One of the country’s fastest-growing cities, Charlotte offers its residents a high quality of life with temperate weather, outdoor recreation, excellent schools, access to quality health care, a low unemployment rate, and a wide range of arts, cultural and sporting events.
Rated 25th on the MSA’s Fastest Growing Cities study, Charlotte has developed a diverse economy as it has grown, with a mix of leading employers ranging from banks, energy companies and health care organizations. The city has a truly entrepreneurial spirit that encourages and fosters innovation. It was named one of the Best Cities for Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine, and has a thriving chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).
Education is an important part of life in Charlotte. Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools was ranked seventh among 100 largest school districts in the country, and the region boasts more than two-dozen institutions of higher learning.
Charlotte’s health care institutions serve more than one million patients a year who come from the surrounding region, elsewhere in North Carolina, other U.S. states and even foreign countries seeking the sophisticated treatment and advanced medical technology provided by the region’s hospitals.
When it comes to recreation, Charlotte residents are spoiled for choice. Name your sport, and you can probably find a game or event happening in the city. It’s a national sport hub, home to NFL, NBA, AIFA, AAA Baseball and NHL teams, and there’s always NASCAR at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. For an evening out, there is the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, along with many theatres and playhouses. The city also plays host to numerous festivals and events throughout the year, and offers some of the best restaurants in the country.
What you may not know about Charlotte:
- Nicknamed the “Queen City,” Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, and the 20th largest city in the United States.
- Charlotte’s first foray into auto racing took place on October 24, 1924, when the first Charlotte Speedway opened on the town’s south side. The wooden track hosted a 250-mile race on October 24, 1924, and drew nearly 50,000 spectators.
- The Charlotte chapter of Habitat for Humanity has built the second largest number of houses of any chapter in the country.