Charlotte is the main city in North Carolina and sits beside Lake Wylie. It is also the main financial center for the state and second only to New York in the country and the world. Charlotte is nicknamed Queen City, after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who became consort to King George III of England.

History of Charlotte

Like many of our great cities, Charlotte began with a man who chose where he built his house wisely. In this case, it was Thomas Spratt, a European who settled at the junction of two trading routes used by Native Americans. The north-south route was part of the Great Wagon Road and the east-west route intersected at what is now Downtown Charlotte.

Others joined Spratt over time and the area grew into Charlotte Town, which was incorporated in 1768. Planners came and mapped out what would become the city and named the east-west path Trade Street and the north-south path Tryon Street. The intersection is now called Independence Square.

Charlotte became a cotton processing and railroad hub during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, allowing it to grow steadily thanks to steady employment. WhenCamp Greene was established during World War 1, the city grew exponentially, with many service personnel staying after the war had ended.

Banking came to town beginning with the Charlotte Mint which operated until 1861 when it was seized by Confederates. It wasn’t until the 1970s and the arrival of Hugh McColl that finance would take hold once more. He would mold what would become Bank of America. Wachovia and Wells Fargo soon followed by moving into the city.

The acquisition of Wachovia by Wells Fargo meant Charlotte is now regional headquarters for the company.

What to Do

Charlotte is an established, vibrant city with a great mix of the old and new. It’s quite possible to ride a historic trolley one minute and check out the latest technological innovations the next.

Arts and Culture

Charlotte plays host to many art and cultural venues, including: Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Carolina Actors Studio Theatre, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, ImaginOn, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Opera Carolina,Theatre Charlotte, Tremont Music Hall.

Music and Entertainment

Charlotte has a very diverse music and entertainment scene, from traditional restaurants, bars and cafes, to nightclubs, comedy clubs and a wide range of performance venues. They include The NC Music Factory, BlackFinn American Saloon, Whisky River and a range of other attractions.

Heritage

Our rich history is very important to us, which us why we have so many museums and places to glimpse the past. They include: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library,Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum,Charlotte Nature Museum in Freedom Park, Charlotte Trolley Museum in Historic South End,Discovery Place, Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture.