Charlotte, North Carolina

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Charlotte
Nickname : The Queen City, The "QC"
Charlotte skyline
Charlotte skyline
Location of Charlotte in County and North Carolina
Charlotte Mecklenburg.png
Basic data
Foundation : 1768
State : United States
State : North Carolina
County : Mecklenburg County
Coordinates : 35 ° 14 ′  N , 80 ° 51 ′  W Coordinates: 35 ° 14 ′  N , 80 ° 51 ′  W
Time zone : Eastern ( UTC − 5 / −4 )
Inhabitants :
-  Metropolitan Area :		 842,051 (as of 2016)
2,474,314 (as of 2016)
Population density : 1,341.9 inhabitants per km 2
Area : 629.0 km 2  (approx. 243 mi 2 ) of
which 627.5 km 2  (approx. 242 mi 2 ) are land
Height : 229 m
Postcodes : 28201-28237, 28240-28247, 28250, 28253-28256, 28258, 28260-28262, 28265-28266, 28269-28275, 28277-28278, 28280-28290, 28296-28297, 28299
Area code : +1 704 980
FIPS : 37-12000
GNIS ID : 1019610
Website : charlottenc.gov
Mayor : Vi Lyles ( D )

Charlotte is the largest city in the US state of North Carolina and the seventeenth largest city in the United States. The city is located on the border with South Carolina in the center of Mecklenburg County , of which it is also the county seat . Charlotte's subtropical climate falls under the east side climate category .

The population of the city was around 842,000 in 2016. This makes Charlotte more populous than Atlanta , Detroit or Miami . Around 2,470,000 people live in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metropolitan area . The city, also known as "Queen City", is the headquarters of the largest US bank, Bank of America , and is the second most important banking and financial center in the United States. Due to its geographical location on the south east coast, it has developed into an important destination airport for air traffic to and from Europe in recent years and, in terms of the number of flight movements worldwide, has Charlotte Airport, which is in sixth place. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has its headquarters in the city. The NBA professional team Charlotte Hornets and the NFL team Carolina Panthers are based in Charlotte.

history

The first years

The city can now look back on around 350 years of history. Before the first settlement by emigrants from Europe, Sioux Indians from the Catawba tribe lived here , as the river of the same name west of the city still bears witness to today. At the beginning of the 18th century, the area east of the Blue Ridge Mountains  - part of the Appalachians  - was populated by European emigrants from the north. These mostly Irish-Scottish Presbyterians and German immigrants used an old Indian route running in north-south direction, which later became known as the Great Wagon Road . Charlotte itself was built around the middle of the 18th century at the intersection of this Great Wagon Road and an east-west Indian trade route. Both ways are still today on almost the same route as US Route 21 (north-south) or as today's Trade Street (east-west). As one of the early European settlers, Thomas Polk, an uncle of the later President James Knox Polk , built his residence here in 1755, which quickly grew into a small settlement and was officially registered as Charlotte Town in 1768. Both the settlement and the county were named after Charlotte von Mecklenburg-Strelitz , the German wife of King George III of England. Charlotte von Mecklenburg-Strelitz was married to King Georg III. to Queen Charlotte of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as Electress of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and later Queen of Hanover. This is why Charlotte is nicknamed "Queen City" along with some other cities in the USA. This intersection of Trade Street and Tryon Street, also known as The Square , is still the center of Charlotte today. The Great Wagon Road, on the other hand, was renamed after the royal governor of colonial North Carolina, William Tryon.

The revolution and independence

The loyalty expressed in the naming did not last long. As early as 1775, 27 citizens of Charlotte are said to have signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence  - also simply called Meck Dec - on May 20, a copy of which was later sent to Thomas Jefferson and which is said to have served in part as a template for the United States' declaration of independence . However, this cannot be scientifically proven, if only because the original certificate is no longer preserved. Eleven days later, on May 31, the same 27 citizens drafted and approved laws, the so-called Mecklenburg Resolutions , for the administration and government of the now independent city.

During the Revolutionary War, Charlotte was a crucial arena as a military camp for both British and American parties. The town's second nickname comes from this time: Hornet's Nest . This goes back to Lord General Charles Cornwallis , who named the place because of numerous skirmishes between his royal troops and the revolutionary-minded residents. The names of numerous buildings, streets etc. as well as the NBA team Charlotte Hornets based in the city bear witness to this today .

The gold rush

In 1799, the 12-year-old Conrad Reed, son of a farmer and German emigrant from Hesse , brought home a stone weighing about 17 pounds from fishing, which served as a doorstop for about three years before the material was identified as gold by a jeweler. It was the first proven gold discovery in the still young USA and the trigger for the gold rush in North America. In the following years, many gold veins were discovered in the region, but the gold rush never reached comparable proportions because of the further gold discoveries in the west, as many of the gold prospectors migrated there. Still, the US's first gold mine, the Reed Gold Mine, existed until 1912.

21st century

In June 2020, three people were killed in a shootout at an impromptu Juneteenth street party.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the population was 45.1 percent white and 35.0 percent African American; 5.0 percent were of Asian origin. 13.1 percent of the population were Hispanics . The median income per household in 2015 was 53,637 US dollars . 16.8 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.

In recent years, Charlotte has been one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

Population development

year population year population
1850 1,065 1960 201,564
1900 18.091 1970 241,420
1910 34,014 1980 315,474
1920 46,338 1990 395.934
1930 82,675 2000 540,828
1940 100,899 2010 731.424
1950 134.042 2016 842.051

economy

Sign tree with signposts and the distances in miles to other places called Charlotte (2005)

The metropolitan area of ​​Charlotte generated an economic output of 163.6 billion US dollars in 2016, making it 21st among the metropolitan areas of the United States.

Charlotte is now one of the largest US financial centers. The city is home to many regional and national banks and financial service providers, including what was once the largest bank in the USA, Bank of America , has its headquarters here. From 1908 to 2001, Charlotte was also the headquarters of First Union Bank, which took its name after the takeover of Wachovias . Wachovia was at times the fourth largest money house in the United States and was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2008. The upswing in the financial industry also increased the skyline of Charlotte, which thanks to the Bank of America Corporate Center (265 m with 60 floors) is now the 38th tallest building in the states. Some of the top 500 US companies are headquartered in Charlotte, including:

In addition, a large part of the US motorsport scene with development and production facilities is located in and around Charlotte.

geography

Mega regions of the USA

Charlotte is about halfway between Atlanta and Washington, DC. The city is just a few miles from the South Carolina border. Charlotte is that part of the Piedmont-Atlantic mega-region, the fastest growing mega-region in the United States, that stretches from Memphis to Atlanta. Charlotte is the most populous city within this mega-region.

Many brooks run through Charlotte. These lead visitors on well-developed footpaths and bike paths through a large part of the city. Little Sugar Creek Greenway is the most famous walking route within the city. The city is pursuing the plan to expand this one greenway to over 25 km. Little Sugar Creek Greenway will then extend from downtown to the South Carolina border. Charlotte and Mecklenburg County adjoin Lake Norman . With a coastline of over 800 km, this is a popular place for all types of water sports.

Furthermore, Charlotte is crossed by the Catawba River . The 350 km long river has its origin in the Blue Ridge Mountains west of Charlotte.

  • Little Sugar Creek Greenway

  • Lake Norman

  • Catawba River

  • Governors Island, Lake Norman, NC.jpg
  • Lake Norman - Peninsula Yacht Club.jpg

Sports

Charlotte is home to a wide variety of sporting events and teams in the city.

NFL (National Football League)

The NFL team Carolina Panthers , in the league since 1995, plays at Bank of America Stadium and has won two NFC titles (2003 and 2015). In Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004 in Houston , the New England Patriots lost 32:29. At Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016, the team lost to the Denver Broncos with 24:10. The team has one of the highest average attendance rates in the entire league. In 2013 an average of 73,534 visitors came to the home games of the Panthers.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

From 1988 to 2002, the NBA team Charlotte Hornets was based in the city, but was relocated to New Orleans for the 2003 season after disagreements between fans and owner George Shinn. Between 2004 and 2014 there was a new NBA team with the Charlotte Bobcats , which played its home games in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The Charlotte Hornets have been back in Charlotte under their old name since 2014. Michael Jordan became the first former professional to take over an entire club for $ 300 million with the Charlotte Bobcats. He is a regular guest at the home games of his Charlotte Hornets . In the WNBA , the women's basketball league, the Charlotte Sting have been playing in Charlotte since it was founded in 1997 .

NASCAR (Motorsport Association)

Charlotte is one of the top motorsport centers in the US and with the Charlotte Motor Speedway it hosts several NASCAR races each season. The racetrack offers space for 165,000 spectators, making it one of the largest racetracks in the Nascar. The majority of all NASCAR teams, many drivers and approximately 73% of all motorsport employees in the US live in or near Charlotte. In 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame was opened in Charlotte .

Soccer, baseball, ice hockey

Other sports teams in town include the Charlotte Eagles , who play in the United Soccer League, the Charlotte Knights , sub-class baseball team and partner of the Chicago White Sox, and the Charlotte Checkers , hockey team from the AHL and youth team of the Carolina Hurricanes .

  • Time Warner Cable Arena

  • Bank of America Stadium

  • NASCAR racetrack

  • Baseball stadium downtown

traffic

Motorway network

The Interstate 485 surrounded Charlotte with a length of about 100 km.

Charlotte is located at Interstate 85 and Interstate 77 . Interstate 77 runs north ( Cleveland , Ohio ) to south ( Columbia , South Carolina ). Interstate 85 connects Charlotte with Atlanta as well as the states of Alabama and Virginia .

Local transport

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates a bus network with metro, city and express bus routes to North and South Carolina.

From 1996 to 2010, a historic tram line was operated in Charlotte, which was called the Charlotte Trolley .

On November 24, 2007, the first line ( Lynx Blue Line ) of the Charlotte light rail , which is marketed as Lynx Light Rail , opened. It is the first new light rail line in North Carolina. In 2015 a second line ( CityLynx Gold Line ) was opened in the form of a tram . The network should continue to grow over the next few years. An extension of the blue line towards the university is under construction and should go into operation in mid-2017. [outdated]

Long-distance transport

Charlotte is connected to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond and Raleigh to the north and Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans to the south via the Amtrak national network. Due to its central location on the middle of the east coast, Charlotte has optimal connections to the trunk road network to the north and south at the intersection of two national highways ( I-85 and I-77 ).

Airport

The Charlotte Douglas Intl. Airport (IATA Code: CLT ) is in the west of the city. It has a terminal size of 157,000 m² and currently has non-stop service to 124 national and international destinations. Charlotte Douglas ranks sixth among the airports with the largest flight operations (take-offs / landings) in the world and ranks 11th in the US with around 42 million passengers per year.

American Airlines uses the airport as one of its hubs. The airport offers the following non-stop transatlantic connections:

  • Interstate 85

  • Bland Street Station in Charlottes SouthEnd

  • Amtrak train at Charlotte

  • Air Force One in front of the Charlotte Skyline

Attractions

Charlotte Skyline

Museums

Theaters and venues

building

  • Duke Mansion - 400 Hermitage Road, built in 1915 in the New Colonial style
  • Hezekiah Alexander House - 3500 Shamrock Drive, built in 1774
  • Mecklenburg County Courthouse - E. Trade, Alexander and E. 4th St., built in 1925, Revolutionary Architecture
  • Bank of America Corporate Center - 100 North Tryon Street, tallest building in North Carolina

Queen City or Green City?

The first thing visitors to Charlotte notice are the nature within the city. Few cities can boast as many trees as Charlotte. Many streets are framed with oak trees that are decades old. Queens Road is therefore a sight in itself with a unique arrangement of trees along one of the most magnificent streets in the entire south-east of the USA.

Film industry

Charlotte was and is a popular place for the US film industry. Series like Homeland and Sleepy Hollow as well as blockbusters like The Hunger Games were and are being shot in Charlotte.

Barbeque and local beer

As in other locations in North Carolina, barbecue plays a special role in local dining. The “Lexington Style Barbecue” from North Carolina in particular has many representatives in Charlotte. There are many BBQ restaurants that are well-known far beyond the borders of Charlotte and have been recognized in national BBQ competitions.

Many new so-called microbreweries have emerged in recent years. These breweries attach particular importance to small batches with a special taste and local or regional ingredients. Many large supermarket chains therefore sell locally produced beers in addition to the major beer brands in their local branches.

  • Mint Museum in the city center

  • Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture

  • Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

  • Belk theater

  • Streetscape, Charlotte, NC

Personalities

sons and daughters of the town

Personalities related to the city

Twin cities

Charlotte has partnerships with the following cities:

Climate table

Charlotte, North Carolina
Climate diagram
J F. M. A. M. J J A. S. O N D.
 
 
94
 
9
-1
 
 
98
 
12
0
 
 
113
 
17th
4th
 
 
68
 
22nd
9
 
 
97
 
26th
14th
 
 
86
 
30th
19th
 
 
100
 
32
21st
 
 
95
 
31
21st
 
 
89
 
28
17th
 
 
85
 
22nd
10
 
 
82
 
17th
5
 
 
88
 
11
0
Temperature in ° C ,  precipitation in mm
Source: National Weather Service, US Dept of Commerce
Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for Charlotte, North Carolina
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 9.4 11.7 16.8 21.8 25.7 29.9 31.6 30.9 27.7 22.2 17.0 11.3 O 21.4
Min. Temperature (° C) −1.3 −0.1 4.1 8.6 13.6 18.7 20.9 20.5 17.2 10.3 5.3 0.4 O 9.9
Precipitation ( mm ) 94.2 97.5 112.5 68.1 97.0 86.1 99.6 94.7 88.9 85.3 82.0 88.4 Σ 1,094.3
Rainy days ( d ) 8.7 8.1 9.1 6.7 8.9 8.0 9.1 7.6 5.9 5.6 6.9 8.0 Σ 92.6
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
9.4
−1.3
11.7
−0.1
16.8
4.1
21.8
8.6
25.7
13.6
29.9
18.7
31.6
20.9
30.9
20.5
27.7
17.2
22.2
10.3
17.0
5.3
11.3
0.4
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
i
e
d
e
r
s
c
h
l
a
g 		94.2
97.5
112.5
68.1
97.0
86.1
99.6
94.7
88.9
85.3
82.0
88.4
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

literature

  • Thomas W. Hanchett: Sorting Out the New South. Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte 1875-1975. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill 1998, ISBN 978-0-8078-4677-3
  • Mary Norton Kratt: Charlotte, North Carolina: A Brief History . The History Press, Charleston 2009, ISBN 978-1-59629-601-5

Web links

Commons : Charlotte (North Carolina)  - Collection of images
Wikivoyage: Charlotte  Travel Guide

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Charlotte Airport Statistics ( Memento from May 25, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 42 kB)
  2. ↑ https://www.nzz.ch/international/usa-toedliche-attacke-auf-juneteenth-strassenfest-ld.1562704
  3. ^ US Census Bureau: Search Results. Retrieved November 8, 2017 (American English).
  4. ^ US Department of Commerce, BEA, Bureau of Economic Analysis: Bureau of Economic Analysis. Retrieved July 4, 2018 .
  5. ^ Alan Berube, Jesus Leal Trujillo, Tao Ran, and Joseph Parilla: Global Metro Monitor . In: Brookings . January 22, 2015 ( brookings.edu [accessed July 4, 2018]).
  6. ↑ Megaregions of the USA ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.cqgrd.gatech.edu
  7. ↑ Little Sugar Creek Greenway
  8. ↑ http://www.ran.de/us-sport/nfl
  9. ↑ NFL average attendance
  10. ^ Spiegel Online Sport of February 27, 2010: NBA - Michael Jordan takes over Charlotte Bobcats
  11. ↑ Charlotte Douglas International Airport (PDF; 864 kB)
  12. ↑ Duke Mansion
  13. ^ Trees Give the City Its Soul
  14. ↑ Homeland in Charlotte
  15. ↑ BBQ in Charlotte ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  16. ^ Beer in Charlotte, NC ( Memento of October 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive )