Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents.[11][12][13][14][15] Based on U.S. census data from 2005 to 2015, Charlotte tops the U.S. in millennial population growth.[16][17][18][19] Throughout the 2020s, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States.[20][21][22][23] Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans".[24][25]
TheCatawba 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.
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 ofPresidentJames K. Polk), who later married Thomas Spratt's daughter, built his house by the intersection of twoNative American trading paths between theYadkin andCatawba rivers.[42] One path ran north–south and was part of theGreat Wagon Road; the second path ran east–west along what is now Trade Street.
By 1759, half the Catawba tribe had died fromsmallpox, an endemic disease among European colonists, which the Catawba had no naturalimmunity against. At the time of their largest population, the Catawba population was 10,000. But by 1826, the Catawba population dropped to 110.[43]
The city of Charlotte was developed first by a wave of migration ofScots-IrishPresbyterians, orUlster-Scot settlers fromUlster, 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 theAmerican Revolutionary War, but in smaller numbers. They still contributed greatly to the early foundations of the region.
Mecklenburg County was initially part ofBath County (1696 to 1729) of the New Hanover Precinct, which becameNew Hanover County in 1729. The western portion of New Hanover split intoBladen County in 1734, and its western portion split intoAnson County in 1750. Mecklenburg County was formed from Anson County in 1762. Further apportionment was made in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War, withCabarrus County formed from Mecklenburg.[44]
Within decades of Polk's settling, the area grew to become the Town of Charlotte,incorporated in 1768.[48] Though chartered as Charlotte, the name appears as a form of "Charlottesburgh" on many maps until around 1800.[49] A form of "Charlottetown" also appears on maps of British origin depicting General Cornwallis' route of invasion.[50] The crossroads in Piedmont became the heart ofUptown Charlotte. In 1770, surveyors marked the streets in agrid pattern for future development. The east–west trading path became Trade Street, and the Great Wagon Road became Tryon Street, in honor ofWilliam Tryon, a royal governor of colonial North Carolina.[51]Theintersection of Trade and Tryon is commonly known today as "Trade and Tryon", or simply "The Square",[42] and formally as "Independence Square".[52]
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".[53]
Local leaders came together in 1775 and signed theMecklenburg Resolves, more popularly known as theMecklenburg Declaration of Independence. While not a true declaration of independence fromBritish rule, it is among the first such declarations that eventually led to theAmerican 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'sstate flag andstate seal also bear the date.
In 1799, in nearby Cabarrus County, 12-year-oldConrad 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.[54] The first documented gold find in the United States of any consequence set off the nation's firstgold rush. Many veins of gold were found in the area throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the 1837 founding of theCharlotte Mint.[55] North Carolina was the chief producer of gold in the United States, until the Sierra Nevada was found in 1848,[56] although the volume mined in the Charlotte area was dwarfed by subsequent rushes.
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 theSalisbury District.[57]
Some groups stillpan for gold occasionally in local streams and creeks. TheReed Gold Mine operated until 1912.[59] TheCharlotte Mint was active until 1861 whenConfederate forces seized it at the outbreak of theCivil War. The mint was not reopened at the war's end, but the building, albeit in a different location, now houses theMint 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 fromAtlanta toWashington, 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.[60]
Charlotte's city population at the1890 census grew to 11,557.[61]
In 1910, Charlotte surpassedWilmington to become North Carolina's largest city with 34,014 residents.[62]
The population grew again duringWorld War I, when the U.S. government establishedCamp 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 thePiedmont Crescent. In the1920 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 the1930 census, and has remained North Carolina's largest city since.[63]
The city's modern-day banking industry achieved prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, largely under the leadership offinancierHugh McColl. McColl transformedNorth Carolina National Bank (NCNB) into a formidable national bank that through aggressive acquisitions eventually merged with BankAmerica to becomeBank of America.First Union, laterWachovia in 2001, experienced similar growth before it was acquired bySan Francisco–basedWells Fargo in 2008. Measured by control of assets, Charlotte became the second largest banking headquarters in the United States afterNew York City.[66]
On September 22, 1989, the city was hit byHurricane Hugo. With sustained winds of 69 mph (111 km/h) and gusts of 87 mph (140 km/h),[67] 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 200 miles (320 km) inland, and residents from coastal areas in both Carolinas often wait out hurricanes in Charlotte.[68]
In December 2002, Charlotte and much of central North Carolina were hit by anice storm that resulted in more than 1.3 million people losing power.[69] During an abnormally cold December, many were without power for weeks. Many of the city'sBradford pear trees split apart under the weight of the ice.
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.[79] 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.[80]
TheSouthPark area offers shopping, dining, and multifamily housing.[99][100] Far South Boulevard is home to a large Hispanic community.[101] Many students, researchers, and affiliated professionals live nearUNC Charlotte in the northeast area known asUniversity City.[102][103][104]
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 intoWeddington andWaxhaw inUnion County.[105]Ballantyne, in the south of Charlotte, and nearly every area on the I‑485 perimeter, has experienced rapid growth over the past ten years.[106][107][108] TheSteele Creek neighborhood which is primarily in Mecklenburg county is located within minutes near Uptown Charlotte.[109][110][111][112]
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.[119]
The 120-acre (49 ha)Park Road Park is a prominent landmark near the SouthPark area.[120] Park Road Park features eight basketball courts, two horseshoe pits, six baseball fields, five picnic shelters, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and an 11-acre (4.5 ha) lake.[121] The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation Department operates 36 tennis facilities and the 12 lighted tennis courts at the park.[122] In September 2013, the 5.4-acre (2.2 ha)Romare Bearden Park opened to the public.[123][124]
The urban section ofLittle Sugar Creek Greenway was completed in 2012. Inspired in part by theSan 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.[125] However, the Little Sugar Creek Greenway bears no relation to the San Antonio River Walk.
The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County began purchasing flood-prone homes in the 1990s. Voluntary buyouts of 700 households have created around 200 acres (81 ha)s of open land that can flood safely, thereby saving an estimated $28 million in flood damage and emergency rescues.[126]
McAlpine Creek Park and integrated McAlpine Creek Greenway constructed in 1978 was the first greenway built in the western piedmont of North Carolina.[127][128]
Like much of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States, Charlotte has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa), with four distinct seasons. Charlotte is part of USDAhardiness zone 8a, transitioning to 7b in the suburbs in all directions except the south.[129] The following narrative reflects 1991–2020 climate data. Winters are short and fairly mild, with a normal January daily mean temperature of 42.1 °F (5.6 °C). On occasion the temperature can fall below 20 °F (−6.7 °C), but Charlotte also enjoys multiple warm winter days in excess of 65 °F (18.3 °C).[130] 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.[130]
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 80.1 °F (26.7 °C).[131] Hot and humid days can arrive as early as May and last until the end of September. There is an average of 44 days per year with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C).[130] Official record temperatures range from 104 °F (40 °C) recorded six times on 6 September 1954, 9–10 August 2007 andJune 29 to July 1, 2012, down to −5 °F (−21 °C) recorded onDecember 30, 1880,February 14, 1899 andJanuary 21, 1985.[132] The record cold daily maximum is 14 °F (−10 °C) onFebruary 12 and 13, 1899.[130] The record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on August 13, 1881.[b] The average window for freezing temperatures is November 5 to March 30, allowing a growing season of 220 days.[130]
Charlotte is directly in the path of subtropical moisture from theGulf 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.[130] On average, Charlotte receives 43.60 inches (1,110 mm) of precipitation annually, evenly distributed throughout the year. Annual precipitation has historically ranged from 26.23 in (666 mm) in 2001 to 68.44 in (1,738 mm) in 1884.[130]
There is an average of 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) 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 no snowfall in 2022-23 and 2023-24[133][134] to 22.6 in (57 cm) in 1959–60.[130] 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.[135][136]
As of 2020[update], the Charlotte metropolitan area as a whole is noted for having one of the worstweather radar gaps among any majorU.S. East Coast city, with little to no coverage in a roughly quadrilateral area spanningConcord,Salisbury and much ofStatesville.[137] As the nearestNWS-ownedNEXRAD is located inGreer, South Carolina, more than 80 mi (130 km) to the west-southwest of Charlotte, this deficit is particularly problematic duringsevere thunderstorm ortornado episodes.[137] The current lowest angle of the radar, based in Greer, is quite far above the surface over Charlotte, so thevelocities measurement for detectingrotations cannot be below mid-level in potential tornado-forming storms and thus cannot indicate whether said rotation extends closer to the ground (below 5,000 ft (1,500 m)).[137]
Climate data for Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte Douglas Int'l), 1991–2020 normals,[c] extremes 1878–present[d]
Charlotte city, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition 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.
In the2020 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[145] and 1,093,901 in Mecklenburg County.[146] Thecombined statistical area, or trade area, ofCharlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC had an estimated population of 3,387,115 in 2023.[8] Figures from the more comprehensive 2010 census show Charlotte'spopulation density was 2,457 per square mile (949/km2). There were 319,918 housing units at an average density of 1,074.6 per square mile (414.9/km2).[147]
In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Charlotte's population as 30.2% Black and 68.9% White.[148] 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.[149][150][151][152]
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. Theper capita income for Charlotte was $29,825. The percentage of the population living at or below thepoverty 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.
The largestProtestant church in Charlotte, by attendance, isElevation Church, a Southern Baptist church founded by lead pastorSteven Furtick. The church has over 15,000 congregants at nine Charlotte locations.[163]
Charlotte has the largestJewish population in the Carolinas.[168][169] Shalom Park in south Charlotte is the hub of the Jewish community, featuring two synagogues,Temple Israel[170] and Temple Beth El, as well as a community center, the Charlotte Jewish Day School for grades K–5, and the headquarters of theCharlotte Jewish News.[171]
Bank of America, the second-largest financial institution by total assets in the United States, is headquartered in Charlotte.[177] It is also home toTruist Financial, the nation's sixth-largest financial institution.[178][179]
Charlotte also has become a large employment center for major banks not headquartered in Charlotte:
Charlotte is the regional headquarters forEast Coast operations ofWells Fargo, which is headquartered inSan Francisco, California.[180] 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.[181][182][183]
In May 2021,Ally Financial moved toAlly Charlotte Center, which houses its 2,100 Charlotte-based employees and contractors across 725,000 square feet (67,400 m2) of the building.[184][185]
Other large companies, such asMicrosoft andCentene Corporation, operate their East Coast headquarters in Charlotte.[194][195][196] In November 2018,Honeywell moved its corporate headquarters to Charlotte.[197] In June 2019,Lowe's announced it will be building itsLowe's Global Technology Center worth $153 million, which is set to be complete in 2021 and will be headquartered inSouth End neighborhood in Charlotte.[198][199] 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.[200] On May 25, 2021, it was announced that Charlotte would become the East Coast headquarters ofCredit Karma.[201][202]Six Flags' corporate office is located in Charlotte.[203] On September 20, 2022, theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) announced it will be relocating its headquarters from nearbyGreensboro to Charlotte in 2023.[204][205][206] On July 12, 2023, railcar companyTTX announced it will move its corporate headquarters to Charlotte.[207][208]
Charlotte is the major center of the U.S. motorsports industry, housing the US's onlyFormula One team,Haas F1,[228][229] multiple teams and offices ofNASCAR, theNASCAR Hall of Fame, andCharlotte Motor Speedway in Concord.[230] Approximately 75% of the NASCAR industry's race teams, employees and drivers are based nearby.[231] The large presence of the racing technology industry and the newly builtNHRA dragstrip,zMAX Dragway atConcord, are influencing other top professionaldrag racers to move their shops to Charlotte as well.
The Charlotte Region has a major base of energy-oriented organizations and has become known as "Charlotte USA – The New Energy Capital".[237][238] 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 includeAREVA,Duke Energy, Electric Power Research Institute, Fluor, Metso Power, Piedmont Natural Gas,Albemarle Corp,Siemens Energy, Shaw Group, Toshiba, URS Corp., and Westinghouse.[239][240] TheUniversity 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.[241] Over the last couple of years, Charlotte has become atech hub, with the growth of itsinformation technology industry.[242][243][244][245][246][247]
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.[248] 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 aConcord, North Carolina business park to locate 800 jobs there.[249] 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.[250] The company as of August 2022 has 357 local employees.[251] In October 2022XPO, 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[252][253] Also in October 2022 Armstrong Transport Group formerly located in theUniversity area after relocating toSouth End would be adding 100 jobs to its current local headcount of 125.[251][254] 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,[255]Southeastern Freight Lines Inc. with 517 employees,[256] Distribution Technology with 400 employees, and Transportation Insight LLC with 375 local employees.[251]
Charlotte has seen a major construction boom in recent years.Zillow identified the city as the "hottest housing market" in 2023.[257][258][259] Numerous residential units continue to be built uptown, including over 20 skyscrapers under construction, recently completed, or in the planning stage.[260][261] Many new restaurants, bars and clubs now operate in the Uptown area.[262][263] Several projects are transforming the Midtown Charlotte/Elizabeth area.[264][265][266] Population increases has also brought aboutgentrification in the city, particularly in predominantlyAfrican-American neighborhoods such asBiddleville andCherry.[267][268][269][270][271]
In 2013,Forbes named Charlotte among its list of Best Places for Business and Careers.[272] Charlotte was listed as the 20th largest city in the US, and the 60th fastest growing city in the US between 2000 and 2008.[273]
20 largest employers by number of employees in the Charlotte region[274]
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 ofNC 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.[310]
The Yiasou Greek Festival is a Greek Festival. It began in 1978 and since then has become one of Charlotte's largest cultural events.[311] 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.[312]
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.[313][314]
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.[315][316]
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.[317]
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.[318]
CharlottePride is an annualLGBT event held in August. In 2019, the event attracted 200,000 people to Uptown Charlotte.[319] The event's parade became Charlotte's largest annual parade in 2017.[320]
Charlotte Turkey Trot is an annual 5k & 8k running marathon hosted everyThanksgiving, it is also the largest running event in the state of North Carolina.[321][322][323]
Three annual arts and cultural festivals celebrating visual and performing arts are hosted throughout the Charlotte region: BOOM Charlotte[325] hosted in the Camp North End area, the Charlotte International Arts Festival[326] hosted in Ballantyne, and Charlotte SHOUT![327] hosted in Uptown.
Charlotte is "... the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a zoo".[328] The Charlotte Zoo initiative is a proposal to allocate 250 acres (101 ha) 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 privately-funded."[329] The Charlotte Observer references two other zoos, theRiverbanks Zoo and Garden and theNorth Carolina Zoological Park as two "great zoos" that are accessible from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, both roughly more than 70 miles away.[330]
TheCharlotte 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 ofMatthews,Mint Hill,Huntersville,Cornelius andDavidson. All locations provide free access to Internet-enabled computers and WiFi, and a library card from one location is accepted at all 20 locations.[333]
Although the library's roots go back to theCharlotte Literary and Library Association, founded on January 16, 1891,[334] the state-charteredCarnegie 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 philanthropistAndrew 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,[335] 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 theBrevard 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).[336] The Brevard Street Library was the first library for African Americans in the state of North Carolina,[336] and some sources say in the southeast.[337] 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.
Charlotte is home to theCarolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL), theCharlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), andCharlotte FC ofMajor League Soccer (MLS).[338][339][340] 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 the2002-03 and2003-04 seasons).[341] The Panthers and Charlotte FC play their home games inBank of America Stadium, while the Hornets play in theSpectrum Center.[342] The Panthers have won six division titles from (1996, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015) and two NFC championships in 2003 and 2015.[343] Carolina has reached the Super Bowl twice but has been unsuccessful in both losing to theNew England Patriots inSuper Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and against theDenver Broncos inSuper Bowl 50 in 2016.[344] The original Hornets NBA franchise was established in 1988 as an expansion team,[345] but it relocated toNew Orleans,Louisiana in 2002 after animosity grew between the team's fans and principal ownerGeorge Shinn.[346] 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.[347][348] The team retook the Hornets name when the New Orleans–based team renamed itself theNew Orleans Pelicans in 2013.[349] The name change became official on May 20, 2014.[350] On the same day, the franchise reclaimed the history and records of the original 1988–2002 Hornets.[351] MLS awarded its expansion team to Charlotte in 2019, which began play as Charlotte FC in 2022.[352][353][354]
The city is also the home of theNational 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.[360] TheBig 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.[361] TheAtlantic 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.[362]
Charlotte has acouncil–manager form of government. Themayor andCharlotte City Council are elected every two years, with noterm limits. The mayor isex 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 tovetoordinances passed by the council; the council can override a mayoral veto by a vote of seven of its ten members.[384] The Council appoints acity manager to serve as chief administrative officer.[385]
Unlike some other cities and towns in North Carolina, elections are held on a partisan basis.Vi Lyles, aDemocratelected in 2017, became the 59th mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. She was elected to her third term in 2022.[386]
Patrick Cannon, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor on December 2, 2013.[387] On March 26, 2014, Cannon was arrested on public corruption charges. Later the same day, he resigned as mayor.[388] Mayor Pro TemMichael Barnes served as Acting Mayor until April 7, when the City Council selected State SenatorDan Clodfelter, also a Democrat, to serve the remainder of Cannon's term.[389] Former Mecklenburg County Commission chairwomanJennifer 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.[390] She was ousted in the 2017 Democratic primary by Mayor Pro TemVi Lyles, who later defeated Republican City Councilman Kenny Smith in the general election to become Mayor of Charlotte.[391]
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.[392] The city had a Republican mayor from 1987 to 2009.[393][394][395]
The Charlotte City Council has 11 members (7 from districts and 4at-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 theNorth Carolina General Assembly, since North Carolina municipalities do not havehome rule. While municipal powers have been broadly construed since the 1960s, the General Assembly still retains considerable authority over local matters.[396]
UNC Charlotte is the city's largest university. It is located inUniversity City, the northeastern portion of Charlotte, which is also home toUniversity Research Park, a 3,200 acres (13 km2) research and corporate park. With more than 30,000 students, UNC Charlotte is the second largest university in the state system.[430]
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 theJuris 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.[432]
Charlotte is the 24th largest radio market in the nation, according toNielsen Audio. While major groups likeiHeartMedia andUrban One have stations serving Charlotte, several smaller groups also own and operate stations in the area.[446][447] The localNational Public Radio news affiliate isWFAE News, which sponsors a number of podcasts and radio shows.[448]
According toNielsen 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.[449] Major television stations located in Charlotte includeCBS affiliateWBTV 3 (the oldest television station in the Carolinas),[450]ABC affiliateWSOC-TV 9,[451]NBC affiliateWCNC-TV 36,[452]independent stationWCCB 18,[453] andPBS member stationWTVI 42.[454] One cable sports network is headquartered in Charlotte: theESPN-controlledSEC Network.[455]Raycom Sports is also headquartered in Charlotte.[456][457]
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.[463] The agency employs over 600 paramedics, EMTs, EMDs and admin staff.[464]
In addition to dispatching MEDIC's EMS calls, the agency also dispatches all county fire calls outside of the city of Charlotte.[465]
TheCharlotte 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.[475]
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.[476]
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.[482] However, the entire Charlotte-Gastonia Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked as 27th most dangerous out of 338 metro areas.[483][484]
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).[485] Charlotte has abiosolids program.[486] Some Chester residents spoke out against the program on February 26, 2013.[487] Charlotte's sludge is handled, transported, and spread on farm fields in Chester by a company called Synagro, a wholly owned subsidiary of theCarlyle Group[488] Charlotte's sludge is of the "CLASS B" variety, which means it still contains detectable levels of pathogens.[486][489]
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.[490][491][492]
TheBlue Line's Bland Street Station in Charlotte's South End neighborhood
TheCharlotte 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 operateslight rail transit,streetcar,express buses,local buses, and special bus services serving Charlotte and the surrounding area in addition to other programs such asvanpool.[493][494]
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 throughSouth End,Center City,NoDa, andUniversity City.[495] TheCityLYNX 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.[496] TheLYNX Silver Line, a light rail line in the pre-project development phase as of fall 2020, will link the southeastern suburbs ofMatthews,Stallings, andIndian Trail withUptown Charlotte and the future Charlotte Gateway Station before extending west toCharlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River toBelmont in Gaston County.[497]
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.[498][499]
I-85/I-485turbine interchange under construction just north of Charlotte, 2013
Charlotte's central location between the population centers of theNortheast andSoutheast has made it a transportation focal point and primary distribution center, with two major interstate highways,I-85 andI-77, intersecting near the city's center. The latter highway also connects to the population centers of theRust Belt.[504][505]
Charlotte'sbeltway, designatedI-485 and simply called "485" by local residents, was under construction for over 20 years, but funding problems slowed its progress.[506] The final segment was finished in mid-2015.[507] I-485 has a total circumference of approximately 67 mi (108 km). Within the city, theI-277 loop freeway encircles Charlotte's uptown (usually referred to by its two separate sections, theJohn Belk Freeway and the Brookshire Freeway) whileCharlotte Route 4 links major roads in a loop between I-277 and I-485.Independence Freeway, which carriesU.S. 74 and links downtown with the Matthews area, is undergoing an expansion and widening in the eastern part of the city.[508]
TheCarolinian 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.[519]
ThePiedmont, a regional companion of theCarolinian, connects Charlotte with Greensboro, Durham and Raleigh with four daily round trips. Charlotte is the southern terminus.[520]
Charlotte is also served by bothGreyhound and low-cost curbside carrierMegabus. 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.[521]
The city is planning a new centralized downtown multimodal station calledGateway Station. It is expected to house Amtrak, Greyhound and the future LYNX Red Line.[522] It is under construction at the former site of the Greyhound station; Greyhound is currently operating from a temporary station nearby.[523]
^The corresponding record since the observation site was moved to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in 1948 is 79 °F (26 °C), last recorded on July 25, 2010.[130]
^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.
^Official records for Charlotte kept October 1878 to August 1948 at downtown and at Charlotte Douglas Int'l since September 1948. For more information, seeThreadex
^"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story".cmstory.org Web Site. Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Archived fromthe original on September 25, 2015. RetrievedSeptember 25, 2015.
Dew, Stephen Herman. "The Queen City at war: Charlotte, North Carolina, during World War II, 1939-1945" (PhD dissertation, U of Arkansas; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 1997. 9820788), online at academic libraries.
Greenwood, Janette Thomas. "Bittersweet legacy: The black and white 'better classes' in Charlotte, North Carolina, 1850-1910" (PhD dissertation, U of Virginia; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 1991. 9219286), online at academic libraries.
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.ISBN0-8203-3561-4
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. (1998).ISBN0-8078-2376-7.
"Sorting out the New South city: Charlotte and its neighborhoods" (PhD dissertation, U of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 1993. 9324043) online at academic libraries.
Kratt, Mary Norton.Charlotte: Spirit of the New South. 293 pages. (John F. Blair 1992).ISBN0-89587-095-9.
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.ISBN0-8078-4871-9.
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.ISBN0-89587-250-1.
Sanford, Ken.Charlotte and UNC Charlotte: Growing Up Together (2021)summary
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