City of Charlotte

Charlotte, known as the "Queen City," offers a fascinating mix of southern culture and is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and the 19th-largest city in the United States. Located in the heart of the Southeast, Charlotte lies within the southern Piedmont of North Carolina along the state's border with South Carolina and covers an area of 242.87 square miles. Charlotte's population was 540,828 (year 2000) and it was estimated to be 630,478 in 2006. Annual average temperature is around 60.1° F and ranges from 39.3° F during January to 79.3° F in July. Charlotte's moderate climate enjoys a sheltering effect from the mountains; its cool winters seldom bring extreme cold temperatures or heavy snowfall, while the city's long, quite warm summer days are mitigated by considerably cooler nights.


The first colonial settlers (German, Scotch-Irish, English, and French Huguenot) in the region that is now Charlotte encountered a friendly, peaceful native tribe, the Catawba. The area's fertile soil brought more settlers, and by 1761 the Catawba were restricted to assigned territory in South Carolina. The colonists were aggressive in seeking political advantages. In the mid-1750s, for example, to curry favor with England's King George III, the first settlers to the area named their town Charlotte, after the king's wife, Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Germany). The town was incorporated in 1768. Their next step was to convince the royal government that they deserved to be a separate county. They diplomatically named their new county Mecklenburg, in honor of the queen.


With the excitement of a cosmopolitan city and the ease of Southern charm, Charlotte presents a unique atmosphere where big city style meets down-home appeal. One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that foster experiences in areas that range from life science to space exploration. The NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-use performing arts center that yearly hosts the Broadway Lights Series, featuring national touring Broadway productions and a wide range of special attractions. From the rapids at the U.S. National Whitewater Center to 180 mph thrills at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte's recreational pursuits are ample and impressive.