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Charlotte,
North Carolina reigns
supreme as the Southland’s ‘Queen City’. Named after the wife of King
George III, Charlotte grew from a quaint village to a major city after the
discovery of a 17-pound gold nugget here in 1799. Charlotte remained the gold
capitol of the U.S.
until the California Gold
Rush of the mid 1800's. Today’s Charlotte is the second largest financial
center in the nation and the 21st largest city. The Bank
of America building has a crown incorporated into its design, celebrating
the 'Queen City' and its heritage. A contemporary city that reveres its
historical traditions, Charlotte, NC blends a unique mixture of modern
innovations and proud past.
Situated at the intersection of the nation's two largest railways, Norfolk
Southern and CSX
Transportation, and near the junction of Interstates 77 and 85, Charlotte is
a vital distribution hub. The Carolina Piedmont
Region is the nation's fourth largest manufacturing
district. The Charlotte Metropolitan Area contains more than 2,000 manufacturing
firms. With early beginnings as a major textile producer, today's Charlotte
holds state of the art firms specializing in precision technology, making
metals, plastics and chemicals. The biomedical field and electronics industry
are rapidly growing, and an increasing number of international firms have
discovered Charlotte, with more than 480 foreign-owned companies found here.
Seven Fortune 500 firms call Charlotte, NC home.
The largest city found between Atlanta
and Washington DC,
Charlotte is the number one travel destination in the Carolinas. Visitors come
to enjoy the aesthetic beauty of the elegantly landscaped streets and the fine
array of cultural and sports activities. No matter how large Charlotte grows, it
retains the reputation of extending gracious Southern charm and small town
hospitality to all. The Charlotte
International Airport is one of the major air transportation hubs in
the U.S.
The arts
and cultural entertainment opportunities abound in Charlotte, and attract
almost 3 million visitors annually. The Blumenthal
Performing Arts Center and a wealth of symphonies and orchestras, give
nightly performances. The Mint
Museum, the Discovery
Place, and the Levine
Museum of the New South are just a few of the many museums that preserve
North Carolina’s heritage. Sports enthusiasts delight in Charlotte, the base
for the Carolina
Panthers, the WNBA Charlotte
Sting and the newly formed Bobcats.
Lowe's Motor
Speedway hosts three major NASCAR
Nextel Cup events, along with year-round stock-car racing.
Census
2000 reported Charlotte’s population as almost 541,000. The surrounding
metro area, which extends beyond the borders of Mecklenburg
County, claims more than 2 million residents. Growth increased more than 37%
since 1990. Between 1995 and 2000, Charlotte attracted the nation’s 3rd-largest
increase in young professionals under 40. The median age is 33. Charlotte
citizens enjoy fine weather year-round, with mild winter and summer
temperatures, and stunning spring and fall foliage. Twenty-three colleges
and universities serve the Charlotte area, providing excellent educational
opportunities for residents.
Charlotte,
North Carolina consistently
receives awards and citations. Voted as one of the top 10 Best Places to Live, (Money
Magazine), Charlotte ranked in the top 20 Best Cities for Women (Ladies
Home Journal ) and Best Cities for Black Families (BET).
Forbes Magazine ranked
Charlotte among the Best Places to be Single, and Expansion
Management selected it as one of America’s Hottest Cities for Business and
Relocation. Charlotte, NC, the ‘Queen City’, continues to earn her royal
crown.
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