Charlotte, North Carolina

"Charlotte, United States" redirects here. For other places, see Charlotte (disambiguation) § United States.

Charlotte
City
Uptown Charlotte skyline
UNC Charlotte
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Bank of America Stadium
Carowinds
One of the two versions of the flag of Charlotte, used by the city government in an official matter.
One of the two versions of the flag of Charlotte, commonly used as a civil flag.
Flag
Official seal of Charlotte
Seal
Official logo of Charlotte
Logo
Nicknames: 
The Queen City, The QC, CLT, The Hornet's Nest[1][2]
Motto(s): 
"Regina Civitatem" (Latin)
(Queen City)
"Charlotte's Got a Lot"[3]
Map
Interactive map of Charlotte
Charlotte is located in North Carolina
Charlotte
Charlotte
Location within North Carolina
Charlotte is located in the United States
Charlotte
Charlotte
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 35°13′38″N 80°50′35″W / 35.22722°N 80.84306°W / 35.22722; -80.84306[4]
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyMecklenburg
Settled1755[5]
IncorporatedDecember 3, 1768[6]
Named forCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • BodyCharlotte City Council
 • MayorVi Lyles (D)
Area
[7]
 • Total312.00 sq mi (808.08 km2)
 • Land310.02 sq mi (802.94 km2)
 • Water1.98 sq mi (5.14 km2)  0.63%
Elevation
[4]
673 ft (205 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total874,579
 • Estimate 
(2023)
911,311
 • Rank40th in North America
15th in the United States
1st in North Carolina
 • Density2,821.06/sq mi (1,089.22/km2)
 • Urban
1,379,873 (US: 37th)
 • Urban density2,098.3/sq mi (810.2/km2)
 • Metro
[8]
2,805,115 (US: 22nd)
DemonymCharlottean
GDP
[9]
 • Charlotte (MSA)$228.9 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
282XX
Area codes704, 980
FIPS code37-12000[4]
GNIS feature ID2404032[4]
Websitecharlottenc.gov Edit this at Wikidata

Charlotte (/ˈʃɑːrlət/ ⓘ SHAR-lət) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census,[10] making Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the South, and the second-most populous city in the Southeast behind Jacksonville, Florida. Charlotte is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area, whose estimated 2023 population of 2,805,115 ranked 22nd in the United States.[8] The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of an 18-county market region and combined statistical area with an estimated population of 3,387,115 as of 2023.[11][8]

Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents.[12][13][14][15][16] Based on U.S. census data from 2005 to 2015, Charlotte tops the U.S. in millennial population growth.[17][18][19][20] Throughout the 2020s, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States.[21][22][23][24] Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans".[25][26]

Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America, Honeywell, Truist Financial, and the East Coast headquarters of Wells Fargo, which, when combined with other Charlotte-based financial institutions, makes the city the second-largest banking center in the nation.[27][28][29][30]

Charlotte's notable attractions include three professional sports teams, the Carolina Panthers of the NFL, the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, and Charlotte FC of MLS. The city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and U.S. National Whitewater Center.[31][32][33][34][35][36]

Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate. It is located several miles east of the Catawba River and southeast of Lake Norman, the largest human-made lake in North Carolina.[37][38] Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller human-made lakes located near the city.[39][40] As of 2024, 66% of the city's area is occupied by green spaces.[41] The city ranks 1st in the United States and 29th in the world in the ranking of the greenest cities on the planet.[42]

  1. ^ Wilson, Jen (October 13, 2014). "So is Charlotte the real Queen City?". Bizjournals.com. Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Mecklenburg Historical Association, Charlotte, NC". meckdec.org. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Washburn, Mark (March 30, 2018). "Charlotte's got a lot, but it needs a new slogan". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Charlotte, North Carolina
  5. ^ Dixon, Chris (August 27, 2014). "36 Hours in Charlotte, N.C." The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Toussaint, Katie (October 13, 2019). "How to join Charlotte's year-long birthday celebration". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (MSA)". fred.stlouisfed.org.
  10. ^ "QuickFacts: Charlotte city, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Here's Why Charlotte Became The Fastest Growing City in The Country Over The Past Decade". Charlotte Stories. May 2017.
  13. ^ "Carolinas well represented on list of fastest growing U.S. Cities". WCNC.com. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  14. ^ Ramsey, Mary (December 15, 2022). "Charlotte metro area's population among the fastest growing in the U.S., new study finds". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Martin, Jenna (May 18, 2023). "Charlotte post nation's fifth-largest population increase in 2022, Census Bureau estimates show". BizJournals.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Number of people moving to Charlotte region climbs to highest level in more than a decade". Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. July 11, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Millennial mecca: Which Charlotte neighborhoods, suburbs rank tops for young professionals". Bizjournals.com. Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "Where are millennials moving? This North Carolina city ranks top 10 study finds". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  19. ^ Blackmon, Chyna (April 14, 2023). "Home purchases among millennials have surged in Charlotte, This chart tracks growth". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  20. ^ Marshall, Kendrick (August 22, 2023). "Charlotte is a vibe for young transplants, Why is it so popular among millennials". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Study: Charlotte among fastest-growing cities, New Yorkers top list of new residents coming in". Fox46.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  22. ^ Lee, Hank (October 18, 2022). "Report: Charlotte is the 8th fastest-growing city in U.S." WCNC.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  23. ^ Hill, Jalon (May 19, 2023). "Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. What's leading the growth?". QCityMetro.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  24. ^ "Large Southern Cities Lead Nation in Population Growth". census.gov. May 18, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "31 signs you're a native Charlottean". The Charlotte Observer. March 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  26. ^ Mulvihill, Carolyn (November 14, 2017). "15 Phrases That Will Make You Swear Charlotteans Have Their Own Language". Only In Your State. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  27. ^ Solt, Katy (April 5, 2021). "Changing Face of NC: The Wall Street of the South". spectrumlocalnews.com. Spectrum News. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  28. ^ "Charlotte, NC – Forbes". Forbes. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  29. ^ Cheung, Brian (June 12, 2019). "The battle of U.S. banking giants could be won in Charlotte". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "Charlotte is a hot spot in the financial services industry". Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. July 11, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  31. ^ "Welcome to Carowinds, The Carolinas Premier Entertainment Destination". Carowinds.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "Welcome to the Billy Graham Library". billygrahamlibrary.org. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  33. ^ "NASCAR Hall of Fame Official website". nascarhall.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "The Mint Museum: North Carolina's First Art Museum". Mintmuseum.org. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  35. ^ "Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture at Levine Center for the Arts homepage". ganttcenter.org. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  36. ^ "The Charlotte Museum of History: Saving and Sharing Charlotte's History". charlottemuseum.org. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  37. ^ Levans, Katie (May 29, 2019). "The ultimate guide to beaches, water activities and lakeside restaurants on Lake Norman and Lake Wylie". charlotte.axios.com. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "Developer plans big residential project on Lake Norman". WSOCTV.com. May 14, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  39. ^ Formato, Brian (August 17, 2021). "Mountain Island Lake: The Hidden Gem in Charlotte's Crown". Charlottestories.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  40. ^ "Measuring the impacts of major development on Lake Wylie". Spectrum News 1. April 5, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  41. ^ "How green is Vilnius? Find out at HUGSI.green".
  42. ^ "Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index. Quantifying the greenness of global cities". www.hugsi.green. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.