With a population of over 885,000 as of 2019, Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. Nicknamed the “Queen City”, Charlotte is the third fastest growing city in the United States and the second largest banking center in the country after New York City.
History
Charlotte was first settled in 1755 and named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. The city was incorporated in 1768 and grew as a trading post along the Catawba River. Charlotte’s early economy was driven by the gold rush and the cotton industry. Today, Charlotte is a major financial center and home to 9 Fortune 500 company headquarters including Bank of America and Lowe’s.
To learn more about Charlotte’s history, visit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library website or their Facebook page.
Population and Demographics
According to the Wikipedia page for Charlotte, the city’s estimated population as of 2019 is 885,708, making it the 16th most populous city in the United States. Charlotte is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, which had a population of over 2.6 million in 2019.
Charlotte has experienced rapid growth over the past few decades. Between 2000 and 2010, Charlotte’s population grew by 39% as people flocked to the city for job opportunities. The city continues to grow at a rate of about 1.5% annually.
Racially, Charlotte is a diverse city. The racial makeup of Charlotte is:
- White: 50.0%
- African American: 35.0%
- Hispanic or Latino: 13.8%
- Asian: 5.2%
- Two or more races: 2.8%
Charlotte also has a fairly young population compared to other major U.S. cities, with a median age of 33.5 years old.
Economy and Major Employers
As mentioned previously, Charlotte is a major financial center and home to 9 Fortune 500 companies. The largest employers in Charlotte include:
- Atrium Health (35,000+ employees)
- Bank of America (15,000+ employees)
- Wells Fargo (15,000+ employees)
- Walmart (11,500+ employees)
- American Airlines (7,500 employees)
Other major industries in Charlotte include aviation, automotive, biometrics, energy, finance, health care, professional services, recreation, retail, sustainability, tourism, and more. The presence of major universities like UNC Charlotte also contributes to the economy.
To learn more about Charlotte’s economy, visit the Charlotte economic development website or the Charlotte Center City Partners website.
Attractions and Landmarks
As a major tourist destination, Charlotte offers many attractions and landmarks to visit. Top attractions include:
- Discovery Place Science – Interactive science museum
- Mint Museum – Art museum with collections spanning over 5,000 years
- Carowinds – Theme park straddling the North/South Carolina border
- U.S. National Whitewater Center – Outdoor recreation and whitewater rafting center
- Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – Theater venue hosting Broadway shows and concerts
- NASCAR Hall of Fame – Auto racing museum and hall of fame
Other landmarks include the Duke Energy Center (GPS coordinates: 35.2251°N, 80.8397°W), the Bank of America Stadium (GPS coordinates: 35.2256°N, 80.8521°W), and the Charlotte Transportation Center (GPS coordinates: 35.2271°N, 80.8424°W).
To plan your visit, check out the Visit Charlotte tourism website.
Public Transportation
Charlotte’s public transportation system is operated by Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). CATS operates bus and light rail service throughout Charlotte and the surrounding metro area.
The LYNX Blue Line is a 19.3 mile light rail line that connects Uptown Charlotte with the town of Pineville. It has 15 stations along the way, including stops at popular destinations like Bank of America Stadium.
In addition to the light rail, CATS operates over 70 bus routes within Mecklenburg County. Fares are $2.20 for a one-way trip, with discounts available for seniors, youth and disabled riders.
County Information
Charlotte is located within Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Mecklenburg County has a population of over 1 million residents and covers 525 square miles.
The Mecklenburg County Government Center is located at:
600 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
(980) 314-2900
https://www.mecknc.gov/
School Districts
Public schools in Charlotte are managed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), which is the second largest school district in North Carolina and the 18th largest in the United States. CMS has over 147,000 students in 173 schools, including:
- 87 elementary schools
- 33 middle schools
- 27 high schools
- 6 secondary schools
- 20 magnet/specialized schools
In addition to public schools, there are over 100 private schools located within Charlotte. To learn more about Charlotte schools and education, check out the CMS website.
Additional Local Resources
Here are some other useful resources for Charlotte residents and visitors:
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Government – Official local government website
- City of Charlotte Government – Website for Charlotte city services and info
- Charlotte Center City Partners – Nonprofit focused on Uptown development
- Charlotte Agenda – Local news and culture website
- Charlotte Observer – Local newspaper
- Axios Charlotte – Local news outlet focused on tech, innovation, and politics.