Charlotte USA

How big is the Charlotte Metro Area?

The Charlotte region includes 16 counties that have a population of 2.2 million. The second largest banking center in the U.S., Charlotte is home to nine Fortune 500 companies and includes the corporate headquarters of both Bank of America and Wachovia.

Kannapolis and the North Carolina Research Campus is a 30-minute drive to uptown Charlotte. A thriving city center with 10,000 permanent residents, uptown offers several regional entertainment options and has dozens of restaurants, several museums, and a NFL stadium and NBA arena, and the Blumenthal Center for the Performing Arts.

What are the major industries in the region?

Charlotte boasts a diverse economy. Core industries include medical equipment manufacturing, plastics, automotive, motorsports, machine manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and financial services and insurance.

In addition to these targeted industries, UNC Charlotte launched the Charlotte Research Institute in 2000. Conceived as a partnership between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the corporate and entrepreneurial communities of the region, CRI is located in the I-85 corridor just south of Kannapolis. For more information, please visit www.charlotteresearchinstitute.com.

How many foreign firms operate in the region?

While banking and financial services play a major role in the region, there are almost 700 foreign-owned companies in the Charlotte region. In fact, if North and South Carolina were a separate nation, it would be the 12th largest economy in the world, slightly smaller than Australia and bigger than Switzerland, generating $397 billion in gross domestic product. The region's unique balance of business strength, accessibility, and quality of life certainly attracted many of these companies from abroad.

(Courtesy of the Charlotte Regional Partnership)

How did Charlotte become a leading banking center?

One key element of Charlotte's success and future is, and was, location. Located at the intersection of two important trading paths, Tuckaseegee and Nations Ford, which crossed at the current corner of Trade and Tryon Streets, the city became a prime commerce location, a fact that aided in the discovery of gold in 1799. However, after the Civil War and Reconstruction, Charlotte faced the reality that a more stable economy had to be built. James Buchanan Duke's and W.S. Lee's innovative idea of generating hydroelectric power from dams on the Catawba River to lure the textile industry away from its traditional New England home resulted in the creation of Duke Energy in 1904.

While the textile industry was taking off, another industry was emerging. Liberal North Carolina laws regarding branch banking allowed for banks to grow by merger, acquisition, and consolidation. The Charlotte National Bank was established in 1897, which, through a series of mergers, came to be known as Wachovia Bank & Trust, the nation's 4th largest bank. In 1901, the Southern States Trust bank was formed, which, through a series of mergers, became Bank of America, the nation's 2nd largest bank today. What began as a fledgling industry has bolstered Charlotte's economy and reputation, helping it become the 2nd largest financial center in the United States, trailing only New York.

(courtesy the Charlotte Regional Partnership)

 Is Charlotte a good place to live?

North Carolina is one of the most visited states in the country, and for good reason. Known for its temperate climate, mountains and beaches, Charlotte and Kannapolis’ home state offers recreational activities for everyone - no matter what your interest. With Pinehurst #2, the site of the 1999 and 2005 US Open, and the Blue Ridge Parkway less than two hours away, residents of Kannapolis and the greater Charlotte metro region can play golf on a Saturday and picnic in the mountains on Sunday. The famous North and South Carolina beaches are also within a day’s drive.

Lake Norman, with approximately 600 miles of shoreline, offers an abundance of recreational and sporting activities. The lake is located in the I-77 corridor and is within 30 minutes of both uptown Charlotte and downtown Kannapolis.

Charlotte is home to the NFL Panthers, AAA Charlotte Knights baseball team, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, and the Mint Museum of Art. Nearby institutes of higher education include the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Davidson College, Johnson C. Smith University, Rowan Cabarrus Community College and Wingate University. The area is served by Charlotte-Douglas international Airport, a USAirways hub offering hundreds of daily national and international flights.

Also nearby is Lake Norman, with approximately 600 miles of shoreline offering an abundance of recreational and sporting activities.

For more information about Charlotte, please visit www.charlotteusa.com.