A Closer Look at the “Queen City.”
Charlotte is a wonderful place to live!
The city of Charlotte and its environs have a distinct energy and vibe, which is palpable, enervating and contagious. The Uptown skyline, with its sparkling mix of post-modern glass towers, spires, high-rise condominiums and sports arenas is just one of the catalysts. Take a closer look and you will observe a myriad of new construction projects underway as the city embraces the 21st century.
Charlotte is a City that not only welcomes change and embraces newcomers, it reveres its history and traditions. Southern hospitality abounds, as does a strong sense of community founded long ago on this region’s strong religious heritage.
Charlotteans looked to the future and made a conscious decision to take an active part in it. As the largest city in North Carolina, it has, from the earliest days, been a center for trade and commerce. It continues that tradition into this century as the 2nd largest financial center in the US where headquarters for Bank of America and Wachovia are located. It is also home to Duke Energy and 9 Fortune 500 companies.
Former textile capital, Charlotte has become a transportation hub; strategically positioned at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the country. Its Douglas International Airport is the 12th busiest airport in the nation, base of operations for US Airways, and serves destinations in Canada, Europe, and Central America.
While a city of industry, its residents value their leisure time and give generously of their time and money through enthusiastic support of the cultural arts. Endowments and matching funds from the corporate sector help insure the visual and performing arts not only survive but thrive. At this writing 7 important initiatives are underway to build, expand and/or improve existing art and cultural facilities. Additionally, residents recently celebrated the opening of the first leg of the Light Rail system, linking Uptown with the neighborhoods, restaurants, galleries and shops of the South End.
Sports are big business for Charlotte, sponsor of two major sports teams; The NFL Panthers and NBA Bobcats. Each maintains their own arena in Uptown Charlotte. Nearby Lowes Motor Speedway brings additional visitors and residents each year, as does the annual PGA Wachovia Championship Golf Tournament held in South Charlotte.
With population growth has come increased demand for services and that, not surprisingly, includes medical care. Charlotte is proud of its 2 major hospital systems; Carolinas Healthcare System and Presbyterian Healthcare, as well as its reputation in the US and abroad for excellence in cardiac care and research. In addition to the many hospitals and health facilities in Charlotte there are a number of well-supported regional hospitals in surrounding communities.
Charlotte is a very livable city. Winding through verdant, tree-lined streets in beautiful, residential neighborhoods, visitors and residents alike are caught unawares by a sudden glimpse through parting trees of Charlotte’s Uptown skyline nearby; a reminder that you are still in a city.
As the City of Charlotte has grown and developed, so, too, have the surrounding communities in an ever-expanding ring, beginning with those closest to Uptown known as the “Streetcar Suburbs” (so named because they were the first stops on the old trolley system); Elizabeth, Plaza Midwood, Eastover, Myers Park, and Dilworth. Eastover and Cotswold soon followed.
Each residential district has its own character, but all have in common a mix of period homes and newly constructed ones in varying price ranges, and lovely tree-canopied streets with sidewalks, beautiful parks, greenways, and recreational facilities. Often referred to as the City of Trees, no matter which neighborhood you live in, the title is quite appropriate. See the “Charlotte Communities” page for more detailed information on each area.
The area south of Uptown Charlotte has experienced the greatest growth during the past decade. Home to well-known Southpark Mall, burgeoning residential neighborhoods, a number of public and private schools, golf courses, corporate office parks, and shopping centers, and referred to as South Charlotte, it extends all the way to Ballantyne.
Educational opportunities abound in Charlotte. Approximately 130,000 children in grades k-12 attend public school in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System (CMS). Others attend one of nearly 70 independent and special schools in Charlotte. There’s a curriculum to suit every child’s needs.
Students graduating from local schools often stay in the Charlotte area to complete their college and higher education by attending one of the 9 private liberal arts colleges or 11 universities, including Davidson College, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Pfeiffer University, Johnson & Wales University, and Queens University of Charlotte. In addition, there are 10 public community colleges, like Central Piedmont Community College, and 7 professional schools.
By itself, Charlotte offers a full spectrum of lifestyles. The fact that it’s located in the southwest part of North Carolina means lifestyle choices can be further enhanced by easily accessible recreational facilities: Northwest to mountains and lake communities or south and east to the Atlantic coast.
When you stop to consider its physical location, moderate climate, lovely change of seasons, warm nature of its citizens, high employment rate, and cultural amenities, you’ll understand why more than 1.5 million people have chosen to make the Charlotte region their home.
It can be yours, as well…….
