Charlotte, North Carolina
From Wikinfo
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina near the border of South Carolina, and is the economic and cultural center of the Carolinas. The metro area fills Mecklenburg County, and is growing into 12 nearby counties including York County, South Carolina. Other towns and cities nearby are Pineville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and Gastonia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 540,828, with 1,370,361 in the metro region. The population is largest in the 20-50 age range. By 2004, the population was 614,330, with 2,235,503 in the metro region. Charlotte is the county seat of Mecklenburg County6.
Downtown Charlotte, known as "Uptown", originated on the gunnies of the St. Catherine's and Rudisill gold mines, and the crossings of two ancient Indian trails, now Trade and Tryon streets. It is not uncommon for a builder digging a basement to break into the gunnies and have to pour several tons of cement to fill the hole. Charlotte's Uptown is a regional and national banking center, where Bank of America, Wachovia, and others have headquarters and much financial business trade. Uptown is one of the few downtown areas in the American South which is vibrant and safe at all hours, active with residents, restaurants, and night life. Charlotte has Freedom Park and Park Road Park, among others, and a system of greenways, and other park areas used by pedestrians and bicyclists.
Of those who practice a religion, most Charlotteans are Christian, of various denominations. There are also Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Churches are located throughout the city. Synagogues (Temple Beth El, Reform, Temple Israel, Conservative, and an Orthodox congregation) are located in Shalom Park, on Providence Road. The Hindus meet at the Hindu Center off Independence Boulevard near Idlewild Road.
Charlotte's commercial airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is served by numerous airlines and is a fortress hub for USAirways. Nonstop flights are available to destinations across the eastern U.S. with some nonstop flights to the western U.S. and Europe.
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Charlotte, North Carolina" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina December 31, 2003
