Charlotte was named after Queen Charlotte Sophia of England. Today “Crown Town” still maintains its air of wealth and glamour. It is the financial center of the American South, behind only New York in banking, and it offers its residents a glimmering skyline and beautiful parks.
Charlotte boasts a blue-collar side, too. It is home to NASCAR and the Carolina Panthers football team. And for those who like water sports, just outside of the city are Lake Norman and the US National Whitewater Center, perfect places to have wet, muddy fun.
Charlotte’s Layout
Charlotte is located on the south-middle end of North Carolina. It lies on a large area of slightly-elevated, flat land, called the Piedmont, located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Coast. It is near, but not on, the Catawba River. There are a number of man-made lakes nearby, the largest being Lake Norman.
The Charlotte metropolitan area includes the cities of Concord, Gastonia and Rock Hill and is home to over 2.4 million people.
Positives of Moving to Charlotte
Financial Industry – For those with a background in banking and financial transactions, Charlotte is a great place to try to anchor a career. It is the second largest financial center in the US, making opportunity aplenty.
Racing Industry – Approximately 75% of NASCAR’s operations are based in Charlotte, along with a number of state-of-the-art tracks and technology producers. Car racing is a very popular sport in the US, and it is effectively based in Charlotte.
Charlotte/Douglas Int’l Airport – Charlotte’s airport is the 6th busiest in the US, making it easy for Charlotteans to get where they want to go.
Weather – Charlotte enjoys very temperate weather, with average summer highs topping out in the high 80’s and winter lows in the 30’s. Most of the year, residents can count on 50’s to 70’s.
Outdoor Activities – Charlotte’s US National Whitewater Center allows people to practice their rafting skills on man-made rapids. Additionally, the local Tarheel Trailblazers continue to carve mountain bike paths through local hills and forests. Finally, there are the numerous lake and hiking paths in the area, made more accessible by nice weather.
Negatives of Moving to Charlotte
Transportation – Charlotte is unceremoniously ranked #49 of 50 major cities when it comes to walkability of major US cities. Though it does have a light rail system, called CATS, Charlotteans better expect to drive many places and deal with the associated traffic.
Job Market – The job market in the Charlotte metropolitan area is suffering from unemployment rates worse than the national average – 9.7% as of August 2012. Finding a job in the area can be exceedingly difficult for newcomers.
Culture – Sports and outdoor activities aside, Charlotte isn’t well known for any scenes. It does offer performance arts and bars and dining; however, its offerings don’t put it on the map, so to speak. Residents complain that its social scene pales in comparison to other cities its size.
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