st century =

In December 2002, Charlotte and much of central North Carolina were hit by an ice storm that resulted in more than 1.3 million people losing power.{{cite news |title=Ice Storm Knocks Out Power Across North Carolina |url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1089860/ |publisher=WRAL-TV |location=Raleigh, NC |date=December 5, 2002 |access-date=May 18, 2015}} During an abnormally cold December, many were without power for weeks. Many of the city's Bradford pear trees split apart under the weight of the ice.

In August 2015 and September 2016, the city experienced several days of protests related to the police shootings of Jonathan Ferrell and Keith Scott.{{cite news |author= |date=August 22, 2015 |title=Two arrested during Kerrick trial protests in Charlotte |url=http://abc11.com/news/protests-in-charlotte-after-kerrick-mistrial/951156/ |publisher=WTVD |location=Durham, NC |access-date=September 25, 2016}}{{cite news |first1=Rick |last1=Rothacker |first2=Mark |last2=Washburn |first3=Adam |last3=Bell |title=Staggered by protests, city regains its footing |date=September 23, 2016 |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article103629427.html |access-date=September 25, 2016}}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|312.00|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|310.02|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.98|sqmi}} (0.63%) is water. Charlotte is the twenty-sixth-most expansive city in the United States and lies at an elevation of {{convert|751|ft}}. Charlotte constitutes most of Mecklenburg County in the Carolina Piedmont.{{cite web|url=https://charlottemuseum.org/the-formation-of-mecklenburg-county/|title=The Formation of Mecklenburg County – The Charlotte Museum of History|last=Williams|first=James|website=charlottemuseum.org|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824033925/http://charlottemuseum.org/the-formation-of-mecklenburg-county/|url-status=dead}} Uptown Charlotte sits atop a long rise between two creeks, Sugar Creek and Irwin Creek, and was built on the gunnies of the St. Catherine's and Rudisill gold mines.{{cite web|url= https://wxbrad.com/why-its-called-uptown-why-charlottes-uptown-streets-go-northeast/|title=Why it's called Uptown & Why Charlotte's Uptown streets go Northeast|date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013}} Charlotte is {{convert|25|mi|km}} southwest of Concord;{{cite web|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-concord-nc-to-charlotte-nc|title=Distance between Concord, NC and Charlotte, NC|website=distance-cities.com|publisher=Distance Cities|access-date=July 31, 2021}} {{convert|26|mi|km}} northeast of Rock Hill, South Carolina;{{cite web|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-rock-hill-sc-to-charlotte-nc|title=Distance between Rock Hill, SC and Charlotte, NC|website=distance-cities.com|publisher=Distance Cities|access-date=July 31, 2021}} {{convert|83|mi|km}} southwest of Greensboro;{{cite web|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-greensboro-nc-to-charlotte-nc|title=Distance between Greensboro, NC and Charlotte, NC|website=distance-cities.com|publisher=Distance Cities|access-date=July 31, 2021}} {{convert|135|mi|km}} west of Fayetteville;{{cite web|url= https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-fayetteville-nc-to-charlotte-nc|title=Distance between Fayetteville, NC and Charlotte, NC|website=distance-cities.com|publisher=Distance Cities|access-date=July 31, 2021}} and {{convert|165|mi|km}} southwest of Raleigh, the state capital.{{cite web|url=https://www.distance-cities.com/distance-raleigh-nc-to-charlotte-nc|title=Distance between Raleigh, NC and Charlotte, NC|website=distance-cities.com|publisher=Distance Cities|access-date=July 31, 2021}}

Though the Catawba River and its lakes lie several miles west, there are no significant bodies of water or other geological features near the city center.{{cite web|url=https://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/about-the-river-2/|title=About the River|website=Catawbariverkeeper.org|publisher=Catawba River Keeper|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521232814/https://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/about-the-river-2/|url-status=dead}} Consequently, development has neither been constrained nor helped by waterways or ports that have contributed to many cities of similar size. The lack of these obstructions has contributed to Charlotte's growth as a highway, rail, and air transportation hub.{{cite web|url=https://plancharlotte.org/story/why-isnt-charlotte-built-on-water-river-waterfront|title=Why Isn't Charlotte built on the Water|last=Portillo|first=Ely|date=July 29, 2019|website=plancharlotte.org|publisher=Plan Charlotte|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521232821/https://plancharlotte.org/story/why-isnt-charlotte-built-on-water-river-waterfront|url-status=dead}}

=Neighborhoods=

{{See also|List of Charlotte neighborhoods|List of tallest buildings in Charlotte}}

File:300SouthTryon.jpg]]

File:Southpark aerial Charlotte NC.jpg neighborhood]]

File:Davidson at 36th intersection.jpg neighborhood and arts district in North Charlotte]]

Charlotte has 199 neighborhoods radiating in all directions from Uptown.{{cite web|url=http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Neighborhood+Dev/Quality+of+Life/Neighborhoods+Listing.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029142821/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Neighborhood%2BDev/Quality%2Bof%2BLife/Neighborhoods%2BListing.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2007 |title=Archive version of neighborhood listing – waybackmachine October 2007 |date=October 29, 2007 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://uptowncharlotte.com/about/history-of-uptown|title=Uptown History|website=uptowncharlotte.com|access-date=September 3, 2022}} Biddleville, the primary historic center of Charlotte's African American community, is west of Uptown, starting at the Johnson C. Smith University campus and extending to the airport.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmhpf.org/kids/neighborhoods/Biddleville.html |title=Biddleville Five Points Neighborhood |publisher=Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission |access-date=September 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913034826/http://www.cmhpf.org/kids/neighborhoods/Biddleville.html |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |df=mdy }}{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/02/23/a-walk-through-black-history-in-biddleville-1|title=A walk through Black History in Biddleville – Spectrum News|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|publisher=Spectrum News|access-date=June 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article66963722.html|title=White people in Biddleville: The story of a changing neighborhood|last=Kelley|first=Pam|date=March 22, 2016|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 8, 2022}} East of The Plaza and north of Central Avenue, Plaza-Midwood is known for its international population, including Eastern Europeans, Greeks, Middle-Easterners, and Hispanics.{{cite web|url=http://www.plazamidwood.org/history|title=History – Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association|publisher=Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association|access-date=September 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104085059/http://plazamidwood.org/history|archive-date=November 4, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/apartment-search-2/neighborhood-guides/keep-it-cool-and-quirky-in-charlottes-plaza-midwood/|title=Keep it Cool and Quirky in Charlotte's Plaza Midwood|last=Ciuntu|first=Alexandra|date=November 24, 2020|website=rentcafe.com|access-date=June 4, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://businessnc.com/plaza-midwoods-rebirth/|title=The changing look of Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood|last=Mormon|first=Ebony|date=October 5, 2021|website=Business North Carolina|access-date=March 13, 2023}} North Tryon and the Sugar Creek area include several Asian American communities.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/city-charlotte-focus-sugar-creek-neighborhood-improvements/QOEZAXIDKJF2JBXQREF57YXOEM/|title=City of Charlotte to focus on Sugar Creek neighborhood improvements|last=Bruno|first=Joe|date=November 14, 2020|website=wsoctv.com|access-date=November 14, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article202159104.html|title=Charlotte's Southeast Asian immigrants open a community center|last=Price|first=Mark|date=February 26, 2018|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 27, 2022}} NoDa (North Davidson), north of Uptown, is an emerging center for arts and entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://clclt.com/charlotte/noda/Content?oid=2174286|title=NoDa – Urban Explorers Handbook|work=Creative Loafing Charlotte |access-date=September 12, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://noda.org/|title=Welcome to NoDa – Charlotte's Historic Arts and Entertainment District|website=NoDa.org|access-date=April 4, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourstate.com/noda/|title=NoDa Is Charlotte's Island of Interesting|date=February 17, 2015|last=Markovich|first=Jeremy|website=ourstate.com|access-date=June 5, 2022}} Myers Park, Dilworth, and Eastover are home to some of Charlotte's most affluent, oldest and largest houses, on tree-lined boulevards, with Freedom Park nearby.{{cite web|url=https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/myers-park-tradition-and-beauty-minutes-from-downtown-charlotte-111273|title=Myers Park: Tradition and Beauty, Minutes from Downtown Charlotte|last=Cutchin|first=A.M.|date=October 13, 2018|website=mansionglobal.com|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013125416/https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/myers-park-tradition-and-beauty-minutes-from-downtown-charlotte-111273|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/222670/dilworth-neighborhood-guide/|title=21 things to do, see, and eat in Dilworth|last=Primis|first=Avery|date=July 6, 2020|website=Charlotte.axios.com|access-date=July 6, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/07/07/charlotte-neighborhood-among-most-beautiful-in-the.html|title=Charlotte neighborhood among 'most beautiful' in the South, says Thrillist|last=Martin|first=Jenna|date=July 7, 2016|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=June 5, 2022}}{{cite web|access-date=November 24, 2022|date=March 7, 2022|title=Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Charlotte metro area|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2022/03/07/zip-codes-with-most-expensive-homes-charlotte-metro-area/|website=WBTV.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/10/14/charlotte-wealthiest-zip-codes-ranked-real-e|title=Charlotte area's wealthiest zip codes, led by 28207, mapped out|last=Shapiro|first=Amy|date=October 14, 2022|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journals|access-date=July 22, 2023}}

The SouthPark area offers shopping, dining, and multifamily housing.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/285650/major-southpark-development-moves-ahead-despite-covid-setbacks/|title=Major SouthPark development moves ahead despite COVID setbacks|last=Soloff Peralta|first=Katie|date=January 22, 2022|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article264039341.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801233300/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article264039341.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2022|title=Apartments and retail could come to SouthPark Towers office site after $129M sale|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=August 1, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 27, 2022}} Far South Boulevard is home to a large Hispanic community.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/269830/the-charlotte-area-is-becoming-more-diverse/|title=The Charlotte area is becoming more diverse|last=Chemtob|first=Danielle|date=August 23, 2021|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=November 27, 2022}} Many students, researchers, and affiliated professionals live near UNC Charlotte in the northeast area known as University City.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottefive.com/living-in-southpark/|title=Not a one-trick pony: the 5 best things about living in SouthPark|last=MacLaughlin|first=Courtney|date=April 25, 2018|website=charlottefive.com|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625052653/https://www.charlottefive.com/living-in-southpark/|archive-date=June 25, 2020|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://features.charlotte.edu/how-unc-charlotte-is-powering-university-citys-dramatic-growth|title=How UNC Charlotte is powering University City's dramatic growth|website=features.charlotte.edu|date=March 9, 2021 |publisher=University of North Carolina at Charlotte|access-date=November 24, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/inside-university-citys-reboot/|title=Inside University City's Reboot|last=Braden|first=Allison|date=December 13, 2021|website=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=November 24, 2022}}

The large area known as Southeast Charlotte is home to many golf communities, luxury developments, churches, the Jewish community center, and private schools. As undeveloped land within Mecklenburg has become scarce, many of these communities have expanded into Weddington and Waxhaw in Union County.{{cite web|url=http://gis.uncc.edu/URBAN/visualizations/visual_anim_24c.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630183247/http://gis.uncc.edu/URBAN/visualizations/visual_anim_24c.html|archive-date=June 30, 2010|title=Forecasting Urbanization in the Carolina Piedmont Region|publisher=UNC Charlotte Urban Institute|access-date=September 12, 2012}} Ballantyne, in the south of Charlotte, and nearly every area on the I‑485 perimeter, has experienced rapid growth over the past ten years.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/neighborhoods/ballantyne|title=Fun Things to do in Ballantyne|website=charlottesgotalot.com|access-date=April 9, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/apartment-search-2/neighborhood-guides/ballantyne-neighborhood-upscale-style-on-charlottes-south-side/|title=Ballentyne Neighborhood: Upscale Style on Charlotte's South Side|last=Ciuntu|first=Aleksandra|date=December 9, 2020|website=rentcafe.com|access-date=December 9, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/ballantyne-may-be-more-racially-diverse|title=Ballentyne may be more racially diverse than you think|website=The Charlotte Ledger|date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=August 16, 2021}} The Steele Creek neighborhood which is primarily in Mecklenburg county is located within minutes near Uptown Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/apartment-search-2/neighborhood-guides/steele-creek-charlotte-from-sleepy-corner-to-bustling-neighborhood/|title=Charlotte's Steele Creek: From Sleepy Corner to Bustling Neighborhood|last=Ciuntu|first=Alexandra|date=December 23, 2020|website=rentcafe.com|access-date=October 8, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/165689/steele-creek-is-the-next-hot-neighborhood-in-charlotte/|title=Steele Creek is the next hot neighborhood in Charlotte|last=Dunn|first=Andrew|date=May 19, 2019|website=Charlotte.axios.com|access-date=May 19, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/08/24/steele-creek-s-growth-and-location-attracts.html|title=Steele Creek's growth and location attracts businesses and residents|last=Forum|first=New|date=August 24, 2018|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/from-countryside-to-bustling-suburb-steele-creeks-rapid-evolution/|title=From Countryside to Bustling Suburb: Steele Creek's Rapid Evolution|last=Allen|first=Tess|date=December 14, 2022|website=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=February 25, 2023}}

Since the 1980s in particular, Uptown Charlotte has undergone massive construction of buildings, housing Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Hearst Corporation, and Duke Energy, several hotels, and multiple condominium developments.{{Cite web|url=https://qcitymetro.com/2022/02/25/new-report-says-uptown-charlotte-is-poised-for-growth/|title=New report says Uptown Charlotte is poised for more growth|last=Burkins|first=Glenn|date=February 25, 2022|website=Q City Metro|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article263382658.html|title=First look at latest addition to Charlotte skyline, a 24-story uptown office tower|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=July 12, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/connect-the-dots/brooklyn-village-development-uptown-makeover/275-b9dac516-234b-4235-a3e1-4cd30e3276b7|title=Popular part of Uptown Charlotte set to receive major makeover|last=Tompkins|first=Meilin|date=October 11, 2022|website=WCNC.com|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/289164/new-report-on-charlottes-growth-were-really-fortunate-were-not-atlanta/|title=New report on Charlotte's growth: We're really fortunate we're not Atlanta|last=Soloff|first=Katie|date=February 24, 2022|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article267895042.html|title=Here are 6 facts about uptown's newest tower, $170 million apartment project|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=October 27, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 23, 2022}}

=Parks and green space=

File:Little Sugar Creek Greenway at 4th Street.jpg at East 4th Street overpass]]

File:Romare Bearden Park 2.JPG, also located in Uptown Charlotte]]

Latta Park was created in 1891 as an amusement park.{{Cite web |title=Latta Park {{!}} Charlotte Mecklenburg Story |url=https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/charlottes-legacy-changing-faces-city/latta-park |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=www.cmstory.org}}

Bryant Park was established in the 1930s and is one of the earliest small-scale public parks in Charlotte. It is the only green space remaining in West Morehead Street's industrial sector.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-14 |title=Bryant Park {{!}} Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission |url=http://landmarkscommission.org/2016/10/14/bryant-park/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |language=en-US}}

The {{convert|120|acre|adj=on}} Park Road Park is a prominent landmark near the SouthPark area.{{cite web|url=http://charlotte.about.com/od/neighborhoodsrealestate/p/southpark.htm|title=Getting to Know Charlotte's SouthPark Neighborhood|first=Addie|last=Rising|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2012|archive-date=May 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523041019/http://charlotte.about.com/od/neighborhoodsrealestate/p/southpark.htm|url-status=dead}} Park Road Park features eight basketball courts, two horseshoe pits, six baseball fields, five picnic shelters, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and an {{convert|11|acre|adj=on}} lake.{{cite web|url=http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/Parks/ParksByRegion/SouthRegion/Pages/ParkRoad.aspx|title=Park Road Park|website=Charmeck.org|access-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213132554/http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/Parks/ParksByRegion/SouthRegion/Pages/ParkRoad.aspx|archive-date=December 13, 2011|url-status=dead}} The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation Department operates 36 tennis facilities and the 12 lighted tennis courts at the park.{{cite web|url=http://www.hellocharlotte.com/attractions/best_tennis_parks_in_charlotte/232991/|title=That page does not exist - LatinoYP|website=Hellocharlotte.com|access-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016225854/http://www.hellocharlotte.com/attractions/best_tennis_parks_in_charlotte/232991/|archive-date=October 16, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} In September 2013, the {{convert|5.4|acre|adj=on}} Romare Bearden Park opened to the public.{{Cite web|url=https://beardenfoundation.org/romare-bearden-park/|title=Romare Bearden Park is now Open!|date=September 30, 2013|publisher=Romare Bearden Foundation|access-date=February 5, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/23292361/romare-bearden-park-opens-to-public-on-friday/|title=Romare Bearden Park opens to public on Friday|last=September 28, 2013|website=WBTV.com|date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=February 5, 2023}}

The urban section of Little Sugar Creek Greenway was completed in 2012. Inspired in part by the San Antonio River Walk, and integral to Charlotte's extensive urban park system, it is "a huge milestone" according to Gwen Cook, greenway planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/20/3186598/little-sugar-creek-greenway-section.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722001407/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/20/3186598/little-sugar-creek-greenway-section.html|url-status=dead|title=Little Sugar Creek Greenway section is done|date=July 22, 2012|archive-date=July 22, 2012|website=CharlotteObserver.com|access-date=May 15, 2012}} However, the Little Sugar Creek Greenway bears no relation to the San Antonio River Walk. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway is prone to flooding during thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain. Creation of Little Sugar Creek Greenway cost $43 million and was controversial because it required the forced acquisition of several established local businesses.{{cite web|url=https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks/Greenways/OpenGreenways/Pages/LittleSugarCreekGreenway.aspx|title=Little Sugar Greenway – Mecklenburg County Government|website=mecknc.gov|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924095025/https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks/Greenways/OpenGreenways/Pages/LittleSugarCreekGreenway.aspx|url-status=dead}}

The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County began purchasing flood-prone homes in the 1990s. Voluntary buyouts of 700 households have created around {{convert|200|acre}}s of open land that can flood safely, thereby saving an estimated $28 million in flood damage and emergency rescues.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2019/11/26/one-citys-plan-combat-climate-change-bulldoze-homes-rebuild-paradise/|title=One city's plan to combat climate change: Bulldoze homes, rebuild paradise|last=Sellers|first=Frances Stead|date=November 26, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127221706/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2019/11/26/one-citys-plan-combat-climate-change-bulldoze-homes-rebuild-paradise/|archive-date=2019-11-27|access-date=2019-12-20}}

McAlpine Creek Park and integrated McAlpine Creek Greenway constructed in 1978 was the first greenway built in the western piedmont of North Carolina.{{cite web |title=Upper McAlpine Creek Greenway |url=https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks/Greenways/OpenGreenways/Pages/UpperMcAlpineCreekGreenway.aspx |website=MeckNC.gov |publisher=Mecklenburg County Government |access-date=12 June 2021 |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612223945/https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks/Greenways/OpenGreenways/Pages/UpperMcAlpineCreekGreenway.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/92571/complete-guide-charlottes-greenways/|title=The complete guide to Charlotte's greenways|date=June 6, 2017|website=Axios Charlotte|access-date=December 8, 2022}}

=Climate=

Like much of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States, Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with four distinct seasons. Charlotte is part of USDA hardiness zone 8a, transitioning to 7b in the suburbs in all directions except the south.{{cite web|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date=February 27, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The following narrative reflects 1991–2020 climate data. Winters are short and fairly mild, with a normal January daily mean temperature of {{convert|42.1|°F|1}}. On occasion the temperature can fall below {{convert|20|°F|1}} but Charlotte also enjoys multiple warm winter days in excess of {{convert|65|°F|1}}. On average, there are 59 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 1.5 days that fail to rise above freezing.

Precipitation is evenly distributed through the year. Only August stands out as a slightly wetter month, averaging 4.35 inches of rainfall. Summers are hot and humid, with a normal July daily mean temperature of {{convert|80.1|°F|1}}. Hot and humid days can arrive as early as May and last to the end of September. There is an average of 44 days per year with highs at or above {{convert|90|°F|0}}. Official record temperatures range from {{convert|104|°F|0}} recorded six times on 6 September 1954, 9–10 August 2007 and June 29 to July 1, 2012, down to {{convert|-5|°F|0}} recorded on December 30, 1880, February 14, 1899 and January 21, 1985.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=Weather IQ: What is the Dead of Winter? |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/weather-iq-what-is-the-dead-of-winter/275-a12574c6-f21e-4dbf-a351-ee2bd5ac35e2 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=wcnc.com |language=en-US}} The record cold daily maximum is {{convert|14|°F|0}} on February 12 and 13, 1899. The record warm daily minimum is {{convert|82|°F|0}} on August 13, 1881.{{efn|The corresponding record since the observation site was moved to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in 1948 is {{convert|79|°F|0}}, last recorded on July 25, 2010.}} The average window for freezing temperatures is November 5 to March 30, allowing a growing season of 220 days.

Charlotte is directly in the path of subtropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico as it heads up the eastern seaboard, thus the city receives ample precipitation throughout the year but also many clear, sunny days. Precipitation is generally less frequent in autumn than in spring. On average, Charlotte receives {{convert|43.60|in|mm|sigfig=3}} of precipitation annually, evenly distributed throughout the year. Annual precipitation has historically ranged from {{convert|26.23|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 2001 to {{convert|68.44|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 1884.

There is an average of {{convert|3.5|in|cm|1}} of snow, mainly in January and February and rarely December or March, with more frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain. Seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts in 2011–12 to {{convert|22.6|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1959–60. Snow and ice storms can have a major impact on the area, as they often pull tree limbs down onto power lines and make driving hazardous. Snow has been recorded a small number of times in April, most recently on April 2, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/no-joke-charlotte-area-could-see-some-light-snow-tuesday/275-c3bedec1-dc4f-4034-85d3-3ee656c06f72|title=Charlotte sees first measurable April snow in 37 years|last=Tompkins|first=Meilins|date=April 2, 2019|website=WCNC.com|access-date=July 18, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article124908594.html|title=What is Charlotte's record snowfall? Here's the answer|last=Lyttle|first=Steve|date=January 6, 2017|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 25, 2023}}

{{As of|2020}}, the Charlotte metropolitan area as a whole is noted for having one of the worst weather radar gaps among any major U.S. East Coast city, with little to no coverage in a roughly quadrilateral area spanning Concord, Salisbury and much

of Statesville.{{cite news |last1=Cappucci |first1=Matthew |last2=Freedman |first2=Andrew |title=Meteorologists have warned about North Carolina's 'radar gap' for years. It's taking a toll on forecasts. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/27/charlotte-north-carolina-radar-gap/ |access-date=26 August 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=27 April 2020}} As the nearest NWS-owned NEXRAD is located in Greer, South Carolina, more than {{convert|80|mi|abbr=on}} to the west-southwest of Charlotte, this deficit is particularly problematic during severe thunderstorm or tornado episodes. The current lowest angle of the radar, based in Greer, is quite far above the surface over Charlotte, so the velocities measurement for detecting rotations cannot be below mid-level in potential tornado-forming storms and thus cannot indicate whether said rotation extends closer to the ground (below {{convert|5000|ft|abbr=on}}).

{{Weather box

|location = Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte Douglas Int'l), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1878–present{{efn|Official records for Charlotte kept October 1878 to August 1948 at downtown and at Charlotte Douglas Int'l since September 1948. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org Threadex]}}

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 79

|Feb record high F = 82

|Mar record high F = 91

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 98

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 104

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 104

|Oct record high F = 99

|Nov record high F = 85

|Dec record high F = 80

|year record high F = 104

|Jan avg record high F = 70.6

|Feb avg record high F = 73.6

|Mar avg record high F = 81.6

|Apr avg record high F = 85.9

|May avg record high F = 90.4

|Jun avg record high F = 94.7

|Jul avg record high F = 97.0

|Aug avg record high F = 96.1

|Sep avg record high F = 92.0

|Oct avg record high F = 85.6

|Nov avg record high F = 77.8

|Dec avg record high F = 71.2

|year avg record high F = 98.0

|Jan high F = 52.3

|Feb high F = 56.6

|Mar high F = 64.2

|Apr high F = 73.2

|May high F = 80.1

|Jun high F = 86.9

|Jul high F = 90.3

|Aug high F = 88.6

|Sep high F = 82.8

|Oct high F = 73.3

|Nov high F = 62.9

|Dec high F = 54.9

|year high F = 72.2

|Jan mean F = 42.1

|Feb mean F = 45.7

|Mar mean F = 52.7

|Apr mean F = 61.1

|May mean F = 69.0

|Jun mean F = 76.6

|Jul mean F = 80.1

|Aug mean F = 78.6

|Sep mean F = 72.7

|Oct mean F = 61.9

|Nov mean F = 51.4

|Dec mean F = 44.7

|year mean F = 61.4

|Jan low F = 31.8

|Feb low F = 34.9

|Mar low F = 41.2

|Apr low F = 49.1

|May low F = 58.0

|Jun low F = 66.2

|Jul low F = 69.9

|Aug low F = 68.7

|Sep low F = 62.6

|Oct low F = 50.4

|Nov low F = 39.8

|Dec low F = 34.5

|year low F = 50.6

|Jan avg record low F = 14.8

|Feb avg record low F = 19.3

|Mar avg record low F = 23.7

|Apr avg record low F = 32.9

|May avg record low F = 43.3

|Jun avg record low F = 55.5

|Jul avg record low F = 62.2

|Aug avg record low F = 60.0

|Sep avg record low F = 49.8

|Oct avg record low F = 33.9

|Nov avg record low F = 23.8

|Dec avg record low F = 19.6

|year avg record low F = 12.6

|Jan record low F = −5

|Feb record low F = −5

|Mar record low F = 4

|Apr record low F = 21

|May record low F = 32

|Jun record low F = 45

|Jul record low F = 53

|Aug record low F = 50

|Sep record low F = 38

|Oct record low F = 24

|Nov record low F = 11

|Dec record low F = −5

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.49

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.13

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.95

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.84

|May precipitation inch = 3.36

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.99

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.74

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.35

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.71

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.16

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.31

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.57

|year precipitation inch = 43.60

|Jan snow inch = 1.6

|Feb snow inch = 1.1

|Mar snow inch = 0.3

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.1

|Dec snow inch = 0.4

|year snow inch = 3.5

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.3

|Feb precipitation days = 9.7

|Mar precipitation days = 10.2

|Apr precipitation days = 9.0

|May precipitation days = 9.5

|Jun precipitation days = 10.6

|Jul precipitation days = 10.5

|Aug precipitation days = 10.1

|Sep precipitation days = 7.7

|Oct precipitation days = 7.1

|Nov precipitation days = 8.1

|Dec precipitation days = 9.6

|year precipitation days = 112.4

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.9

|Feb snow days = 0.5

|Mar snow days = 0.2

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.3

|year snow days = 1.9

|Jan humidity = 65.7

|Feb humidity = 61.8

|Mar humidity = 61.5

|Apr humidity = 59.3

|May humidity = 66.9

|Jun humidity = 69.6

|Jul humidity = 72.2

|Aug humidity = 73.5

|Sep humidity = 73.3

|Oct humidity = 69.9

|Nov humidity = 67.6

|Dec humidity = 67.3

|year humidity = 67.4

|Jan sun = 173.3

|Feb sun = 180.3

|Mar sun = 234.8

|Apr sun = 269.6

|May sun = 292.1

|Jun sun = 289.2

|Jul sun = 290.0

|Aug sun = 272.9

|Sep sun = 241.4

|Oct sun = 230.5

|Nov sun = 178.4

|Dec sun = 168.5

|Jan percentsun = 55

|Feb percentsun = 59

|Mar percentsun = 63

|Apr percentsun = 69

|May percentsun = 67

|Jun percentsun = 66

|Jul percentsun = 66

|Aug percentsun = 65

|Sep percentsun = 65

|Oct percentsun = 66

|Nov percentsun = 58

|Dec percentsun = 55

|year percentsun = 63

|Jan dew point C = −2.6

|Feb dew point C = −1.9

|Mar dew point C = 2.4

|Apr dew point C = 6.4

|May dew point C = 12.7

|Jun dew point C = 17.2

|Jul dew point C = 19.5

|Aug dew point C = 19.3

|Sep dew point C = 16.2

|Oct dew point C = 9.7

|Nov dew point C = 4.2

|Dec dew point C = −0.4

|Jan uv = 3

|Feb uv = 4

|Mar uv = 6

|Apr uv = 8

|May uv = 9

|Jun uv = 10

|Jul uv = 10

|Aug uv = 9

|Sep uv = 8

|Oct uv = 5

|Nov uv = 3

|Dec uv = 2

|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew point, and sun 1961–1990){{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=gsp |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = May 4, 2021}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505003426/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013881&format=pdf |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013881&format=pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |access-date=May 4, 2021 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72314.TXT |title = WMO Climate Normals for CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INT'L ARPT NC 1961–1990 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = July 18, 2020}}

|source 2 = Weather Atlas{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-us.com/en/north-carolina-usa/charlotte-climate |title=Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=14 June 2019 }} (UV index)

}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1800= 276

|1850= 1065

|1860= 2265

|1870= 4473

|1880= 7094

|1890= 11557

|1900= 18091

|1910= 34014

|1920= 46338

|1930= 82675

|1940= 100899

|1950= 134042

|1960= 201564

|1970= 241420

|1980= 315474

|1990= 395934

|2000= 540828

|2010= 731424

|2020= 874579

|estyear=2023

|estimate=911311

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}
1800–1900{{cite web|url=https://www.historync.org/NCCityPopulations1800s.htm|title=North Carolina Cities Population Changes in the 1800s|publisher=www.historync.org|access-date=June 3, 2023}} 2010–2020

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Charlotte city, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Charlotte city, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=1600000US3712000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Charlotte city, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US3712000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Charlotte city, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US3712000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|297,845

|329,545

|style='background: #ffffe6; |347,363

|55.07%

|45.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |39.72%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|175,661

|252,007

|style='background: #ffffe6; |284,206

|32.48%

|34.45%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.50%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|1,589

|2,250

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,177

|0.29%

|0.31%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%

Asian alone (NH)

|18,264

|36,115

|style='background: #ffffe6; |61,420

|3.38%

|4.94%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.02%

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|238

|436

|style='background: #ffffe6; |427

|0.04%

|0.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%

Other race alone (NH)

|885

|1,960

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,632

|0.16%

|0.27%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.64%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|6,546

|13,423

|style='background: #ffffe6; |30,650

|1.21%

|1.84%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.50%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|39,800

|95,688

|style='background: #ffffe6; |142,704

|7.36%

|13.08%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.32%

Total

|540,828

|731,424

|style='background: #ffffe6; |874,579

|100.00%

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

In the 2020 census, there were 874,579 people, 342,448 households, and 195,614 families living in the city. In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates showed 885,708 residents living within Charlotte's city limits{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2019-ANNRNK.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2019 Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019|publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division|access-date=May 21, 2020}} and 1,093,901 in Mecklenburg County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=United States Census Bureau|language=en|access-date=2019-06-30}} The combined statistical area, or trade area, of Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC had an estimated population of 3,387,115 in 2023. Figures from the more comprehensive 2010 census show Charlotte's population density was {{convert|2,457|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 319,918 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,074.6|/mi2|/km2}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045214/3712000,00 |title=US Census Bureau Quick Facts |access-date=July 2, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Charlotte's population as 30.2% Black and 68.9% White.{{cite web|title=North Carolina – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=April 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012}} In 2020, 39.72% of the population was non-Hispanic white, 32.5% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 7.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.15% other or mixed, and 16.32% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. This reflected the national demographic shift as Hispanic or Latinos and Asians increased in population.{{Cite news|date=2021-08-12|title=US census: Hispanic and Asian-American driving US population growth|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58195166|access-date=2022-02-06}}{{cite web|last=Frey|first=William H.|date=2021-08-13|title=New 2020 census results show increased diversity countering decade-long declines in America's white and youth populations|url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/new-2020-census-results-show-increased-diversity-countering-decade-long-declines-in-americas-white-and-youth-populations/|access-date=2022-02-06|website=Brookings|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article202159104.html|title=Charlotte's growing Asian population opens community center|last=Price|first=Mark|date=February 26, 2018|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 25, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/news/archives/asian-americans-now-fastest-growing-demographic-north-carolina-report/|title=Asian-Americans Now the Fastest-Growing Demographic in North Carolina: Report|last=Hundall|first=David|date=March 11, 2016|website=Indy Week|access-date=November 25, 2022}}

In 2020, the median income for a household in Charlotte was $48,670. The median income for a family was $59,452. Males had a median income of $38,767 versus $29,218 for females. The per capita income for Charlotte was $29,825. The percentage of the population living at or below the poverty line was 10.6%, with 7.8% of families living at or below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

=Religion=

File:Billy-graham-library-and-grounds.JPG]]

Charlotte has been historically Protestant and remains predominantly Protestant today. It is the birthplace of Billy Graham, and is also the historic seat of Southern Presbyterianism. The changing demographics of the city's increasing population have brought scores of new denominations and faiths.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/38b5e9c2df4b43ac9b6a8b04009583e8|title=Billy Graham and North Carolina: The Affection was mutual|last=Drew|first=Jonathan|date=February 23, 2018|work=Associated Press|access-date=August 2, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/diverse-community-believers-thrives-billy-graham-s-charlotte-n851846|title=A diverse community of believers thrives in Billy Graham's Charlotte|last=McCausland|first=Phil|date=March 1, 2018|website=NBC News|access-date=January 14, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2018/02/21/charlotte-politicians-ceos-reflect-on-billy.html|title=Hometown preacher Billy Graham influenced leaders across the world and the Carolinas|last=Spanberg|first=Erik|date=February 21, 2018|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=January 14, 2023}} The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Wycliffe Bible Translators' JAARS Center, SIM Missions Organization, and The Christian Research Institute make their homes in the Charlotte general area.{{cite web|url=https://www.equip.org/connect/|title=Connect with the Christian Research Institute|website=equip.org|access-date=February 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.simusa.org/|title=Become a Missionary – Christian Missions – Sims USA|website=simusa.org|access-date=February 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jaars.org/experience/|title=Experience JAARS|website=jaars.org|access-date=February 28, 2023}} In 2018, Charlotte proper had over 700 places of worship.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-people/article236118518.html|title=10 things you need to know to navigate Charlotte's faith scene|date=July 30, 2018|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 2, 2021|archive-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803024711/https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-people/article236118518.html|url-status=dead}}

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is now the fourth largest denomination in Charlotte, with 68,000 members and 206 congregations. The second largest Presbyterian denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America has 43 churches and 12,000 members, followed by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with 63 churches and 9,500 members.{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/m/16740/rcms2010_16740_metro_adh_2010.asp|title=The Association of Religion Data Archives – Maps & Reports|website=Thearda.com|access-date=June 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602023500/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/m/16740/rcms2010_16740_metro_adh_2010.asp|archive-date=June 2, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America is headquartered in Charlotte, and both Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary have campuses there; more recently, the religious studies academic departments of Charlotte's local colleges and universities have also grown considerably.{{cite web|url=https://www.bpfna.org/|title=Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America website|website=bpfna.org|access-date=August 19, 2021}}

The Advent Christian Church is headquartered in Charlotte. The Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is also headquartered in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.wnccumc.org/conference-history|title=Conference History|website=wnccumc.org|access-date=August 2, 2021}}

The largest Protestant church in Charlotte, by attendance, is Elevation Church, a Southern Baptist church founded by lead pastor Steven Furtick. The church has over 15,000 congregants at nine Charlotte locations.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/17/3730572/area-churches-defy-trend-of-religious.htmlw.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/19/3987499/elevation-church-eyes-old-palace.html |title=Elevation Church eyes old Palace Theater in Cornelius for another location |first=Joe |last=Marusak |year=2013 |access-date=May 16, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Charlotte's Cathedral of Saint Patrick is the seat of the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, the head of which is Rev. Peter Joseph Jugis.{{cite web|url=https://www.stpatricks.org/|title=Welcome to the Cathedral of Saint patrick|access-date=September 24, 2021}} St. Matthew Parish, located in the Ballantyne neighborhood, is the largest Catholic parish with over 30,000 parishioners.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/17/3730572/area-churches-defy-trend-of-religious.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109013753/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/17/3730572/area-churches-defy-trend-of-religious.html|archive-date=November 9, 2013|title=Two Charlotte churches are expanding, defying decline of religion|first=Michael|last=Gordon|year=2012|access-date=July 15, 2013}} Charlotte is home to ~28,000 Catholic househilds.{{cite web |last=Diocese of Charlotte |date=2010 |title=Pastoral Report - The Diocese of Charlotte |url=https://1z1bef2t6k8q3w96xp2i4xwi-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/pastoral-report-10.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331210831/https://1z1bef2t6k8q3w96xp2i4xwi-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/pastoral-report-10.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The Greek Orthodox Church's cathedral for North Carolina, Holy Trinity Cathedral, is located in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://htgo.org/about-us/|title=About us – Holy Trinity Cathedral|website=htgo.org|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627095310/https://htgo.org/about-us/|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=dead}}

File:Saint Peter Catholic Church (Charlotte, North Carolina) - view from Mint Museum.jpg, located in Uptown, the city's oldest Catholic Church]]

Charlotte has the largest Jewish population in the Carolinas.{{cite web|url=https://jewishnc.org/jewish-communities-in-north-carolina/charlotte/|title=Jewish Life in Charlotte NC|website=Jewishnc.org|access-date=March 13, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2009/04/30/jewish-traveler-charlotte/|title=The Jewish Traveler: Charlotte|website=Hadassah Magazine|date=April 30, 2009 |access-date=July 30, 2022}} Shalom Park in south Charlotte is the hub of the Jewish community, featuring two synagogues, Temple Israel{{Cite web|url=https://www.templeisraelnc.org/|title=Temple Israel NC Homepage|website=templeisarelnc.com|access-date=November 19, 2022}} and Temple Beth El, as well as a community center, the Charlotte Jewish Day School for grades K–5, and the headquarters of the Charlotte Jewish News.[http://www.shalomcharlotte.org/ Foundation of Shalom Park – Charlotte]. Shalomcharlotte.org. Retrieved on August 25, 2013.

Most African Americans in Charlotte are Baptists affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, the largest predominantly African American denomination in the United States. African American Methodists are largely affiliated with either the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, headquartered in Charlotte, or the African Methodist Episcopal Church. African American Pentecostals are represented by several organizations such as the United House of Prayer for All People, Church of God in Christ, and the United Holy Church of America.

{{As of|2013}}, 51.91% of people in Charlotte practice religion on a regular basis, making it the second most religious city in North Carolina after Winston-Salem. The largest religion in Charlotte is Christianity, with Baptists (13.26%) having the largest number of adherents. The second largest Christian group are the Roman Catholics (9.43%), followed by Methodists (8.02%) and Presbyterians (5.25%). Other Christian affiliates include Pentecostals (2.50%), Lutherans (1.30%), Episcopalians (1.20%), Latter-Day Saints (0.84%), and other Christian (8.87%) churches, including the Eastern Orthodox and non-denominational congregations. Judaism (0.57%) is the second largest religion after Christianity, followed by Eastern religions (0.34%) and Islam (0.32%).{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/north_carolina/charlotte|title=Charlotte, North Carolina Religion|website=Bestplaces.net|access-date=June 13, 2016}}

Economy

{{See also|List of companies in Charlotte}}

File:BofA Corp Center.jpg]]

File:Duke Energy Center and The Westin Charlotte, 2010.jpg, formerly Duke Energy Center, and The Westin Charlotte]]

File:Charlotte hearst tower.jpg, headquarters of Truist Financial]]

File:WellsFargoCharlotte.jpg behind Brevard Court in Uptown Charlotte|alt=]]

Charlotte is the second-largest banking center in the United States, after New York City.{{cite web |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article221589840.html |title=Charlotte regains its place as No. 2 U.S. banking center. Will it keep it? |work=The Charlotte Observer |last=Roberts |first=Deon |date=November 16, 2018 |access-date=August 11, 2021 }}{{cite web|last1=Carrizales|first1=Jennifer|title=Charlotte Soars to Become the Nation's Second Largest Financial Center|url=http://carolinahistory.web.unc.edu/charlotte-soars-to-become-the-nations-second-largest-financial-center/|work=North Carolina History Projects|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-date=August 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829080651/http://carolinahistory.web.unc.edu/charlotte-soars-to-become-the-nations-second-largest-financial-center/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2021/02/25/research-data/industry-insights-financial-services-in-the-charlotte-region/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302135100/https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2021/02/25/research-data/industry-insights-financial-services-in-the-charlotte-region/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2021|title=Industry insights: Financial Services in the Charlotte Region|date=February 25, 2021|website=Charlotte Regional Business Alliance|access-date=November 2, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-28-mn-53971-story.html|title=Charlotte: A New U.S. Bethemoth of Banking|last=Vrana|first=Debora|date=May 28, 1998|website=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 2, 2023}}

Bank of America, the second-largest financial institution by total assets in the United States, is headquartered in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://locators.bankofamerica.com/nc/charlotte/index.m.html|title=Bank of America Financial Centers and ATMs in Charlotte, NC|publisher=Bank of America|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626141802/https://locators.bankofamerica.com/nc/charlotte/index.m.html|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=dead}} It is also home to Truist Financial, the nation's sixth-largest financial institution.{{cite web|url=https://www.journalnow.com/business/truist-completes-455-5m-purchase-of-charlotte-hq-bank-delays-new-branding-unveilings/article_891db77d-c8dd-5565-ac83-dcff50a7691c.html|title=Truist completes $455.5M purchase of Charlotte HQ; bank delays new branding unveilings|last=Craver|first=Richard|date=April 1, 2020|publisher=Winston-Salem Journal|access-date=June 23, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/12/11/truist-to-purchase-hearst-tower-in-q1-rename.html|title=Truist to purchase Hearst Tower for $455.5M, rename uptown building|last=Fahey|first=Ashley|date=December 11, 2019|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=December 11, 2019}}

Charlotte also has become a large employment center for major banks not headquartered in Charlotte:

  • Charlotte is the regional headquarters for East Coast operations of Wells Fargo, which is headquartered in San Francisco, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article238596963.html|title=Will Wells Fargo ever move its headquarters to Charlotte? Its CEO has options|last=Weinstein|first=Austin|date=December 29, 2019|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 29, 2019}} Charlotte also serves as the headquarters for Wells Fargo's capital markets activities.
  • Bank of America's headquarters, along with other regional banking and financial services companies, are located primarily in the Uptown central business district.{{Cite web|url=https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/historical-overview-part-3-rise-banking-builds-globally-connected-region|title=Historical Overview Part 3: The Rise Of Banking Builds A Globally Connected Region|date=August 28, 2019|website=ui.charlotte.edu|publisher=University of North Carolina at Charlotte|access-date=December 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/kdZchEwDkYSXozJJ7Z8gQA2|title=Charlotte, NC, outpacing nationwide growth in banking, set for further expansion|last=Duren|first=Carolyn|date=May 16, 2019|website=S&P Global }}{{cite web|url=https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2022/07/11/clt-alliance-blog/charlotte-is-a-hot-spot-in-the-financial-services-industry/|title=Charlotte is a hot spot in the financial services industry|date=August 11, 2022|website=Charlotte Regional Business Alliance|access-date=August 9, 2023|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231518/https://charlotteregion.com/blog/2022/07/11/clt-alliance-blog/charlotte-is-a-hot-spot-in-the-financial-services-industry/|url-status=dead}}
  • In May 2021, Ally Financial moved to Ally Charlotte Center, which houses its 2,100 Charlotte-based employees and contractors across {{convert|725,000|sqft|m2}} of the building.{{cite web |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article251132024.html |title=Construction on the latest bank tower in the Charlotte skyline is now complete |first=Danielle |last=Chemtob|publisher=Charlotte Observer |date=May 3, 2021|access-date=2021-05-05}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/04/22/where-allys-charlotte-growth-goes-from-here.html | title=ALLY'S BIG MOVE Fast-growing online bank joins major rivals on Tryon Street with opening of new hub | first1=Caroline | last1=Hudson | work=Charlotte Business Journal | date=April 22, 2021}}
  • U.S. Bancorp leases {{convert|81,424|sqft|m2}} in Truist Center to house 850 employees{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/06/29/us-bank-shifts-charlotte-operations.html |title=Charlotte-based executive Jim Kelligrew leading changes in US Bancorp's corporate, commercial banking division|first1=Caroline |last1=Hudson|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=29 June 2020|access-date=21 May 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2014/11/u-s-bank-expands-at-hearst-tower-leasing-35th.html|title=U.S. Bank expands at Hearst Tower, leasing 35th floor |first1=Will|last1=Boye|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=21 November 2014|access-date=21 May 2021}}
  • USAA occupies {{convert|90,000|sqft|m2}} in The Square which is located in South End to house 500 employees.{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/05/27/usaa-charlotte-office-square-south-end.html

|title=USAA confirms Charlotte office, will lease six floors at South End building |first1=Ashley |last1=Fahey |work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=27 May 2021|access-date=28 May 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/06/03/usaa-beacon-charlotte-sells.html

|title=USAA buys The Square at South End from Charlotte developer Beacon Partners for nearly $97M |first1=Jennifer |last1=Thomas |work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=3 June 2022|access-date=19 October 2022}}

  • In September 2022, TD Bank announced its plan to expand its retail in Charlotte with 15 new branches.{{Cite web |url=https://stories.td.com/us/en/article/td-bank-to-expand-in-charlotte-north-carolina-with-new-stores|title=TD Bank to Expand in Charlotte, North Carolina, With New Stores|date=September 15, 2022 |website=stories.td.com|access-date=January 14, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2023/01/19/td-bank-branches-retail-expansion-midtown-east.html|title=Cherry Hill-based TD Bank continues its retail expansion in Charlotte|last=Graham|first=Symone |date=January 19, 2023 |website=BizJournals.com|access-date=March 12, 2023}}
  • In August 2022 UK based The Bank of London announced it will be leasing {{convert|40,000|sqft|m2|0}} in 101 Independence Center to house the 350 jobs they are creating in Charlotte by 2026.{{cite news |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article264214046.html| title=A new British bank is bringing 350 jobs to Charlotte. Its already actively hiring.| first1=Hannah|last1=Lang|work=Charlotte Observer|date=8 August 2022|access-date=15 September 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/08/08/bank-of-london-expansion-uptown-jobs-technology.html|

title=Bank of London to establish tech hub in uptown Charlotte, pledging 350 jobs

| first1=Elise|last1=France|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=8 August 2022|access-date=17 October 2022}}

Other large companies, such as Microsoft and Centene Corporation, operate their East Coast headquarters in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation|title=Microsoft East Coast Headquarters - Safway Services|website=safway.com|access-date=March 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050044/http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation|archive-date=March 29, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article236604708.html|title=Microsoft investing $24 million in Charlotte campus, creating over 400 high-paying jobs|last=Smoot|first=Hannah|date=October 25, 2019|work=charlotteobserver.com|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613105335/https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article236604708.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article243910837.html |title=Insurance giant to bring over 3,200 jobs to Charlotte, with up to $450M in incentives |work=The Charlotte Observer |last1=Muccigrosso |first1=Catherine |last2=Chemtob |first2=Danielle |last3=Eanes |first3=Zachary |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=August 11, 2021 }} In November 2018, Honeywell moved its corporate headquarters to Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/30/honeywell-to-move-its-hq-to-charlotte-north-carolina-from-new-jersey.html|title=Honeywell moves HQ to Charlotte, North Carolina from New Jersey|last=Lucas|first=Ameila|date=November 30, 2018|website=CNBC.com|access-date=September 15, 2021}} In June 2019, Lowe's announced it will be building its Lowe's Global Technology Center worth $153 million, which is set to be complete in 2021 and will be headquartered in South End neighborhood in Charlotte.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.lowes.com/newsroom/stories/inside-lowes/tech-transformation-lowes-chooses-charlotte-global-technology-center|title=Tech Transformation: Lowe's Chooses Charlotte For Global Technology Center|date=June 25, 2019|website=corporate.lowes.com|publisher=Lowe's|access-date=June 25, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article231952298.html|title=Lowe's picks South End for tech hub, 2,000 high-paying jobs and a new 23-story tower|last=Peralta|first=Katherine|date=June 27, 2019|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=May 21, 2022}} In 2019, Dole Food Company relocated its headquarters to Charlotte from California, and expanded its presence in Charlotte with its merger with Ireland-based Total Produce in February 2021.{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/248296/worlds-largest-fresh-produce-company-grows-charlotte-hq/|website=Axios Charlotte|title=Dole Food Company announced a merger with Ireland-based Total Produce Wednesday. The combined business will be the world's largest fresh produce company, and it'll have its American headquarters in Charlotte|date=February 17, 2021 }} On May 25, 2021, it was announced that Charlotte would become the East Coast headquarters of Credit Karma.{{cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2021/05/25/credit-karma-bringing-jobs-charlotte-with-new-east-coast-hub/|title=Credit Karma bringing 600 new jobs to Charlotte with new east coast hub|date=May 25, 2021|website=WBTV.com|access-date=May 27, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://abc11.com/credit-karma-charlotte-nc-jobs-north-carolina-roy-cooper/10696800/|title=Credit Karma to put east coast headquarters in North Carolina|date=May 25, 2021|website=ABC11.com|agency=Associated Press|access-date=May 27, 2021|archive-date=May 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527001032/https://abc11.com/credit-karma-charlotte-nc-jobs-north-carolina-roy-cooper/10696800/|url-status=dead}} Cedar Fair's corporate office is located in southwest Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://jobs.cedarfair.com/corporate |title=Corporate Fun Jobs |publisher=Jobs.cedarfair.com |access-date=2022-05-13}} On September 20, 2022, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced it will be relocating its headquarters from nearby Greensboro to Charlotte in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article266063391.html|title=ACC does the right thing, relocating its headquarters from Greensboro to Charlotte|last=Fowler|first=Scott|date=September 20, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=September 20, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/308673/acc-is-moving-its-headquarters-to-charlotte/|title=ACC is moving its headquarters to Charlotte|last=Soloff Peralta|first=Katie|date=September 20, 2022|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=September 20, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://theacc.com/news/2022/9/20/general-acc-board-of-directors-announces-relocation-of-league-office-to-charlotte.aspx|title=ACC Board of Directors Announces Relocation of League Office to Charlotte|date=September 20, 2022|website=Atlantic Coast Conference|access-date=September 21, 2022}} On July 12, 2023, railcar company TTX announced it will move its corporate headquarters to Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article277207253.html|title=One of North Americas largest rail fleets plans to move HQ to Charlotte|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=July 12, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=July 13, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/07/11/ttx-co-to-relocate-hq-from-chicago-to-charlotte.html|title=Railcar company TTX to relocate HQ to Charlotte from Chicago|last=Huguley|first=Collin|date=July 11, 2023|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=July 13, 2023}}

As of 2019, Charlotte has seven Fortune 500 companies in its metropolitan area, including, in order of their rank: Bank of America, Honeywell, Nucor, Lowe's, Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, and Brighthouse Financial.{{cite web|title=Fortune 500 (2019)|url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/2019/search/?hqcity=Charlotte&hqstate=NC&rank=asc|access-date=August 25, 2019}} The Charlotte area includes a diverse range of businesses, including foodstuffs such as Harris Teeter,{{Cite web|url=https://www.harristeeter.com/i/about-us|title=About us – Harris Teeter|website=harristeeter.com|publisher=Harris Teeter|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516085445/https://www.harristeeter.com/i/about-us|url-status=dead}} Snyder's-Lance,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/LNCE:US?leadSource=uverify%20wall|title= Snyders-Lance Inc|website=Bloomberg|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Dentsply Sirona, Carolina Foods Inc.,{{Cite web|url=https://carolinafoodsinc.com/about-us/|title=About Us|website=carolinafoodsinc.com|publisher=Carolina Foods|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Bojangles,{{cite web|url=https://www.bojanglesrdu.com/about/|title=About Tri-Arc Food Systems – Our History|website=Bojanglesrdu.com|publisher=Bojangles'|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Food Lion,{{Cite web|url=https://www.foodlion.com/about-us/|title=About us – Food lion Supermarket & Pharmacy|website=Food Lion|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill,{{Cite web|url=https://salsaritas.com/about-us/|title=Our Story|website=Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Compass Group USA,{{Cite web|url=https://www.compass-usa.com/contact-us/|title=Contact Compass Group|website=compass-usa.com|access-date=September 7, 2022}} Krispy Kreme, Inc.,{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Jenna |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Krispy Kreme closing Concord facility, scraps Winston-Salem expansion as it exits snack-aisle business |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/03/15/krispy-kreme-concord-shutdown-winston-salem.html |access-date=May 29, 2023 |website=Charlotte Business Journal}} and Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc. (Charlotte being the nation's second largest Coca-Cola bottler);{{cite web|url=https://www.cokeconsolidated.com/products-and-service-area|title=About us – Coca-Cola Consolidated|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123235506/https://www.cokeconsolidated.com/products-and-service-area|url-status=dead}} packaging company Sealed Air,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sealedair.com/contact|title=Contact Sealed Air's Customer Service Representatives|website=sealedair.com|access-date=September 7, 2022}} financial services company Dixon Hughes Goodman,{{Cite web|url=https://www.forvis.com/about-us/locations/charlotte-nc-southpark|title=Charlotte, NC - SouthPark – CPA Firm|website=forvis.com|access-date=September 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/04/27/dhg-and-bkd-announce-new-name-post-merger.html|title=One of Charlotte's leading accounting firms has new post merger name|last=Georgacopoulos|first=Christina|date=April 27, 2022|website=bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=September 7, 2022}} online leading marketplace LendingTree, chemical company Albemarle Corporation,{{Cite web|url=https://www.albemarle.com/news/albemarle-to-relocate-its-corporate-headquarters-to-charlotte-nc|title=Albemarle To Relocate Its Corporate Headquarters To Charlotte, N.C.|date=August 25, 2015|website=albemarle.com|publisher=Albemarle Corporation|access-date=September 14, 2022}} Lawn and garden equipment maker WORX, door and window maker JELD-WEN,{{Cite web|url=https://www.jeld-wen.com/en-us/about-us|title=Our Company & History|website=jeld-wen.com|publisher=JELD-WEN|access-date=December 12, 2021}} motor and transportation companies such as RSC Brands, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC.,{{Cite web|url=https://www.continental.com/en-us/career/our-locations/fort-mill/|title=Fort Mill, SC – Continental Corporation USA|website=continental.com|access-date=September 14, 2022}} Meineke Car Care Centers, retail companies Belk,{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.belk.com/newsroom?item=29929|title=Belk Inc – History Outline|access-date=December 12, 2021}} Cato Corporation and Rack Room Shoes, along with a wide array of other businesses.{{cite web|last1=Charlotte Chamber of Commerce|title=270 Fortune 500 Companies Represented in Charlotte-Mecklenburg|url=http://charlottechamber.com/clientuploads/Economic_pdfs/Fortune500List.pdf|access-date=August 25, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Leading Tree Locations|url=https://www.lendingtree.com/careers/locations/}}

Charlotte is the major center of the U.S. motorsports industry, housing the US's only Formula One team, Haas F1,{{cite web|url=https://www.haasf1team.com/|title=Haas F1 Team|website=HaasF1team.com|access-date=May 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsracin/article9199895.html|title=Gene Haas' Formula One team to be based in Kannapolis, NC|last=Utter|first=Jim|date=October 8, 2014|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 22, 2015}} multiple teams and offices of NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord.{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/track-history/|title=Charlotte Motor Speedway – Track History|access-date=May 21, 2022}} Approximately 75% of the NASCAR industry's race teams, employees and drivers are based nearby.{{cite web|url=https://www.greatamericancountry.com/places/local-life/charlotte-the-hub-of-racing-culture|title=Charlotte: The Hub of Racing Culture|last=Norwood|first=Allen|website=greatamericancountry.com|access-date=September 3, 2016|archive-date=October 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017182133/http://www.greatamericancountry.com/places/local-life/charlotte-the-hub-of-racing-culture|url-status=dead}} The large presence of the racing technology industry and the newly built NHRA dragstrip, zMAX Dragway at Concord, are influencing other top professional drag racers to move their shops to Charlotte as well.

Located in the western part of Mecklenburg County is the U.S. National Whitewater Center, which consists of human-made rapids of varying degrees, and is open to the public year-round.{{cite web|url=http://www.usnwc.org/ |title=U.S. National Whitewater Center :: Whitewater Rafting, Biking, Climbing, Kayaking, Zip lines, Food, and Fun. – Come Play! |website=Usnwc.org |access-date=July 2, 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/273893/the-whitewater-center-is-having-a-huge-2021/|title=The Whitewater Center is having a huge 2021|last=Soloff Peralta|first=Katie|date=September 30, 2021|website=Axios Charlotte|access-date=February 5, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/riding-the-waves-at-the-u-s-national-whitewater-center/|title=Riding the Waves at U.S. National Whitewater Center|last=Markovitch|first=Jeremy|date=July 21, 2014|website=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=November 13, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://wlos.com/news/local/us-national-whitewater-center-eyes-expansion-in-western-north-carolina-mills-river-whitewater-pisgah|title=U.S. National Whitewater Center eyes expansion in Western North Carolina|last=James|first=Andrew|date=June 2, 2022|website=WLOS.com|access-date=November 13, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/us-national-whitewater-center-charlotte-expansion-dog-park-activity-areas/275-da027b65-0752-4adc-9ae1-555efc7302cf|title=Whitewater Center expected to open new 70-acre dog park this fall|last=Lee|first=Hank|date=August 24, 2023|website=WCNC.com|access-date=November 13, 2023}}

The Charlotte Region has a major base of energy-oriented organizations and has become known as "Charlotte USA – The New Energy Capital".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/with-electricity-firms-investment-charlotte-looks-to-become-energy-capital/2011/09/06/gIQAzBzGFK_story.html|title=Charlotte looks beyond financial sector in effort to become 'energy capital'|last=Glader|first=Paul|date=September 10, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 12, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/feature/new-energy-capital.html|title=How Charlotte became a power player|date=August 31, 2012|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=February 5, 2023}} In the region there are more than 240 companies directly tied to the energy sector, collectively employing more than 26,400. Since 2007 more than 4,000 energy sector jobs have been announced. Major energy players in Charlotte include AREVA, Duke Energy, Electric Power Research Institute, Fluor, Metso Power, Piedmont Natural Gas, Albemarle Corp, Siemens Energy, Shaw Group, Toshiba, URS Corp., and Westinghouse.{{cite web|url= https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/new-plaza-in-uptown-charlotte-to-become-duke-energys-corporate-headquarters|title=New plaza in Uptown Charlotte to become Duke energy's corporate headquarters|date=May 17, 2021|publisher=Duke Energy|access-date=May 2, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://new.siemens.com/us/en/company/siemens-in-the-usa/charlotte.html|title=Charlotte – Siemens Energy|publisher=Siemens Energy|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023071729/https://new.siemens.com/us/en/company/siemens-in-the-usa/charlotte.html|url-status=dead}} The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a reputation in energy education and research, and its Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) trains energy engineers and conducts research.{{cite web|url=https://epic.uncc.edu/about/overview|title=Overview – Energy Production & Infrastructure Center|website=epic.uncc.edu|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626235525/https://epic.uncc.edu/about/overview|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=dead}} Over the last couple of years, Charlotte has become a hub in the Information technology industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/charlotte-north-carolina-tech-hub-hot-spot/275-6f129f84-840c-4d60-803e-bcd2a5c3d98d|title=Why Charlotte is such a popular destination for tech companies|last=Thompson|first=Ben|date=May 26, 2021|website=wcnc.com|access-date=October 8, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/253303/words-out-how-charlotte-is-becoming-a-hot-tech-town/|title=Words out, How Charlotte is becoming a hot tech town|last=Soloff|first=Katie|date=April 3, 2021|website=Charlotte.axios.com|access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottestories.com/charlotte-ranked-as-the-1-tech-town-in-america/|title=Charlotte ranked as the No. 1 tech town in America|last=Jensen|first=Scott|date=June 4, 2020|website=Charlottestories.com|access-date=June 4, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2018/03/13/charlotte-next-silicon-valley/|title=Is Charlotte The Next Silicon Valley?|date=March 13, 2018|website=WCCBCharlotte.com|access-date=January 14, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbre.com/press-releases/charlottes-tech-job-growth-puts-citys-office-market-among-hottest-of-n-americas-30-tech-hubs|title=Charlotte's Tech Job Growth Puts City's Office Market Among The Hottest Of North America's 30 Leading Tech Hubs|date=October 31, 2022|website=CBRE.com|access-date=August 26, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/education/computers-tech/tech-jobs-in-charlotte/|title=Tech Jobs in Charlotte, the South's growing technology hub|last=Sweeney|first=Matthew|date=January 19, 2022|website=ZDNET.com|access-date=August 26, 2023}}

The area is an increasingly growing trucking and freight transportation hub for the East Coast. There are a couple of reasons for this growth. First, Charlotte's close proximity to major Interstates 40, 85, 77 or 95. Second, geographically it is also positioned within a 650-mile drive to 53% of the US population.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/06/28/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road-for-charlottes.html|title=Where the rubber meets the road for Charlotte's trucking industry|last=Cosgrove|first=Elly|date=June 28, 2018|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=May 23, 2021}} A number of Charlotte-based logistics companies have experienced a lot of recent growth. There are few notable expansions in the last ten years that have helped to create Charlotte as a logistics hub. In December 2015 FedEx announced plans to build a number of warehouse buildings in a Concord, North Carolina business park to locate 800 jobs there.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2015/12/fedex-eyes-concord-for-107m-800-employee.html | title=FedEx eyes Concord for 800-employee distribution hub| last=Elkins| first=Ken| work=Charlotte Business Journal | date=7 December 2015| access-date=23 October 2022}} In August 2016 Red Classic, Coke Consolidated transportation subsidiary, announced they would be hiring for an additional 300 jobs between August 2016 and the end of 2017.{{cite news | url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article98158072.html | title=Coke Consolidated unit to add nearly 300 jobs in Charlotte| last=Roberts| first=Deon| work=Charlotte Observer | date=26 August 2016| access-date=23 October 2022}} The company as of August 2022 has 357 local employees.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/subscriber-only/2022/08/26/largest-charlotte-area-logistics-companies.html | title=Largest Charlotte-area logistics companies| last=Sharpio| first=Amy | work=Charlotte Business Journal | date=26 August 2022| access-date=22 October 2022}} In October 2022 XPO, Inc. has spun off RXO into a separate company that is a truckload brokerage. The new company has 750 local employees and $4.7 billion in annual revenue{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/10/14/xpo-logistics-rxo-inc-digital-truck-brokerage.html | title=XPO Logistics spinoff to create new Charlotte publicly traded company| last=Downey| first=Downey | work=Charlotte Business Journal | date=14 October 2022| access-date=22 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/xpo-logistics-will-focus-only-on-trucking-will-spin-off-sell-other-units.html|title=XPO Logistics will now focus just on trucking, as it spins off and sell other businesses|last=Holland|first=Frank|date=March 8, 2022|website=CNBC|access-date=April 2, 2023}} Also in October 2022 Armstrong Transport Group formerly located in the University area after relocating to South End would be adding 100 jobs to its current local headcount of 125.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/10/20/vantage-south-end-armstrong-transport-group-growth.html | title=Charlotte logistics company Armstrong Transport Group moves into new HQ at Vantage South End| last=Franco| first=Elise| work=Charlotte Business Journal | date=20 October 2022| access-date=23 October 2022}} Others logistics companies that have are large Charlotte presence are Maersk North America with 800 employees, Zenith Global Logisitics with 720 employees, Cargo Transporters with 650 employees,{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2013/12/cargo-transporters-to-open-charlotte.html|title=Cargo Transporters to open Charlotte location next month|last=Elkins|first=Ken|date=December 2, 2013|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=April 1, 2023}} Southeastern Freight Lines Inc. with 517 employees,{{cite web|url=https://www.sefl.com/seflWebsite/servlet?action=svcCtrInfo_getSvcCtrData|title=Service Centers & Transit Maps|website=Southeastern Freight Lines|access-date=April 1, 2023}} Distribution Technology with 400 employees, and Transportation Insight LLC with 375 local employees.

Charlotte has seen a major construction boom in recent years. Zillow identified the city as the "hottest housing market" in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Rapp |first=Jessica |date=2023-02-24 |title=10 Hottest Housing Markets of 2023, and What to Know if You're Shopping in One |url=https://www.zillow.com/resources/stay-informed/hottest-housing-markets-2023/ |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=Zillow |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article278608644.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123033048/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article278608644.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2025|title=Charlotte is one of the best places to buy a house, why the city ranks so high|last=Blackmon|first=Chyna|date=August 25, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 26, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendarichardson/2023/01/12/zillow-picks-charlotte-north-carolina-as-2023s-hottest-housing-market/?sh=25666b652baa|title=Charlotte, North Carolina Is 2023's Hottest Housing Market, Analyst finds|last=Richardson|first=Brenda|date=January 12, 2023|website=Forbes|access-date=August 27, 2023}} Numerous residential units continue to be built uptown, including over 20 skyscrapers under construction, recently completed, or in the planning stage.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/02/11/state-of-the-center-city.html|title=State of the Center City 2021: $3B in development planned in uptown, midtown, South End|last=Fahey|first=Ashley|date=February 11, 2021|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=May 23, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/04/23/cbre-report-midtown-south-end.html|title=South End's meteoric rise into a bustling submarket chronicled in CBRE report, is more growth to follow?|last=Fahey|first=Ashley|date=April 23, 2021|website=Bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=November 27, 2022}} Many new restaurants, bars and clubs now operate in the Uptown area.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/141974/16-projects-under-construction-now-in-uptown-and-south-end-and-10-more-on-the-way/|title=16 projects under construction now in Uptown and South End – And 10 more on the way|last=Sealey|first=Clay|date=October 4, 2018|website=Axios Charlotte|access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article272065817.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230204030719/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article272065817.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2023|title=Growth in uptown and South End sees 'mic drop' numbers as skyline keeps changing|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=February 3, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 28, 2023}} Several projects are transforming the Midtown Charlotte/Elizabeth area.{{cite web|url=http://www.metmidtown.com/ |title=Metropolitan Charlotte North Carolina | MetTerrace Townhomes | MetLoft Condos | MetClub Resort | Residential Urban Living North Carolina |website=Metmidtown.com |access-date=July 2, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/development/article261332437.html|title=Tower proposed for Midtown Charlotte with apartments, shops and hotel|last=Rago|first=Gordon|date=May 11, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://shoppingcenterbusiness.com/northwood-investors-adds-two-new-concepts-to-metropolitan-shopping-center-in-midtown-charlotte/|title=Northwood Investors Adds Two New Concepts to Metropolitan Shopping Center in Midtown Charlotte|date=October 20, 2022|website=Shopping Center Business|access-date=November 27, 2022}} Population increases has also brought about gentrification in the city, particularly in predominantly African-American neighborhoods such as Biddleville and Cherry.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Pam |date=March 22, 2016 |title=White people in Biddleville: The story of a changing neighborhood |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article66963722.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714032024/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article66963722.html |archive-date=July 14, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Glenn |first=Gwendolyn |date=2019-01-21 |title=Finding Home: Cherry Residents Struggle With The Effects Of Gentrification |url=https://www.wfae.org/local-news/2019-01-21/finding-home-cherry-residents-struggle-with-the-effects-of-gentrification |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Addressing Gentrification In Charlotte |url=https://www.wfae.org/show/charlotte-talks-with-mike-collins/2016-04-26/addressing-gentrification-in-charlotte |access-date=2023-07-14 |website=WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/316880/charlotte-considers-property-tax-relief-to-combat-gentrification/|title=Charlotte considers property tax relief to combat gentrification|last=Chemtob|first=Danielle|date=January 3, 2023|website=Axios Charlotte|access-date=July 14, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article275954266.html|title=Gentrification vs growth in Charlotte Black neighborhood's: Do we stop it or embrace it?|last=Sparks Vernon|first=Lisa|date=June 21, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=July 14, 2023}}

In 2013, Forbes named Charlotte among its list of Best Places for Business and Careers.{{cite magazine|title=Best Places For Business and Careers — Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/best-places-for-business/|magazine=Forbes|access-date=January 16, 2014}} Charlotte was listed as the 20th largest city in the US, and the 60th fastest growing city in the US between 2000 and 2008.{{cite web|title=Charlotte vs. Raleigh Statistics — Carolina Ad Group|url=http://www.carolinaadgroup.com/charlotte-vs-raleigh/|website=Carolinaadgroup.com|access-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613034942/http://www.carolinaadgroup.com/charlotte-vs-raleigh/|archive-date=June 13, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+20 largest employers by number of employees in the Charlotte region{{cite web | title=Major Employers in Charlotte Region - Charlotte Area Major Employers (Q2 2018) | work=Charlotte Regional Business Alliance | url=https://charlotteregion.com/clientuploads/Data/Major-Employers-Q218.pdf | access-date=24 August 2019 | archive-date=April 10, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410160336/https://charlotteregion.com/clientuploads/Data/Major-Employers-Q218.pdf | url-status=dead }}

#

! Name

! Industry

! Number of employees

1

| Atrium Health

| Health Care and Social Assistance

| 35,700

2

| Wells Fargo

| Finance and Insurance

| 24,000

3

| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

| Educational Services

| 18,495

4

| Wal-Mart

| Retail Trade

| 17,100

5

| Bank of America

| Finance and Insurance

| 15,000

6

| Novant Health

| Health Care

| 11,698

7

| American Airlines

| Transportation

| 11,000

8

| Food Lion

| Retail Trade

| 7,900

9

| Harris Teeter

| Retail Trade

| 8,239

10

| Duke Energy

| Utilities

| 7,900

11

| Lowe's

| Retail Trade

| 7,801

12

| North Carolina State Government

| Public Administration

| 7,600

13

| Daimler Trucks North America

| Manufacturing

| 6,800

14

| City of Charlotte

| Public Administration

| 6,800

15

| Mecklenburg County

| Public Administration

| 5,512

16

| Union County Public Schools

| Educational Services

| 5,427

17

| US Government

| Public Administration

| 5,300

18

| YMCA of Greater Charlotte

| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

| 4,436

19

| Adecco Staffing, USA

| Administration and Support Services

| 4,200

20

| Carowinds

| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

| 4,100

Arts and culture

=Museums=

File:Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.jpg in Uptown Charlotte]]

File:Harvey B. Gantt Center on Opening Day.jpg]]

File:BechtlerMuseumCharlotte.jpg]]

File:Discovery Place-27527-1.jpg]]

{{div col}}

  • ArtPop Street Gallery{{Cite news|url=https://www.artpopstreetgallery.com/about|title=About ArtPop Street Gallery|date=June 29, 2024|work=artpopstreetgallery.com|access-date=June 29, 2024}}
  • Bechtler Museum of Modern Art{{Cite news|url=http://m.bechtler.org/about|title=About The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art|work=m.bechtler.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613121851/http://m.bechtler.org/about|url-status=dead}}
  • Billy Graham Library{{Cite news|url=https://billygrahamlibrary.org/what-is-the-library/|title=What is the Library – The Billy Graham Library|date=November 23, 2019|work=billygrahamlibrary.org|access-date=November 23, 2019}}
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum{{cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/KeepingYouSafe/FireandLifeSafetyEducation/Pages/default.aspx|title=Fire and life safety Education|website=Charlottenc.gov|access-date=August 19, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819232948/https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/KeepingYouSafe/FireandLifeSafetyEducation/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}
  • Charlotte Museum of History{{Cite news|url=http://charlottemuseum.org/about/|title=About – Charlotte museum|date=November 23, 2019|work=charlottemuseum.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • Charlotte Nature Museum in Freedom Park{{cite web|url=https://nature.discoveryplace.org/|title=Discovery Place Nature|website=nature.discoveryplace.org|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
  • Charlotte Trolley Museum in Historic South End{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/things-to-do/attractions/charlotte-trolley-powerhouse-studio|title=Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse studio|website=Charlottesgotalot.com|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821215828/https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/things-to-do/attractions/charlotte-trolley-powerhouse-studio|url-status=dead}}
  • Discovery Place{{cite web|url=https://www.discoveryplace.org/|title=Official website of Discovery Place Charlotte|website=Discoveryplace.org|access-date=September 14, 2021}}
  • Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture{{Cite news|url=https://ganttcenter.org/about-the-center/|title=About the Gantt|date=November 23, 2019|work=ganttcenter.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • Historic Rosedale Plantation{{cite web|url=https://historicrosedale.org/about/history/|title=History of Rosedale|website=historicRosedale.org|access-date=September 14, 2021}}
  • Levine Museum of the New South{{Cite news|url=https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/our-history|title=The Levine Museum of the New South – Our History|date=November 23, 2019|work=museumofthenewsouth.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528155523/https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/our-history|url-status=dead}}
  • The Light Factory Photo Arts Center{{Cite news|url=http://lightfactory.org/history/|title=Our 40–Year History|date=November 23, 2019|work=lightfactory.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • McColl Center for Art + Innovation{{Cite news|url=https://mccollcenter.org/about/|title=About McColl|date=November 23, 2019|work=mccollcenter.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • Mint Museum{{Cite news|url=https://mintmuseum.org/about-the-mint-museum/|title=About the Mint Museum|date=November 23, 2019|work=mintmuseum.org|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230074411/https://mintmuseum.org/about-the-mint-museum/|archive-date=December 30, 2019|url-status=dead}}
  • Museum of Illusions Charlotte{{Cite web|url=https://moicharlotte.com/|title=Museum of Illusions Charlotte Homepage|website=moicharlotte.com|access-date=December 8, 2022}}
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame{{Cite news|url=https://www.nascarhall.com/about-the-hall|title=About the Hall – NASCAR Hall of Fame|date=November 23, 2019|work=nascarhall.com|access-date=November 23, 2019}}
  • Second Ward Alumni House Museum{{Cite news|url=http://www.secondwardfoundation.org/|title=Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation|date=November 23, 2019|work=secondwardfoundation.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • Sullenberger Aviation Museum{{Cite web|url=https://www.sullenbergeraviation.org/about-us/|title=About the Sullenberger Aviation Museum|date=June 29, 2024|work=sullenbergeraviation.org|access-date=June 29, 2024}}
  • The Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPA){{Cite web|url=https://www.vapacenter.com/about/|title=About The VAPA Center|date=June 29, 2024|work=vapacenter.com|access-date=June 29, 2024}}

{{div col end}}

=Performing arts=

{{div col}}

  • Amos' Southend Music Hall{{cite web|url=https://amossouthend.com/about/|title=History of Southend|website=AmosSouthend.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}
  • Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte{{Cite web|url=https://catch.theater/|title=Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte Official homepage|website=catch.theater|access-date=June 17, 2022}}
  • Blumenthal Performing Arts Center{{cite web|url=https://www.blumenthalarts.org/about-us|title=History of Blumenthal Performing Arts|website=Blumenthalarts.org|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=October 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031113603/http://www.blumenthalarts.org/about-us|url-status=dead}}
  • Charlotte Ballet{{Cite news|url=https://charlotteballet.org/approach-faculty/history/|title=Charlotte Ballet: History|date=November 23, 2019|work=charlotteballet.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}
  • Charlotte Symphony Orchestra{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottesymphony.org/|title=Charlotte Symphony Orchestra|website=charlottesymphony.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}
  • Carolina Theatre{{Cite web|url=https://carolinatheatreclt.org/|title=Carolina Theatre – A Theatre for You|website=CarolinaTheatreCLT.com|access-date=November 25, 2022}}
  • ConCarolinas{{Cite web|url=https://concarolinas.org/|title=ConCarolinas 2022 homepage – Carolina's Longest Running Multi-Fandom Con|website=concarolinas.org|access-date=June 17, 2022}}
  • ImaginOn{{Cite news|url=https://www.imaginon.org/about-imaginon|title=About imaginon|date=November 23, 2019|work=imaginon.org|access-date=November 25, 2019}}
  • AvidxChange Music Factory{{cite web|url=http://avidxchangemusicfactory.com/|title=AdvidxChange Music Factory: Charlotte's Premier hub for Music, Entertainment, & Nightlife|website=Avidxchangemusicfactory.com|access-date=March 12, 2015}}
  • PNC Music Pavilion{{Cite web|url=http://charlottemusicpavilion.com/|title=PNC Music Pavilion Official homepage|website=charlottemusicpavilon.com|access-date=June 26, 2022}}
  • Opera Carolina{{Cite news|url=https://operacarolina.org/about-us-2/#history|title=The History of Opera Carolina|date=November 23, 2019|work=operacarolina.org|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608100418/https://operacarolina.org/about-us-2/#history|url-status=dead}}
  • The Robot Johnson Show{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/listings/bob-awards-winners-guide/robot-johnson/|title=Robot Johnson|date=June 3, 2013|work=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=September 15, 2021}}
  • Citizens of the Universe{{cite web|url=https://www.citizensoftheuniverse.org/|title=Citizens of the Universe|website=citizensoftheuniverse.org|access-date=November 25, 2019}}
  • Children's Theatre of Charlotte{{Cite web|url=https://ctcharlotte.org/Online/default.asp|title=Children's Theatre of Charlotte Homepage|website=Children's Theatre of Charlotte|access-date=November 25, 2022}}
  • Theatre Charlotte{{cite web|url=https://theatrecharlotte.org/|title=Official website of Theatre Charlotte|website=theatrecharlotte.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}
  • JazzArts Charlotte{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejazzarts.org/|title=JazzArts Charlotte – Jazz Education and Live Jazz Performances|website=thejazzarts.org|access-date=November 25, 2022}}

{{div col end}}

=Festivals and events=

The Charlotte region is home to many annual festivals and special events. The Carolina Renaissance Festival operates on Saturdays and Sundays each October and November. Located near the intersection of NC 73 and Poplar Tent Road, the Carolina Renaissance Festival is one of the largest renaissance themed events in the country. It features 11 stages of outdoor variety entertainment, a 22-acre village marketplace, an interactive circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, and a feast, all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure.{{Cite news|url=https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/quickfacts|title=Quick Facts – Carolina Renaissance festival|date=November 25, 2019|work=carolina.renfestinfo.com|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613080830/https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/quickfacts|url-status=dead}}

The Yiasou Greek Festival is a Greek Festival. It began in 1978 and since then has become one of Charlotte's largest cultural events.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/living/features/greece-word/812954584|title=Opa! it's time for the Yiasou Greek Festival|date=August 29, 2014|work=wsoctv.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}} The Yiasou (the Greek word for Hello, Goodbye and Cheers) Greek Festival features Hellenic cultural exhibits, authentic Greek cuisine and homemade pastries, entertainment, live music and dancing, wine tastings, art, shopping and more.{{Cite news|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2018/09/06/41st-yiasou-greek-festival-kicks-off-in-charlotte|title=41st Yiasou Greek Festival kicks off in Charlotte|date=September 6, 2018|work=spectrumlocalnews.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}

Taste of Charlotte is a three-day festival offering samples from area restaurants, live entertainment and children's activities. Located on Tryon Street, Taste of Charlotte spans six city blocks from Stonewall to 5th Street.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2019/06/08/night-one-taste-charlotte-draws-big-crowds-despite-earlier-wet-weather/|title=Night one of Taste of Charlotte draws big crowds despite earlier rainy weather|last=Giles|first=Alex|date=June 7, 2019|work=wbtv.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/your704/citys-biggest-food-festival-taste-charlotte-sets-fall-date-new-location/G2RX34K3OZCFFCLD7TZD345LNM/|title=City's biggest food festival, Taste of Charlotte, sets fall date at new location|date=May 19, 2021|website=WSOCTV.com|access-date=May 19, 2021}}

Moo and Brew Fest is an annual craft beer and burger festival that is the largest in North Carolina, held each April and includes various national musical acts.{{Cite news|url=http://mooandbrewfest.com/#about|title=Moo and Brew Festival|date=November 24, 2019|work=mooandbrewfest.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/moo-brew-two-dudes-and-a-burger-joint/|title=Moo & Brew: Two dudes and a Burger Joint|last=Ruane|first=Alyssa|date=August 2, 2016|work=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=August 2, 2016}}

Breakaway Music Festival is a music festival which takes place at the NC Music Factory and consists of hip hop and electronic music artists and DJs.{{cite web|url=https://charlotteconcertguide.com/2019/06/03/breakaway-music-festival-returns-to-charlotte/|title=Breakaway Music Festival Returns to Charlotte|date=June 3, 2019|work=Charlotte Concert Guide}}

Heroes Convention is an annual comic book convention held in June at the Charlotte Convention Center. Founded in 1982, it is one of the oldest and largest independent comic book conventions in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/history/|title=Heroescon: History|work=heroesonline.com}}

Charlotte Pride is an annual LGBT event held in August. In 2019, the event attracted 200,000 people to Uptown Charlotte.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/entertainment/events/thousands-come-out-for-charlotte-pride-festival-in-uptown/275-8ab6abd6-a6c1-48cb-b680-162d1fb8c68b|title=Thousands come out for Charlotte Pride Festival in uptown|date=August 18, 2019|work=wcnc.com|access-date=November 5, 2021}} The event's parade became Charlotte's largest annual parade in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article169358237.html|title=Charlotte's largest annual parade is now the gay-themed Charlotte Pride|last=Price|first=Mark|date=August 25, 2017|publisher=Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

Charlotte Turkey Trot is an annual 5k & 8k running marathon hosted every Thanksgiving, it is also the largest running event in the state of North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/holidays/cpi-security-charlotte-turkey-trot-34th-annual/275-1e9873e3-2a7b-44b1-a470-373d612b3118|title=34th annual CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot held Thursday morning|last=Bragg|first=Meghan|date=November 24, 2022|website=WCNC.com|access-date=November 24, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cltturkeytrot.com/|title=Charlotte Turkey Trot Homepage|website=cltturkeytrot.com|access-date=November 24, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/314079/a-quick-roundup-of-2022-turkey-trot-races-in-the-charlotte-area/|title=6 turkey trot runs in the Charlotte area on Thanksgiving day|last=Soloff|first=Katie|date=November 22, 2022|website=Charlotte Axios|access-date=November 24, 2022}}

Charlotte also has the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market where local farmers sell their produce.{{cite book |last=Daniel |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plTqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA101 |title=Farm Fresh North Carolina: The Go-To Guide to Great Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, Farms, Apple Orchards, U-Picks, Kids' Activities, Lodging, Dining, Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees, Vineyards and Wineries, and More |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8078-7782-1 |series=Southern Gateways Guides |page=101 |access-date=2023-09-25}}

Three annual arts and cultural festivals celebrating visual and performing arts are hosted throughout the Charlotte region: BOOM Charlotte{{Cite web|url=https://boomcharlotte.org/about/|title=About BOOM Charlotte|website=boomcharlotte.org|access-date=June 29, 2024}} hosted in the Camp North End area, the Charlotte International Arts Festival{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteartsfest.com/about|title=About The Charlotte International Arts Festival|website=charlotteartsfest.com|access-date=June 29, 2024}} hosted in Ballantyne, and Charlotte SHOUT!{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteshout.com/about-us|title=About Charlotte SHOUT!|website=charlotteshout.com|access-date=June 29, 2024}} hosted in Uptown.

=Zoos and aquariums=

Charlotte is "... the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a zoo".{{cite web|url=http://www.charlottezoologicalpark.org/about-us.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131170546/http://www.charlottezoologicalpark.org/about-us.php|archive-date=January 31, 2011 |title=About the Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative | Bringing Animal Conservation & Research to the Carolinas |website=Charlottezoologicalpark.org |url-status=usurped|access-date=October 2, 2013}} The Charlotte Zoo initiative is a proposal to allocate {{convert|250|acres|0|abbr=on}} of natural North Carolina land to be dedicated to the zoological foundation, which was incorporated in 2008. On August 18, 2012, Channel 14 News says that the initiative is "... still a few years away" and the plot of land is "... just seven miles from the center of uptown". According to the news channel, "... the zoo will cost roughly $300 million, and will be completely {{Sic|hide=y|privately|-}}funded."{{cite web |url=http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/662522/charlotte-zoological-park-initiative-ready-to-move-forward |title=Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative ready to move forward — News 14 |website=Charlotte.news14.com |access-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629233442/http://charlotte.news14.com/content/local_news/662522/charlotte-zoological-park-initiative-ready-to-move-forward |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} The Charlotte Observer references two other zoos, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and the North Carolina Zoological Park as two "great zoos" that are accessible from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, both roughly more than 70 miles away.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/09/3970651/great-zoos.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181608/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/09/3970651/great-zoos.html|archive-date=April 16, 2014 |title=Great zoos |website=CharlotteObserver.com |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013}}

Charlotte is also served by the Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium in the nearby city of Concord. The aquarium is 30,000 square feet in size, and is part of the Concord Mills mall. The aquarium opened on February 20, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/02/20/4711406/sea-life-aquarium-opens-at-concord.html |title=Sea Life Aquarium opens at Concord Mills |website=CharlotteObserver.com |date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001725/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/02/20/4711406/sea-life-aquarium-opens-at-concord.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord/information/about-us/|title=History of Sea life Aquarium|access-date=December 5, 2018}}

=Libraries=

File:Imaginon.jpg Children's Theater and Library]]

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library serves the Charlotte area with a large collection (more than 1.5 million) of books, CDs and DVDs at 15 locations in the city of Charlotte, with branches in the surrounding towns of Matthews, Mint Hill, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. All locations provide free access to Internet-enabled computers and WiFi, and a library card from one location is accepted at all 20 locations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cmlibrary.org/about|title=Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Info|date=November 23, 2019|work=cmlibrary.org|access-date=November 24, 2019}}

Although the library's roots go back to the Charlotte Literary and Library Association, founded on January 16, 1891,{{cite web|title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-1-1891-1902 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925154945/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-1-1891-1902 | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}} the state-chartered Carnegie Library, which opened on the current North Tryon site of the Main Library, was the first non-subscription library opened to members of the public in the city of Charlotte. The philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 for a library building, on the condition that the city of Charlotte donate a site and $2,500 per year for books and salaries,{{cite web| title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-2-1903-carnegie-library | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925155413/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-2-1903-Carnegie-Library | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}} and that the state grant a charter for the library. All conditions were met, and the Charlotte Carnegie Library opened in an imposing classical building on July 2, 1903.

The 1903 state charter also required that a library be opened for the disenfranchised African-American population of Charlotte. This was completed in 1905 with the opening of the Brevard Street Library for Negroes, an independent library in Brooklyn, a historically black area of Charlotte, on the corner of Brevard and East Second Streets (now Martin Luther King Boulevard).{{cite web | title=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service | work=cmstory.org Web Site | url=http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-3-1905-brevard-street-library | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925193944/http://www.cmstory.org/content/chapter-3-1905-brevard-street-library | archive-date=September 25, 2015 | publisher=Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County | access-date=September 25, 2015}} The Brevard Street Library was the first library for African Americans in the state of North Carolina, and some sources say in the southeast.{{cite web |url=http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Planning/Whats+New/History+of+Second+Ward.htm |title=charmeck.org Web Site |access-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006074601/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Planning/Whats%2BNew/History%2Bof%2BSecond%2BWard.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2007 |url-status=dead}} The library was closed in 1961 when the Brooklyn neighborhood in Second Ward was redeveloped, but its role as a cultural center for African-Americans in Charlotte is continued by the Beatties Ford and West Boulevard branches of the library system, as well as by Charlotte's African-American Cultural Center.

Sports

{{Main|Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina}}

File:Spectrum Center 2018.jpg, home of the Charlotte Hornets]]

File:Truist Field Knights Stadium.jpg, home of the Charlotte Knights]]

Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer (MLS).{{Cite news|url=https://www.panthers.com|title=The Official website of the Carolina Panthers|website=Carolina Panthers|access-date=November 26, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/|title=The Official Website of The Charlotte Hornets|date=May 20, 2014|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Hornets.com|access-date=November 23, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://charlottefootballclub.com/|title=The Official website of Charlotte FC|website=Charlottefootballclub.com|access-date=October 11, 2021}} The Panthers have been located in Charlotte since the team's creation in 1995, and the current Hornets franchise has been located in Charlotte since its creation in 1988 (with the exception of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons).{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article35852796.html|title=1995: When NFL came to the Carolinas|last=David|first=Maria|date=September 19, 2015|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 16, 2023}} The Panthers and Charlotte FC play their home games in Bank of America Stadium, while the Hornets play in the Spectrum Center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com/about|title=About Spectrum Center|date=November 25, 2019|work=spectrumcentercharlotte.com|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226162651/https://www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com/about|archive-date=December 26, 2019|url-status=dead}} The Panthers have won six division titles from (1996, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015) and two NFC championships in 2003 and 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/index.htm#site_menu_link|title=Carolina Panthers Franchise Encyclopedia|publisher=Pro-Football Reference.Com|access-date=June 23, 2020}} Carolina has reached the Super Bowl twice but has been unsuccessful in both losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.panthers.com/history/this-day|title=This Day In Panthers History|publisher=Carolina Panthers|access-date=September 25, 2021}} The original Hornets NBA franchise was established in 1988 as an expansion team,{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-23-sp-602-story.html|title=NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises – Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million|last=Archives|first=Times L.A.|date=April 23, 1987|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 21, 2022}} but it relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2002 after animosity grew between the team's fans and principal owner George Shinn.{{cite web|last1=Spanberg|first1=Erik|title=George Shinn says co-owner 'hell-bent' on Charlotte exit|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2013/06/george-shinn-says-co-owner-hell-bent.html|website=Bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=May 14, 2015}} The NBA quickly granted Charlotte an expansion franchise following the departure of the Hornets and the new franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, began to play in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.hornets30.com/|title=Charlotte Hornets – 30th Anniversary Season|publisher=Charlotte Hornets|website=hornets30.com|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613071530/http://www.hornets30.com/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportscasting.com/michael-jordan-bought-charlotte-bobcats-175-million-now-charlotte-hornets-worth-1-5-billion/|title=Michael Jordan Bought the Charlotte Bobcats for $175 Million, Now the Charlotte Hornets Are Worth $1.5 Billion|date=May 8, 2022|website=sportscasting.com|access-date=September 17, 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172725/https://www.sportscasting.com/michael-jordan-bought-charlotte-bobcats-175-million-now-charlotte-hornets-worth-1-5-billion/|url-status=dead}} The team retook the Hornets name when the New Orleans–based team renamed itself the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181608/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/09/3970651/great-zoos.html NBA owners give Bobcats OK to change name to Charlotte Hornets], The Charlotte Observer, July 19, 2013 The name change became official on May 20, 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10958580/charlotte-bobcats-officially-change-nickname-hornets|title=Hornets all the buzz in Charlotte|date=May 20, 2014|website=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 23, 2020}} On the same day, the franchise reclaimed the history and records of the original 1988–2002 Hornets.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Hornets/status/468793760684728320?ls=iref:nbahpts|title=Charlotte Hornets on Twitter|publisher=Twitter|access-date=June 13, 2016}} MLS awarded its expansion team to Charlotte in 2019, which began play as Charlotte FC in 2022.{{cite news |last=Newton |first=David |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Charlotte gets MLS' 30th franchise for record $325 million |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4015203/charlotte-gets-mls-30th-franchise-for-record-$325-million |work=ESPN |access-date=December 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/charlotte-awarded-mls-franchise/275-55205210-1d36-4d1a-8d4c-6dad59ece324|title=Charlotte officially named 30th Major League Soccer team|date=December 17, 2019|website=WCNC.com|access-date=December 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2022/03/06/charlotte-fc-begins-soccer-era-queen-city-front-record-74479-fans/|title=Charlotte FC begins soccer era in the Queen City, drawing nearly 74,500 fans|last=Huber|first=Jason|date=March 5, 2022|website=WBTV.com|access-date=March 6, 2022}}

Charlotte is represented in professional ice hockey by the Charlotte Checkers and in professional baseball at the Triple-A level by the Charlotte Knights.{{cite web|url=https://CLTure.org/charlotte-knights/|title=Baseball has a storied history in Charlotte, and it's been quite a journey for the Knights|last=Papsupula|first=Pooja|date=August 23, 2018|website=CLTure.org|access-date=July 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://gocheckers.com/|title=The Official site of the Charlotte Checkers|access-date=December 31, 2021}} Since 1999, the Knights has been the Triple-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/sports/2021/02/11/charlotte-knights-announce-10-year-deal-to-remain-white-sox-affiliate-#:~:text=CHARLOTTE%2C%20N.C.%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Charlotte%20Knights,baseball's%20new%20player%20development%20structure.|title=Charlotte Knights Announce 10-Year Deal to Remain White Sox Affiliate|last=Pryor|first=Justin|date=February 11, 2021|website=Spectrum News 1|access-date=September 17, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights|title=The Official website of the Charlotte Knights|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=December 6, 2022}}

The Charlotte Independence are a minor professional soccer club who play in USL League One the third tier of US professional soccer.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/|title=Charlotte Independence Soccer Club Homepage|website=Charlotteindependence.com|access-date=April 2, 2023}} The Independence play their home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium

class="wikitable sortable"
Club

! Sport

! Founded

! League

! Venue

Carolina Panthers

| Football

| align=center|1995

| National Football League

| Bank of America Stadium

Charlotte Hornets

| Basketball

| align=center|1988

| National Basketball Association

| Spectrum Center

Charlotte FC

| Soccer

| align=center|2022

| Major League Soccer

| Bank of America Stadium

Charlotte Checkers

| Ice hockey

| align=center|2010

| American Hockey League

| Bojangles Coliseum

Charlotte Knights

| Baseball

| align=center|1976

| International League

| Truist Field

Charlotte Independence

| Soccer

| align=center|2015

| USL League One

| American Legion Memorial Stadium

Charlotte Eagles

| Soccer

| align=center|1991

| USL League Two

| Sportsplex at Matthews

Charlotte Lady Eagles

| Soccer

| align=center|2000

| W-League

| Sportsplex at Matthews

Carolina Ascent FC

| Soccer

| align=center|2023

| USL Super League

| American Legion Memorial Stadium

The city is also the home of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) headquarters. The NJCAA is the second-largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states.{{cite web|url=http://njcaa.org/about/Staff_Bio/NJCAA_National_Staff_Directory|title=NJCAA National Office|website=NJCAA.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-22}} The Big South Conference is also headquartered in Charlotte. Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference has 11 member institutions with over 19 different sports and completes in the NCAA's Division I.{{Cite news|url=http://bigsouthsports.com/mobile/page.aspx?filename=ALL_0630160348&file_date=6/30/2016|title=Big South Conference Quick Facts|date=November 26, 2019|work=bigsouthsports.com|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613132112/http://bigsouthsports.com/mobile/page.aspx?filename=ALL_0630160348&file_date=6%2F30%2F2016|url-status=dead}} The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) also has its headquarters in Charlotte. Founded in 1954, the ACC has 15 member institutions 4 of whom are located in the state of North Carolina with over 28 different sports and competes in NCAA's Division I.{{cite web|url=https://theacc.com/|title=The Official athletics website of the Atlantic Coast Conference|website=TheACC.com|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

Over the years, Charlotte has hosted many international, collegiate, and professional sporting events. In professional basketball, the city hosted the NBA All-Star Game twice in 1991 at the old Charlotte Coliseum and most recently in 2019 at Spectrum Center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article152323607.html|title=Charlotte to host 2019 NBA All-Star Game|last=Bonnell|first=Rick|date=May 24, 2017|publisher=Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 24, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/jordan-week-1991-all-star-game-charlotte?amp=1|title=Charlotte no stranger to NBA All-Star Spotlight|last=Powell|first=Shaun|date=February 14, 2019|website=NBA.com|access-date=September 14, 2021}} In collegiate sports, Charlotte hosts the ACC Championship Game and Duke's Mayo Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article256912617.html|title=As Gamecocks and UNC fight for mayonnaise, Duke's Mayo Bowl found a way to still matter|last=Carter|first=Andrew|date=December 29, 2021|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 5, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://theacc.com/news/2018/4/5/acc-announces-10-year-extension-with-charlotte-as-football-championship-game-host-site.aspx|title=ACC Announces 10-Year Extension With Charlotte as Football Championship Game Host Site|website=TheACC.com|date=April 5, 2018 |publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference|access-date=April 5, 2018}} The city has also been the host many ACC men's basketball tournaments most recently in 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/acc-mens-basketball-tournament-set-for-charlotte-this-week|title=ACC Men's Basketball Tournament set for Charlotte this week|date=March 12, 2019|work=fox46charlotte.com|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221201851/https://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/acc-mens-basketball-tournament-set-for-charlotte-this-week|url-status=dead}} In 2021, Charlotte hosted the ACC baseball tournament.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/sports/2021/05/18/play-ball--2021-acc-baseball-championship-to-host-fans-at-full-capacity|title=Play Ball! 2021 ACC Baseball Championship to host fans at full capacity|last=Pryor|first=Justin|date=May 18, 2021|publisher=Spectrum News|access-date=July 26, 2021}} In 2017, Charlotte hosted the PGA Championship at the Quail Hollow Club and is set to host again by 2025.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/golf/article92799027.html|title=1 year away, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte poised to host PGA Championship|last=Scott|first=David|date=July 30, 2016|work=newsobserver.com|access-date=November 25, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article242707761.html|title='The Kind of thing you dream about; PGA Championship will return to Charlotte in 2025|last=Fowler|first=Scott|date=May 14, 2020|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=June 10, 2022}} Charlotte will also host the 2022 Presidents Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/golf/preparations-underway-for-2022-presidents-cup-in-charlotte/275-75eb89dd-0722-44b4-9a71-54de9cbfaa96|title=Preparations underway for 2022 Presidents Cup in Charlotte|last=Carboni|first=Nick|date=May 6, 2022|website=WCNC.com|publisher=WCNC-TV|access-date=June 19, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2021/09/29/premier-host-city-presidents-cup-mural-unveiled-charlotte-prepares-major-international-golf-tournament/|title='A premier host city': Presidents Cup mural unveiled as Charlotte prepares for major international golf tournament|author=|date=September 29, 2021|website=WBTV.com|publisher=WBTV|access-date=June 19, 2022}} In 1994, Charlotte hosted the Final Four.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/02/us/charlotte-s-downtown-manages-to-stay-up-late-for-tournament.html|title=Charlotte's Downtown Manages To Stay Up Late For Tournament|last=Applebome|first=Peter|date=April 2, 1994|website=The New York Times|access-date=June 13, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/293531/charlotte-was-an-eager-to-please-town-back-when-we-last-hosted-the-final-four/|title=Charlotte was an eager-to-please town back when we last hosted the Final Four|last=Soloff|first=Katie|date=April 5, 2022|website=charlotte.axios.com|access-date=June 12, 2022}}

Since 1931, Jim Crockett Promotions has been a full-fledged professional wrestling performer, based in the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia states, and has been called Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, WWE has big matches, and many pay-per-view event. Many professional wrestlers living.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/rasslins-long-charlotte-history/|title=Rasslin's long Charlotte History|last=Devores|first=Courtney|date=July 30, 2010|website=CharlotteMagazine.com|access-date=October 7, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article249715958.html|title=He made Ric Flair famous: Charlotte wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr. dies at 76|last=Marusak|first=Joe|date=March 8, 2021|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=May 21, 2022|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310145947/https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article249715958.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/tom-sorensen-blog/article184944163.html|title=Remembering the age when Charlotte was ruled by wrestlers at Bennigan's|last=Sorenson|first=Tom|date=November 16, 2017|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=April 2, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.independentmail.com/news/documentary-explores-charlottes-wrestling-history-ep-1209081357-347009792.html/|title=Documentary explores Charlotte's wrestling history|last=Devores|first=Courtney|date=July 29, 2015|website=archive.independentmail.com|access-date=April 2, 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2021/03/brief-history-of-mid-atlantic-area.html?m=1|title=A Brief History of Wrestling in the Mid-Atlantic Area|last=Bourne|first=Dick|date=March 24, 2021|website=The Mid-Atlantic Gateway|access-date=April 2, 2023}}

Currently, the city is home to two universities that participate in NCAA Division I Athletics: the Charlotte 49ers of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as the Queens Royals of Queens University of Charlotte, who announced their transition from NCAA Division II to Division I on May 7, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte49ers.com/documents/2021/6/30/2021_22Almanac.pdf|title=Charlotte 49ers Athletics Almanac: Facts and History|website=Charlotte 49ers|access-date=May 21, 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article261181172.html |title=Queens University of Charlotte accepts invitation to NCAA Division I conference |first=Jonathan |last=Limehouse |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |date=May 7, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2022}} Charlotte has participated in 11 NCAA men's basketball tournaments, 14 NCAA men's soccer tournaments, and the football team participated in their first bowl game in 2019 just six years after starting their program.{{cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2019/12/20/charlotte-ers-fans-flock-bahamas-first-bowl-game-football-teams-history/|title=Charlotte 49ers fans flock to Bahamas for first bowl game in football team's history|last=Giles|first=Alex|date=December 19, 2019|website=WBTV.com|access-date=December 19, 2019}}

Johnson C. Smith University participates at the NCAA Division II level. Johnson and Wales University participate in the USCAA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jwu.edu/campuses/charlotte/athletics.html|title=JWU Charlotte Athletics|website=JWU.edu|access-date=May 21, 2022}}

Government

Charlotte has a council–manager form of government. The mayor and Charlotte City Council are elected every two years, with no term limits. The mayor is ex officio chair of the City Council, and only votes in case of a tie. Unlike other mayors in council–manager systems, Charlotte's mayor has the power to veto ordinances passed by the council; the council can override a mayoral veto by a vote of seven of its ten members.{{Cite web | url = https://library.municode.com/nc/charlotte/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_CH3GOBO_S3.23QUPRVO | access-date = 2022-06-26 | title = Sec. 3.23. - Quorum; procedure; voting. | work = Code of Ordinances City of Charlotte, North Carolina - Part I: Charter | publisher = Municode}} The Council appoints a city manager to serve as chief administrative officer.{{cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/CityCouncil/Pages/default.aspx|title=About Charlotte City Council|website=CharlotteNC.gov|access-date=October 11, 2021}}

Unlike some other cities and towns in North Carolina, elections are held on a partisan basis. Vi Lyles, a Democrat elected in 2017, became the 59th mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. She was elected to her third term in 2022.{{cite web |title=NC SBE Contest Results |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=07/26/2022&county_id=60&office=ALL&contest=0 |website=North Carolina State Board of Elections |access-date=13 July 2024}}

Patrick Cannon, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor on December 2, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/24109381/patrick-cannon-to-be-sworn-in-as-mayor-of-charlotte-monday-night|title=Cannon sworn in as Mayor |website=WBTV |date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2013}} On March 26, 2014, Cannon was arrested on public corruption charges. Later the same day, he resigned as mayor.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article9107105.html|title=Charlotte mayor resigns after arrest on corruption charges|first1=Mark|last1=Washburn|first2=Jim|last2=Morrill|website=Charlotteobserver.com|access-date=June 13, 2016}} Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes served as Acting Mayor until April 7, when the City Council selected State Senator Dan Clodfelter, also a Democrat, to serve the remainder of Cannon's term.{{cite web|last=WBTV|title=Dan Clodfelter selected as mayor of Charlotte|url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/25185801/dan-clodfelter-selected-as-mayor-of-charlotte|publisher=WBTV|access-date=April 7, 2014}} Former Mecklenburg County Commission chairwoman Jennifer Roberts defeated Clodfelter in the 2015 Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, becoming the first Democratic woman to be elected to the post.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article42772512.html|title=Jennifer Roberts defeats Edwin Peacock for Charlotte mayor|last=Morrill|first=Jim|date=November 4, 2015|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 4, 2015}} She was ousted in the 2017 Democratic primary by Mayor Pro Tem Vi Lyles, who later defeated Republican City Councilman Kenny Smith in the general election to become Mayor of Charlotte.{{Cite news |last=Berky |first=Rad |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Vi Lyles wins Charlotte mayoral race |url=https://www.wcnc.com/mobile/article/news/politics/elections/vi-lyles-wins-charlotte-mayoral-race/275-490080819 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |work=wcnc.com}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024}}

Historically, voters have been friendly to moderates of both parties. However, in recent years, Charlotte has swung heavily to the Democrats. Republican strength is concentrated in the southeastern portion of the city, while Democratic strength is concentrated in the south-central, eastern, and northern areas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/north-carolina-political-geography/|title=The six political states of North Carolina|last=Weigel|first=David|date=August 23, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 28, 2021}} The city had a Republican mayor from 1987 to 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/nc-republican-rep-sue-myrick-retiring/2012/02/07/gIQA08fzwQ_blog.html|title=N.C. Republican Rep. Sue Myrick retiring|last=Weiner|first=Rachael|date=February 7, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=March 1, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/outmanned-old-party-the-gop-in-charlotte-past-and-present/|title=Outmanned Old Party: The GOP in Charlotte, Past and Present|last=Lacour|first=Greg|date=July 1, 2020|website=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=March 1, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/us/pat-mccrory-north-carolina-law-antidiscrimination.html|title=Reeling Over Bias Rules, Charlotte Fights North Carolina Governor It Once Called Mayor|last=Blinder|first=Alan|date=May 14, 2016|website=The New York Times|access-date=March 2, 2023}}

The Charlotte City Council has 11 members (7 from districts and 4 at-large). Democrats control the council with a 9-to-2 advantage, winning all 4 of the at-large seats in the November 2013, 2015, and 2017 municipal elections. While the City Council is responsible for passing ordinances, the city's budget, and other policies, all decisions can be overridden by the North Carolina General Assembly, since North Carolina municipalities do not have home rule. While municipal powers have been broadly construed since the 1960s, the General Assembly still retains considerable authority over local matters.{{cite web|url=https://www.cmstory.org/exhibits/hornets-nest-book-two/city-government-charlotte|title=City Government in Charlotte|website=cmstory.org|access-date=October 5, 2017}}

Charlotte is split between two congressional districts on the federal level. The northern half of the city is in the 12th district, represented by Democrat Alma Adams. The southern half is in the 14th district, represented by Democrat Jeff Jackson.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/2022-elections/2022/11/07/election-2022--winners-in-charlotte-area-congressional-races|title=Adams, Jackson projected winners in Charlotte-area House Races|last=Duncan|first=Charles|date=November 8, 2022|website=Spectrumlocalnews.com|access-date=July 14, 2023}} Charlotte is represented by ten members of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Mary Gardner Belk (D-88th), Terry M. Brown Jr. (D-92nd), Nasif Majeed (D-99th), John Autry (D-100th), Carolyn Logan (D-101st), Becky Carney (D-102nd), Brandon Lofton (D-104th), Wesley Harris (D-105th), Carla Cunningham (D-106th), and Kelly Alexander (D-107th), and six members of the North Carolina Senate, Mujtaba A. Mohammed (D-38th), DeAndrea Salvador (D-39th), Joyce Waddell (D-40th), Rachel Hunt (D-42nd), Vickie Sawyer (R-37th), and Natasha Marcus (D-41st).{{cite web|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/CountyRepresentation/Mecklenburg|title=Mecklenburg County Representation|website=ncleg.gov|publisher=North Carolina General Assembly|access-date=October 19, 2023}}

Charlotte was selected in 2011 to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which was held at the Spectrum Center.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-select-charlotte-for-2012-convention|title=Democrats Select Charlotte to Host 2012 Convention|last=Burlij|first=Terence|date=February 1, 2011|website=PBS |access-date=June 9, 2016}} It began September 4, 2012, and ended on September 6, 2012.{{Cite web |title=Charlotte will host the 2012 Democratic National Convention |last=Preston |first=Mark |work=CNN Political Ticker |date=2011-02-01 |url= http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/01/charlotte-will-host-the-2012-democratic-national-convention-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128005222/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/01/charlotte-will-host-the-2012-democratic-national-convention-2/ |archive-date=2022-11-28 }} In 2018, Charlotte was chosen to host the Republican National Convention in August 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/20/where-is-republican-national-convention-2020-charlotte-734953|title=Charlotte to host 2020 Republican National Convention|last=Mueller|first=Eleanor|date=July 20, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=November 24, 2019}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States most events were not held in Charlotte.{{cite news |last1=Morrill |first1=Jim |last2=Murphy |first2=Brian |title=Charlotte host committee blasts GOP over 'broken promises' after RNC moves to Florida |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article243482991.html |work=Charlotte Observer |date=June 12, 2020 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202050233/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article243482991.html |url-status=live}}

Education

{{See also|List of schools in Charlotte, North Carolina}}

=School system=

The city's public school system, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, is the second largest in North Carolina and 17th largest in the nation.{{cite web|url=http://proximityone.com/lgsd.htm|title=Largest 100 School Districts|website=Proximityzone.com|access-date=June 13, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/Pages/default.aspx|title=Official website of Charlotte–Mecklenburg Schools|website=cms.k12.nc.us|access-date=October 11, 2021}} In 2009, it won the NAEP Awards, the Nation's Report Card for urban school systems with top honors among 18 city systems for fourth grade math, second place among eighth graders.{{cite web |url=http://www.charlottecommunitiesonline.com/charlotte-big-wins/ |title=Charlotte NC- Three Big Wins for the City |website=Charlotte Communities Online |date=December 10, 2009 |access-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806194845/http://www.charlottecommunitiesonline.com/charlotte-big-wins/ |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://media.newsobserver.com/content/news/education/wake/story_graphics/20071012_wschools.jpg|title=Top 20 School Systems |website=Media.newsobserver.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031051959/http://media.newsobserver.com/content/news/education/wake/story_graphics/20071012_wschools.jpg|archive-date=October 31, 2007|df=mdy-all}} An estimated 144,000 students are taught in 164 separate elementary, middle, and high schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/mediaroom/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx|title=Background, Facts and History|website=Cms.kj12.nc.us|access-date=June 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602063013/http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/mediaroom/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=June 2, 2016|url-status=dead}} Charlotte is also home to many private and independent schools, including British School of Charlotte,{{cite web|access-date=August 17, 2022|title=The British School of Charlotte – Nord Anglia Education|url=https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/charlotte|website=nordangliaeducation.com}} Charlotte Catholic High School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottecatholic.org/domain/6|title=Charlotte Catholic Homepage|website=Charlottecatholic.org|access-date=August 17, 2022|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702011255/https://www.charlottecatholic.org/domain/6|url-status=dead}} Charlotte Christian School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottechristian.com/|title=Charlotte Christian School website|website=Charlotte Christian School|access-date=August 17, 2022}} Charlotte Country Day School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlottecountryday.org/about|title=Charlotte County Day School official website|website=charlottecountryday.org|access-date=August 17, 2022}} Charlotte Islamic Academy,{{Cite web|url=https://ciacademy.us/vision-mission/|title=Charlotte Islamic Academy: Vision & Mission|website=ciacademy.us|date=May 9, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2022|archive-date=August 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817211915/https://ciacademy.us/vision-mission/|url-status=dead}} Charlotte Latin School,{{Cite web|url= https://www.charlottelatin.org/about|title=About Us – Charlotte Latin School|website=charlottelatin.org|access-date=August 17, 2022}} Grace Academy,{{cite web|access-date=August 17, 2022|title=Grace Academy: Home|url=https://graceacademync.com/|website=graceacademync.com}} Providence Day School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.providenceday.org/|title=Providence Day School Homepage|website=Providenceday.org|access-date=August 17, 2022}} Hickory Grove Christian School,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hgchristian.org/|title=Home – Hickory Grove Christian School|website=hgchristian.org|access-date=August 18, 2022}} Northside Christian Academy,{{Cite web|url=https://ncaknights.com/about-us/|title=About Us – Northside Christian Academy|website=ncaknights.com|access-date=August 18, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729100138/https://ncaknights.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}} Southlake Christian Academy,{{Cite web|url=https://www.southlakechristian.org/about-slca/quick-facts|title=Southlake Christian Academy: Quick Facts|website=southlakechristian.org|access-date=August 18, 2022|archive-date=August 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819025109/https://www.southlakechristian.org/about-slca/quick-facts|url-status=dead}} and United Faith Christian Academy.{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/16698/private-schools-in-charlotte-ranked-by-the-cost-of-tuition/|title=19 biggest private schools in Charlotte, ranked by the cost of tuition|last=Hopkins|first=Paige|date=November 11, 2020|website=Charlotte.axios.com|access-date=December 9, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/09/29/areas-top-ranked-private-schools-for-2022.html|title=Ranked: These are the Charlotte area's best private K–12 schools for 2022, Niche says|last=Martin|first=Jenna|date=September 29, 2021|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=September 29, 2021}}

=Colleges and universities=

File:UNCCNewQuad.jpg

Charlotte is home to a number of universities and colleges such as Central Piedmont Community College, Johnson C. Smith University, Johnson & Wales University, Queens University of Charlotte, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.jcsu.edu/about|title=Johnson C. Smith University Homepage|website=jcsu.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019|archive-date=September 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908004703/https://www.jcsu.edu/about|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.queens.edu/about/|title=Queens University of Charlotte official website|website=queens.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jwu.edu/campuses/charlotte/|title=Charlotte Campus – Johnson & Wales University|website=jwu.edu|publisher=Johnson & Wales University|access-date=September 8, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cpcc.edu/|title=Central Piedmont Community College Homepage|website=cpcc.edu|access-date=April 2, 2023}} Several notable colleges are located in the metropolitan suburbs. Located in nearby Davidson, North Carolina is Davidson College.{{cite web|url=https://www.davidson.edu/about|title=Distinctly Davidson|website=davidson.edu|publisher=Davidson College|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613160245/https://www.davidson.edu/about|archive-date=June 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} Additional colleges in the area include Belmont Abbey College in the suburb of Belmont, North Carolina, Gaston College with its main campus in the suburb of Dallas, North Carolina and Wingate University in the suburb of Wingate, North Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.belmontabbeycollege.edu/about/|title=About us – Belmont Abbey College|website=belmontabbeycollege.edu|publisher=Belmont Abbey College|access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wingate.edu/about|title=About – Wingate University|website=Wingate.edu|publisher=Wingate University|access-date=November 3, 2019}} Also nearby are Winthrop University, Clinton Junior College, York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina in the westernmost part of the Charlotte area.{{cite web|url=https://www.winthrop.edu/aboutus/|title=About Winthrop|website=Winthrop.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://gardner-webb.edu/|title=Garner Webb University|website=Garner-Webb.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.clintoncollege.edu/about/meet-the-president|title=Clinton Junior College|website=Clintoncollege.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019}}

UNC Charlotte is the city's largest university. It is located in University City, the northeastern portion of Charlotte, which is also home to University Research Park, a {{convert|3200|acre|km2}} research and corporate park. With more than 30,000 students, UNC Charlotte is the second largest university in the state system.{{Cite news|url=https://www.uncc.edu/landing/about-us|title=About us – UNC Charlotte|date=November 23, 2019|work=uncc.edu|publisher=UNC Charlotte|access-date=November 23, 2019}}

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in the Carolinas, with more than 70,000 students each year and 6 campuses throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region.{{cite web|url=http://www.cpcc.edu/about|title=About CPCC — CPCC|website=Cpcc.edu|access-date=June 13, 2016}} CPCC is part of the statewide North Carolina Community College System.

The Charlotte School of Law opened its doors in Charlotte in 2006 and was fully accredited by the American Bar Association in 2011. The law school offered the Juris Doctor degree but the Bar association rescinded the accreditation in 2017. Charlotte School of Law, once the largest law school in the Carolinas, has ceased to operate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/business/dealbook/for-profit-charlotte-school-of-law-closes.html|title=For–Profit Charlotte School of Law Closes|last=Olson|first=Elizabeth|date=August 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 23, 2019}}

Pfeiffer University has a satellite campus in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.pfeiffer.edu/student-life/charlotte|title=Pfeiffer University – Charlotte|publisher=Pfeiffer University|website=pfeiffer.edu|access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pfeiffer.edu/news/pfeiffers-new-charlotte-campus-offers-convenient-and-affordable-space-events-and-meetings|title=Pfeiffer's new Charlotte campus offers convenient and affordable space for events and meetings|website=pfeiffer.edu|publisher=Pfeiffer University|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805204342/http://www.pfeiffer.edu/news/pfeiffers-new-charlotte-campus-offers-convenient-and-affordable-space-events-and-meetings|url-status=dead}} Wake Forest University, with its main campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, also operates a satellite campus of its Babcock Graduate School of Management in the Uptown area.{{cite web |url=http://mba.wfu.edu/newsDetail.aspx?id=336 |title=Wake Forest University plans for growth and increases commitment in Charlotte |publisher=Wake Forest University |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=May 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610182638/http://www.mba.wfu.edu/newsDetail.aspx?id=336 |archive-date=June 10, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} On March 24, 2021, it was announced Wake Forest School of Medicine would expand a 20-acre campus in Charlotte by 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/new-charlotte-medical-school-atrium-health-wake-forest/275-67e68d59-33ac-483d-80de-d611bea12f46|title=There's a new medical school coming to Charlotte soon, here's a first look at the campus|last=Ablon|first=Matthew|date=March 24, 2021|website=WCNC.com|access-date=August 19, 2021}} The Connecticut School of Broadcasting, DeVry University, and ECPI University all have branches in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=https://www.devry.edu/about/campus-locations/north-carolina/charlotte.html|title=DeVry University – Charlotte campus|website=DeVry.edu|access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/charlotte-nc|title=Our campus in Charlotte|website=ECPI.edu|publisher=ECPI University|access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://gocsb.com/locations/charlotte-north-carolina/|title=CSB Media Arts Center is located in Charlotte, NC|website=gocsb.com|access-date=September 15, 2021}} The Universal Technical Institute has the NASCAR Technical Institute in nearby Mooresville, serving the Charlotte area.{{cite web|url=https://www.uti.edu/locations/north-carolina/mooresville|title=CNC, welding, and automotive Mechanic School|website=UTI.edu|access-date=September 15, 2021|archive-date=September 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923150956/https://www.uti.edu/locations/north-carolina/mooresville|url-status=dead}} Montreat College (Charlotte) maintains a School of Professional and Adult Studies in the city. Additionally, Union Presbyterian Seminary has a non-residential campus offering the Master of Arts in Christian Education, and the Master of Divinity in Charlotte near the Beverley Woods area.{{cite web|url=https://www.upsem.edu/alumni-connect/charlotte-campus/|title=Charlotte Campus|website=upsem.edu|access-date=September 15, 2021}}

The North Carolina Research Campus, a 350-acre biotechnology hub located northeast of Charlotte in the city of Kannapolis, is a public-private venture including eight universities, one community college, the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and corporate entities that collaborate to advance the fields of human health, nutrition and agriculture. Partnering educational organizations include UNC Charlotte and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, from the Charlotte region, as well as Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A&T State University, Shaw University, North Carolina Central University and North Carolina State University.{{cite web|title=N.C. Research Campus Partners and Research|url=http://www.ncresearchcampus.net/partners-and-research|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304060308/http://www.ncresearchcampus.net/partners-and-research|archive-date=March 4, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2013}} The research campus is part of a larger effort by leaders in the Charlotte area to attract energy, health, and other knowledge-based industries that contribute to North Carolina's strength in biotechnology.{{cite web|url=https://ncresearchcampus.net/about-ncrc/|title=About NCRC|website=NCresearchcampus.net|access-date=September 16, 2021}}

Media

{{Main|Media in Charlotte, North Carolina}}

=Newspaper=

Charlotte has one major daily newspaper, The Charlotte Observer.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/customer-service/about-us|title=About us|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627093558/https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/customer-service/about-us|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=dead}} It boasts the largest circulation in North Carolina{{cite web|url=http://www.mondotimes.com/newspapers/usa/northcarolina-newspaper-circulation.html|title=Biggest North Carolina Newspapers|website=Mondotimes.com|access-date=March 26, 2018}} and South Carolina.

=Radio=

Charlotte is the 24th largest radio market in the nation, according to Nielsen Audio. While major groups like iHeartMedia and Urban One have stations serving Charlotte, several smaller groups also own and operate stations in the area.{{cite web|url= https://www.iheartmedia.com/stations?market=CHARLOTTE-NC|title=Charlotte Stations – iHeartMedia|website=iHeartMedia.com|access-date=September 15, 2016}}{{cite web|url= https://urban1.com/category/portfolio/radio-one/charlotte/|title=Charlotte Archives – Urban One|access-date=January 29, 2022}} The local National Public Radio news affiliate is WFAE News, which sponsors a number of podcasts and radio shows.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfae.org/about-wfae|title=About WFAE|website=wfae.org|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626202550/https://www.wfae.org/about-wfae|archive-date=June 26, 2020|url-status=dead}}

=Television=

According to Nielsen Media Research, Charlotte is the 22nd largest television market in the nation (as of the 2016–2017 season) and the largest in the state of North Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/solutions/measurement/television/2016-2017-nielsen-local-dma-ranks.pdf|title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates|date=January 1, 2017|website=Nielsen}} Major television stations located in Charlotte include CBS affiliate WBTV 3 (the oldest television station in the Carolinas),{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/9947127/wbtv-the-first-60-years/|title=WBTV: The First 60 Years|date=March 4, 2009|website=WBTV.com|publisher=WBTV|access-date=June 2, 2022}} ABC affiliate WSOC-TV 9,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/station/wsoc-tv-past-and-future/29178531/|title=WSOC-TV: Past and Future|date=January 20, 2016|website=wsoctv.com|access-date=June 2, 2022}} NBC affiliate WCNC-TV 36,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/about-us|title=About WCNC: The WCNC Charlotte Difference|website=WCNC.com|access-date=June 2, 2022}} CW affiliate WCCB 18,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/app-web-views/about-wccb/|title=About WCCB – WCCB Charlotte's CW|website=wccbcharlotte.com|access-date=June 2, 2022}} and PBS member station WTVI 42.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtvi.org/about/|title=About PBS Charlotte|website=WTVI.org|publisher=WTVI|access-date=June 5, 2022}} One cable sports network is headquartered in Charlotte: the ESPN-controlled SEC Network.{{cite web|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/6896/the-espn-offices-in-charlotte-are-like-yours-but-not/|title=The ESPN offices in Charlotte are like yours, but not|last=Hallmark|first=Gi|date=June 29, 2015|website=Charlotte.axios.com|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412055100/https://charlotte.axios.com/6896/the-espn-offices-in-charlotte-are-like-yours-but-not/|url-status=dead}} Raycom Sports is also headquartered in Charlotte.{{cite web|url=http://raycomsports.com/|title=Raycom Sports|website=Raycomsports.com|access-date=July 18, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/08/03/raycom-sports-shifts-into-entrepreneur-mode.html|title=Monster trucks, MLS and more: CEO talks revamped business focus for Raycom Sports|last=Spanberg|first=Erik|date=August 3, 2021|website=Bizjournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=September 14, 2022}}

Other stations serving the Charlotte market include Fox affiliate WJZY 46 in Belmont,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox46.com/about-us/|title=About us – Queen City News – Fox 46|website=Fox46.com|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=June 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601203005/https://www.fox46.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}} UNC-TV/PBS member station WUNG-TV 58 in Concord, independent station WAXN-TV 64 (a sister to WSOC-TV) in Kannapolis, and two stations in Rock Hill, South Carolina: MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYT-TV 55 (a sister to WJZY){{cite web|url=https://www.qcnews.com/my12/|title=WMYT-TV 12 – Charlotte|website=qcnews.com|date=June 10, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2023|archive-date=August 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812032110/https://www.qcnews.com/my12/|url-status=dead}} and PBS member station WNSC-TV 30. Additionally, INSP is headquartered in nearby Indian Land, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.insp.com/|title=INSP TV Homepage: Western TV & Movies|website=INSP.com|access-date=August 11, 2023}}

In 2020, CNN established a Charlotte bureau spearheaded by national correspondent Dianne Gallagher.{{cite web |last1=Janes |first1=Théoden |title=Dianne Gallagher to be first CNN correspondent in Charlotte |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/article245557600.html |website=The Charlotte Observer |publisher=McClatchy |access-date=1 October 2020}}

Cable television customers are served by Spectrum, which offers a localized feed of Raleigh-based Spectrum News North Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte|title=Charlotte – Spectrum News 1|website=Spectrumlocalnews.com|access-date=July 18, 2021}}

Infrastructure

=City services=

==Emergency medical services==

Emergency medical services for the city of Charlotte are provided by Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC). MEDIC received over 160,000 calls in 2022 and transported over 107,000 patients in Mecklenburg County.{{Cite web |last=Flipsnack |title=AR22 web |url=https://www.flipsnack.com/mecklenburgemsagency/ar22.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Flipsnack |language=en |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215062830/https://www.flipsnack.com/mecklenburgemsagency/ar22.html |url-status=dead }} The agency employs over 600 paramedics, EMTs, EMDs and admin staff.{{cite web|url=https://www.medic911.com/about-us/|title=About us – Mecklenburg EMS Agency|website=medic911.com|date=March 26, 2021|access-date=October 24, 2021}}

In addition to dispatching MEDIC's EMS calls, the agency also dispatches all county fire calls outside of the city of Charlotte.{{cite web |title=2017 Annual Report |url=https://www.medic911.com/assets/user/upload/files/AR%202017%20web(1).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515171552/https://www.medic911.com/assets/user/upload/files/AR%202017%20web(1).pdf |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |access-date=12 July 2018 |website=Medic911.com}}

==Hospitals==

File:Carolinas Medical Center.jpg is the flagship hospital of Atrium Health ]]

Hospitals in Charlotte include Atrium Health Mercy,{{Cite web|url= https://atriumhealth.org/locations/detail/atrium-health-mercy|title=Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center|website=atriumhealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022}} Atrium Health Pineville,{{Cite web|url=https://atriumhealth.org/locations/detail/atrium-health-pineville|title=Atrium Health Pineville|website=atriumhealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022}} Atrium Health University City,{{Cite web|url=https://atriumhealth.org/locations/detail/atrium-health-university-city|title=Atrium Health University City|website=atriumhealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022}} Carolinas ContinueCare Pineville,{{Cite web|url=https://pineville.continuecare.org|title=Carolinas ContinueCare Hospital at Pineville|website=pineville.continuecare.org|access-date=June 4, 2022}} Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center{{Cite web|url=https://atriumhealth.org/locations/detail/carolinas-medical-center|title=Carolinas Medical Center|website=atriumhealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022}} / Levine Children's, Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital,{{Cite web|url=https://www.novanthealth.org/charlotte-orthopedic-hospital.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc02|title=Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital homepage – Novant Health|website=novanthealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=September 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915230526/https://www.novanthealth.org/charlotte-orthopedic-hospital.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc02|url-status=dead}} Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital,{{Cite web|url=https://www.novanthealth.org/hemby-childrens-hospital.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc05|title=Hemby Children's Hospital homepage – Novant Health|website=novanthealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=September 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915230528/https://www.novanthealth.org/hemby-childrens-hospital.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc05|url-status=dead}} and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.{{Cite web|url=https://www.novanthealth.org/Presbyterian-Medical-Center.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc11|title=Presbyterian Medical Center homepage – Novant Health|website=novanthealth.org|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702235223/https://www.novanthealth.org/Presbyterian-Medical-Center.aspx?ecid=gmblocamc11|url-status=dead}} Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority is the public hospital authority of Mecklenburg County.{{cite web|url=https://atriumhealth.org/about-us/corporate-financial-information|title=Atrium Health Financial Information |publisher=Atrium Health|access-date=2021-11-19}}

==Fire department==

The Charlotte Fire Department provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, public education, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) mitigation, technical rescues, and fire prevention and inspection with 1,164 personnel. Forty-three fire stations are strategically scattered throughout Charlotte to provide a reasonable response time to emergencies in the city limits.{{cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/Fire/Pages/default.aspx|title=Charlotte Fire Department – City of Charlotte|website=charlottenc.gov|access-date=February 16, 2020}}

==Law enforcement and crime==

{{See also|Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department}}

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is a combined jurisdiction agency. The CMPD has law enforcement jurisdiction in both the city of Charlotte and the few unincorporated areas left in Mecklenburg County. The other small towns maintain their own law enforcement agencies for their own jurisdictions. The department consists of approximately 1,700 sworn law enforcement officers, 550 civilian personnel, and more than 400 volunteers.{{cite web|url=http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CMPD/Inside+CMPD/Home.htm |title=Home |website=Charmeck.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605082645/http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CMPD/Inside%2BCMPD/Home.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

An average of 4,939 vehicles are stolen every year in Charlotte.{{Citation

| title = Charlotte, NC Auto Theft Statistics

| url = http://www.omginsureme.com/north-carolina/charlotte/how-to-get-the-cheapest-car-insurance-rates-in-charlotte-nc-fast.html

| access-date = June 6, 2014

| url-status=dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140606214756/http://www.omginsureme.com/north-carolina/charlotte/how-to-get-the-cheapest-car-insurance-rates-in-charlotte-nc-fast.html

| archive-date = June 6, 2014

| df = mdy-all

}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/37341615/cmpd-238-vehicles-stolen-since-beginning-of-year/|title=CMPD: 238 vehicles stolen since beginning of year|date=January 24, 2018|website=WBTV.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/07/25/charlotte-police-report-increasing-number-of-car-thefts-|title=Charlotte police report increasing number of car thefts|last=Staff News|first=Spectrum|date=July 25, 2022|website=Spectrum News 1 North Carolina|access-date=December 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-violent-carjacking-crime/275-374a50eb-185a-45b8-820c-819c5bd390bd|title=Carjackers striking across Charlotte|last=Harper|first=Briana|date=January 16, 2020|website=WCNC.com|access-date=December 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://qcitymetro.com/2022/08/10/police-tik-tok-challenge-is-adding-to-car-theft-problem-in-charlotte/|title=Police: Tik-Tok videos are adding fuel to Charlotte's car-theft problem|last=Hill|first=Jalon|date=August 10, 2022|website=Q City Metro|access-date=December 6, 2022}}

According to the Congressional Quarterly Press; '2008 City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America,' Charlotte, North Carolina ranks as the 62nd most dangerous city larger than 75,000 inhabitants.{{cite web|url=http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime2008/citycrime2008.htm |title=CQ Press: City Crime Rankings 2008 |website=Os.cqpress.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607114443/http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime2008/citycrime2008.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2010 }} However, the entire Charlotte-Gastonia Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked as 27th most dangerous out of 338 metro areas.{{cite web|url=http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/MetroCrime2008_Rank_Rev.pdf |title=AMSAFM2.WK4 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326212621/http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/MetroCrime2008_Rank_Rev.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2014/05/21/charlotte-among-nations-most-dangerous-cities-for.html|title=Charlotte among nation's most dangerous cities for pedestrians, report says|last=Wilson|first=Jen|date=May 21, 2014|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=May 22, 2014}}

==Waste treatment==

Charlotte has a municipal waste system consisting of trash pickup, water distribution, and waste treatment. There are five waste water treatment plants operated by Charlotte Water (previously Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department).{{cite web|url=http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/utilities/Pages/Home.aspx |title=Charlotte Utilities — Home |website=Charmeck.org |access-date=October 2, 2013}} Charlotte has a biosolids program.{{cite web|url=http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Utilities/Environment/Pages/Biosolids.aspx|title=Charlotte Water|website=City of Charlotte Government|language=en|access-date=March 26, 2018}} Some Chester residents spoke out against the program on February 26, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrhi.com/2013/02/controversial-sludge-disposal-draws-friends-foes-in-four-s-c-counties-75952 |title=Controversial 'sludge' disposal draws friends, foes in four S.C. counties |website=Wrhi.com |date=February 26, 2013 |access-date=October 2, 2013}} Charlotte's sludge is handled, transported, and spread on farm fields in Chester by a company called Synagro, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Carlyle Group{{cite web|url=http://www.carlyle.com/news-room/news-release-archive/carlyle-group-acquire-synagro-technologies-576-share|title=News Release Archive {{!}} The Carlyle Group|website=Carlyle.com|language=en|access-date=March 26, 2018}} Charlotte's sludge is of the "CLASS B" variety, which means it still contains detectable levels of pathogens.{{cite web|url=http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/biosolids/tnsss-overview.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629150404/http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/biosolids/tnsss-overview.cfm|archive-date=June 29, 2014|title=Biosolids: Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report - Overview|website=US EPA|date=April 23, 2014|language=en|access-date=March 26, 2018}}

=Transportation=

{{Main|Transportation in Charlotte, North Carolina}}

The city of Charlotte has a lower than average percentage of households without a car. In 2015, 7.4 percent of Charlotte households lacked a car, and decreased to 6 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Charlotte averaged 1.65 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.{{Cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|date=December 9, 2014|url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 4, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/car-free-charlotte-it-isn%E2%80%99t-easy|title=Car-Free in Charlotte? It isn't easy|date=April 2, 2014|website=ui.charlotte.edu|publisher=University of North Carolina at Charlotte|access-date=November 23, 2022|archive-date=November 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124035516/https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/car-free-charlotte-it-isn%E2%80%99t-easy|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://nextcity.org/features/charlotte-moves-toward-a-car-free-city-center|title=Charlotte Moves toward a Car-Free City Center|last=McGraw|first=Daniel|date=July 30, 2018|website=nextcity.org|access-date=November 23, 2022}}

==Mass transit==

{{Main|Charlotte Area Transit System}}

File:LynxBlandStreet.jpg Bland Street Station in Charlotte's South End neighborhood]]

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for operating mass transit in the Charlotte metropolitan area, carrying over 16 million riders annually. Established in 1999 and administered as a department of the city of Charlotte, CATS operates light rail transit, streetcar, express buses, local buses, and special bus services serving Charlotte and the surrounding area in addition to other programs such as vanpool.{{cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/cats/Pages/default.aspx|title=Charlotte Area Transit System|website=Charlottenc.gov|access-date=May 21, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/cats-charlotte-area-transit-system-next-phase-transportation-system/275-f1ee49d6-fad3-4857-acb7-3ac555a8369a|title=CATS finalizing design for new transportation system|last=Pierre|first=Jesse|date=November 7, 2022|website=WCNC.com|access-date=August 9, 2023}}

CATS' rail arm, LYNX Rapid Transit Services, comprises two lines as of fall 2020. The Blue Line is an 18.9‑mile line north–south light rail line running through South End, Center City, NoDa, and University City.{{Cite web|url=https://charlottenc.gov/cats/rail/lynx-blue-line/Pages/default.aspx|title=Lynx Blue Line – City of Charlotte City Council|website=Charlottenc.gov|access-date=June 11, 2022|archive-date=September 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901084125/https://charlottenc.gov/cats/rail/lynx-blue-line/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead}} The CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar, Phase 1 of which opened in 2015, is under Phase 2 construction as of fall 2020. When completed, the Gold Line will link the Beatties Ford neighborhood through Uptown and then south and east to the Elizabeth neighborhood.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/03/25/firms-sought-for-final-6-miles-of-streetcar-line.html|title=City seeking firms to oversee final portion of CityLynx Goldline|last=Spanberg|first=Erik|date=March 25, 2021|website=BizJourals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=March 25, 2021}} The LYNX Silver Line, a light rail line in the pre-project development phase as of fall 2020, will link the southeastern suburbs of Matthews, Stallings, and Indian Trail with Uptown Charlotte and the future Charlotte Gateway Station before extending west to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River to Belmont in Gaston County.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2020/09/18/-very-large--very-complicated---lynx-silver-line-project-entering-new-phase-of-development|title=Lynx Silver Line Project Entering New Phase of Development|publisher=Spectrum News|access-date=September 18, 2020}}

The bulk of CATS ridership is derived from its extensive bus network, which has its main hub at the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown, which also connects to the Blue and Gold lines. Other bus hubs are located at community transit centers in SouthPark, Eastland, and at Rosa Parks Place. CATS operates express buses to outlying parts of the city and some commuter bus to the northern suburbs in the Lake Norman area under the MetroRAPID umbrella.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrdc.org/stories/charlotte-its-way-becoming-modern-transit-hub|title=Charlotte is on its way to becoming a modern transit hub|last=Helmer|first=Jodi|date=December 11, 2019|website=NRDC.org|access-date=December 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article266375306.html|title=Underground? Above ground? Charlotte assesses new uptown bus hub design|last=Contino|first=Genna|date=September 27, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 6, 2022}}

==Walkability==

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Charlotte the 49th most walkable of the 50 largest cities in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/?page=5|title=2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings |publisher=Walk Score |year=2011 |access-date=August 28, 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article258773078.html|title=How walkable is Charlotte? It depends on which neighborhood you're in|last=Moore|first=Evan|date=February 22, 2022|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=December 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/nonprofit-working-to-make-charlotte-a-more-pedestrian-friendly-city/275-c6ab3ddb-2106-4760-b31d-58767ff91132|title=Nonprofit working to make Charlotte a more bike-friendly, pedestrian-friendly city|last=Boudin|first=Michelle|date=October 19, 2021|website=WCNC.com|access-date=December 6, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://plancharlotte.org/story/charlotte-walkability-walk-score-rankings|title=Charlotte trails nation in Walkability rankings|last=Newsom|first=Mary|date=November 15, 2013|website=Plan Charlotte|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207133405/https://plancharlotte.org/story/charlotte-walkability-walk-score-rankings|url-status=dead}}

==Roads and highways==

File:I-85 I-485 turbine interchange construction aerial 2013.jpg under construction just north of Charlotte, 2013]]

Charlotte's central location between the population centers of the Northeast and Southeast has made it a transportation focal point and primary distribution center, with two major interstate highways, I-85 and I-77, intersecting near the city's center. The latter highway also connects to the population centers of the Rust Belt.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/from-rust-belt-to-bible-belt/|title=From Rust Belt to Bible Belt|last=Markovich|first=Jeremy|date=August 26, 2014|website=Charlotte Magazine|access-date=February 14, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/latest-news/article9012590.html|title=Rust Belt folks take liking to the area|last=Baldwin|first=Amy|date=September 28, 2008|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

Charlotte's beltway, designated I-485 and simply called "485" by local residents, was under construction for over 20 years, but funding problems slowed its progress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/history-made-i-485-opens-40-years-after-planning-b/52128080/|title=Historical Perspective: I-485 opens 40 years after planning began|date=June 5, 2015|website=wsoctv.com|access-date=June 11, 2022}} The final segment was finished in mid-2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/charlotteouterloop/|title=NCDOT: I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop|website=Ncdot.gov|access-date=June 13, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621073437/http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/CharlotteOuterLoop/|archive-date=June 21, 2016|df=mdy-all}} I-485 has a total circumference of approximately {{convert|67|mi|abbr=on}}. Within the city, the I-277 loop freeway encircles Charlotte's uptown (usually referred to by its two separate sections, the John Belk Freeway and the Brookshire Freeway) while Charlotte Route 4 links major roads in a loop between I-277 and I-485. Independence Freeway, which carries U.S. 74 and links downtown with the Matthews area, is undergoing an expansion and widening in the eastern part of the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/ncdot-considering-optional-toll-lanes-to-relieve-congestion-on-independence-blvd/275-42dc93ad-b231-4d39-b0bc-8368c4aecc69|title=Toll lanes being considered for Independence Blvd|author=WCNC Staff|date=January 29, 2019|website=WCNC.com|access-date=January 29, 2019}}

==Air==

File:Charllotte Douglas International Airport.png with the Uptown Charlotte skyline in the background]]

In 2011, Charlotte Douglas International Airport was the sixth-busiest airport in both the U.S. and the world overall as measured by traffic (aircraft movements).{{cite web|title=Release ACI World Airport Traffic|url=http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/News/Documents/Release-ACIWorldAirportTraffic2011.pdf|website=Charmeck.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816151527/http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/News/Documents/Release-ACIWorldAirportTraffic2011.pdf|archive-date=August 16, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article253602718.html|title=Its not your imagination; Charlotte's airport is the world's busiest this summer|last=Smoot|first=Hannah|date=August 20, 2021|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=August 21, 2021}} The airport handled just over 50 million travellers in 2019, as well as many domestic and international carriers including Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Volaris. It is a major hub for American Airlines, having historically been a hub for its predecessors US Airways and Piedmont Airlines.{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article246630648.html|title=American Airlines faces billions in net loss, but CLT remains a top performing hub|last=Smoot|first=Hannah|date=October 22, 2020|website=Charlotte Observer|access-date=October 22, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2021/05/26/at-americans-only-growth-hub-airport-officials-plead-for-job-applicants-as-memorial-day-traffic-soars/|title=Can American Airline's Only Growth Hub, In Charlotte Remain the Sixth Busiest U.S. Airport?|last=Reed|first=Ted|date=May 26, 2021|website=Forbes|access-date=April 23, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article281705753.html|title=American Airlines adds new destination from Charlotte to Mexico, expands Caribbean routes|last=Jordan|first=Chase|date=November 10, 2023|website=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=November 13, 2023}} Nonstop flights are available to many destinations across the United States, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, and South America.{{cite web|url=https://www.cltairport.com/airport-info/about-clt|title=About CLT|website=cltairport.com|publisher=Charlotte Douglas International Airport|access-date=June 21, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/11/10/american-airlines-clt-airport-tulum-mexico-flights.html|title=American Airlines picks Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami to serve new airport in Tulum, Mexico|last=Martin|first=Jenna|date=November 10, 2023|website=BizJournals.com|publisher=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=November 13, 2023}} The 145th Airlift Wing of North Carolina Air National Guard is also located east of the airport.{{cite web|url=https://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/About-Us/|title=About us – 145th Airlift Wing|website=North Carolina Air National Guard|access-date=October 11, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.goang.com/locations/north-carolina/charlotte-air-national-guard-base.html|title=Charlotte Air National Guard Base|website=Air National Guard|access-date=June 5, 2022}}

==Intercity transportation==

{{See also|Charlotte station (Amtrak)}}

Charlotte is served daily by three Amtrak routes with ten daily trips from a station on North Tryon Street, just outside downtown.

  • The Crescent connects Charlotte with New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, and Greensboro to the north, and Greenville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Meridian and New Orleans to the south. It arrives overnight once in each direction.{{Cite web|url=https://amtrakguide.com/routes/crescent/|title=Crescent Train – Amtrak Guide|website=amtrakguide.com|date=October 14, 2017 |access-date=June 11, 2022}}
  • The Carolinian connects Charlotte with New York; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Richmond; Raleigh; Durham; and Greensboro. Charlotte is the southern terminus, with the northbound train leaving just before the morning rush and the southbound train arriving in the evening.{{cite web|url=https://amtrakguide.com/routes/carolinian/|title=Carolinian Train|website=Amtrakguide.com|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=September 15, 2021}}
  • The Piedmont, a regional companion of the Carolinian, connects Charlotte with Greensboro, Durham and Raleigh with four daily round trips. Charlotte is the southern terminus.{{cite web|url=https://amtrakguide.com/routes/piedmont/|title=Piedmont Train: Schedule and Stations|website=Amtrakguide.com|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=September 15, 2021}}

Charlotte is also served by both Greyhound and low-cost curbside carrier Megabus. Charlotte is a service stop for Greyhound routes running to Atlanta, Detroit, Jacksonville, New York and Philadelphia. It is also a stop for buses running out of Megabus' hub in Atlanta, with connections to Megabus' northeastern routes out of New York.{{cite web|url=https://www.greyhound.com/en-us/bus-station-340219|title=Charlotte Bus Station – Greyhound|website=greyhound.com|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

The city is planning a new centralized downtown multimodal station called Gateway Station. It is expected to house Amtrak, Greyhound and the future LYNX Red Line.{{cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2021/03/17/group-petitions-norfolk-southern-change-policy-get-lynx-red-line-project-back-track/|title=Group petitions Norfolk Southern to change policy to get Lynx Red Line project back on track|last=Pauroso|first=Paige|date=March 17, 2021|website=WBTV.com|access-date=July 26, 2021}} It is under construction at the former site of the Greyhound station; Greyhound is currently operating from a temporary station nearby.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox46.com/charlotte/charlotte-gateway-station-makes-progress-development-underway-surrounding-project/|title=Charlotte Gateway Station makes progress; development underway surrounding project|last=Baldeck|first=Brett|date=April 6, 2021|website=Fox46.com|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190409/https://www.fox46.com/charlotte/charlotte-gateway-station-makes-progress-development-underway-surrounding-project/|url-status=dead}}

Notable people

{{Further|List of people from Charlotte, North Carolina}}

Sister cities

Charlotte's sister cities are:{{cite web|title=International Government Relations|url=https://charlottenc.gov/international-relations/intlgovtrelations/Pages/Sister-Cities.aspx|website=charlottenc.gov|publisher=City of Charlotte|access-date=December 6, 2022|archive-date=September 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927182959/https://charlottenc.gov/international-relations/intlgovtrelations/Pages/Sister-Cities.aspx|url-status=dead}}

  • {{flagicon|PER}} Arequipa, Peru (1962)
  • {{flagicon|GER}} Krefeld, Germany (1985)
  • {{flagicon|CHN}} Baoding, China (1987)
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Limoges, France (1992)
  • {{flagicon|POL}} Wrocław, Poland (1993)
  • {{flagicon|GHA}} Kumasi, Ghana (1995)

=Former=

  • {{flagicon|RUS}} Voronezh, Russia (1991–2022){{cite web |title=City of Charlotte suspends ties with its Russian sister city |url=https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-sever-ties-with-russian-sister-city/E3NFLSM6LFAUPNER4HNPH77O2E/#:~:text=Charlotte%20became%20a%20sister%20city,sale%20of%20Russian%2Dmade%20alcohol. |website=WSOC-TV | date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=24 September 2023}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Further reading

{{See also|Timeline of Charlotte, North Carolina#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Charlotte, North Carolina}}

  • Graves, William, and Heather A. Smith, eds. Charlotte, NC: The Global Evolution of a New South City (University of Georgia Press; 2010) 320 pages. Essays that use Charlotte to explore how globalization and local forces combine to transform Southern cities. {{ISBN|0-8203-3561-4}}
  • Hanchett, Thomas W. Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875–1975. 380 pages. University of North Carolina Press. August 1, 1998. {{ISBN|0-8078-2376-7}}.
  • Kratt, Mary Norton. Charlotte: Spirit of the New South. 293 pages. John F. Blair, Publisher. September 1, 1992. {{ISBN|0-89587-095-9}}.
  • Kratt, Mary Norton and Mary Manning Boyer. Remembering Charlotte: Postcards from a New South City, 1905–1950. 176 pages. University of North Carolina Press. October 1, 2000. {{ISBN|0-8078-4871-9}}.
  • Kratt, Mary Norton. New South Women: Twentieth Century Women of Charlotte, North Carolina. Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in Association with John F. Blair, Publisher. August 1, 2001. {{ISBN|0-89587-250-1}}.
  • Sanford, Ken. Charlotte and UNC Charlotte: Growing Up Together (2021) [https://uncpress.org/book/9781469668543/charlotte-and-unc-charlotte/ summary]