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Charlotte accounts for four-fifths of Mecklenburg County. It is the epitome of a "New South" city, combining a sense of history with a thirst for progress. Community leaders strive to encourage economic growth while maintaining the high quality of life.
Mecklenburg County comprises Real Estate Areas 99 and 1 - 9. Single-family homes in the county average $238,000; condominiums and town homes, $152,000. (Note that these areas exclude the higher priced lakefront properties on Lake Norman, Mountain Isle Lake and Lake Wylie in Mecklenburg.) The seat of Mecklenburg County, Charlotte is the most populous city of the state, with nearly 633,000 residents. It's the 21st largest city in the country. Total population for Mecklenburg is 830,000 with 1.5 million in the Charlotte MSA. Other towns in Mecklenburg are: Huntersville, Davidson and Cornelius to the north and Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville to the south.
Charlotte was founded in 1768 and named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of England's King George III. It's nicknamed the Queen City. Textiles gained prominence after the Civil War, and Charlotte grew up around the railway lines that brought raw materials into the city and took finished products away. The railcars also helped establish the Charlotte suburbs. Since WW II, Charlotte has taken advantage of the interstate highway system. With easy access to interstates 40, 77 and 85, it has become the major trucking center of the South.
Charlotte is now also the country's second-largest banking center. In the 1990s, North Carolina National Bank and Atlanta's C&S Sovran merged to form Charlotte-based NationsBank. Soon after its merger with San Francisco's BankAmerica Corp. in 1998, NationsBank was renamed Bank of America. Bank of America is now the largest bank in the country, and Charlotte-based Wachovia is not too far behind.
Charlotte's quality of life is second to none. The Charlotte region is No. 1 in per capita giving to the arts and sciences, with rich cultural opportunities, a mild year-round climate, a wide range of housing options, quality education and award-winning medical facilities. Charlotte also offers NFL football, NBA basketball, the PGA's Wachovia Championship and major NASCAR events.
At the heart of the city is Uptown, now primarily a business district. Dilworth, Elizabeth, Myers Park, Plaza-Midwood and Eastover—"the streetcar suburbs"—were part of Charlotte's first significant expansion south and east of Uptown. The area highlights restored "front-porch" neighborhoods, eateries and shops, particularly along East and South boulevards in Dilworth. South End, a trendy area of warehouses-turned-retail/restaurants and a new trolley line, is a big draw. Shops and quaint restaurants thrive on Central Avenue in Plaza-Midwood and East Seventh Street in Elizabeth. Parts of Dilworth and Plaza-Midwood are designated historic districts. Myers Park and Eastover were the city's first "high-end suburbs" and are still the best places to run into well-heeled Charlotte natives.
Today, Charlotte is taking off in all directions. To the north, Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius and the Lake Norman area are welcoming families every day. To the northeast, the University City is experiencing business and residential growth. To the south, Ballantyne has spark development beyond the Interstate-485 outer belt.
Uptown - Area 99
Defined by the I-277 freeway loop, Uptown is what was the original city; however, almost nothing old remains, except the 1790's street grid and the names of the 19th-century political wards. Uptown is largely shiny, new and bank-oriented. Upscale condominiums, apartments and some single-family houses have sprouted up in the area. For example, the First Ward boasts the new First Ward Place, a 350-unit complex uniting residents of various income levels. Third Ward, the area closest to the southwest quadrant's Ericsson Stadium, is home to hundreds of new town homes, condominiums and apartments. The Fourth Ward's restored Victorian homes are some of the finest inner-city residences you'll find. There is no such thing as Second Ward housing. The homes in this southeast quadrant were razed in the 1960s. At the end of March 2005, 71 of the 72 properties Uptown properties for sale were condominiums or town homes. Prices range from $130,000 to $1.7 million with the average two-bedroom, two-bath condominium going for $431,000.
North (Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville) - Area 1
Bordered by I-77 to the west and Cabarrus County to the east, this portion of Mecklenburg runs from the Uptown area north to Iredell County. Part of the growth is this area is due to the technology "triangle" that has sprung up as high-tech companies built offices along West W.T. Harris Boulevard, between Interstate 85 and Interstate 77. Wachovia Bank has corporate offices here. The past two decades have seen an explosion of luxury and middle-class housing in the three historic towns of Davidson; Cornelius; and Huntersville. Davidson, with the college of the same name, has fiercely resisted commercial development. The area also has three upscale golf course communities: Highland Creek, Northstone and River Run. Single-family homes average $200,000; condominiums and town homes, $116,000.
Northeast (NoDa, Plaza-Midwood and University City) - Area 2
Charlotte's link to the South's textile past, North Charlotte is dotted with old cotton mills, warehouses, rail lines and trucking depots. The "main streets" for the old mill villages are still around. Here, you'll find the NoDa (for North Davidson) artists' district. The main thoroughfare is North Davidson Street, which runs north out of downtown. Along this street you'll find a historic textile mill, warehouses and rail lines. North Davidson Street between 30th and 36th Streets is now filled with galleries, shops and restaurants.
Plaza-Midwood, hugging Central Avenue northwest of the city, is currently in the middle of a spirited rebirth. Homeowners are taking on "fixer-uppers," restoring bungalows to their previous beauty. The area's stores and restaurants are eclectic, with hidden bargains especially in the antiques shops. Reedy Creek Park, Mecklenburg County's largest nature preserve, is also located in this area, offering a bit of peace and quiet near the hustle and bustle.
Take Central Avenue past Plaza-Midwood and you'll run into Charlotte's most diverse community. Within a matter of blocks you'll find dozens of ethnic markets and restaurants—Mexican, Korean, Indian, Vietnamese and more. Housing is affordable and shopping is plentiful along the avenue's many strip malls or at the Eastland Mall. Independence Boulevard (Highway 74) has long stood as one of the city's main retail corridors. Along Shamrock Drive, you'll find an important part of Charlotte's history, the home site of Hezekiah Alexander, one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The newly expanded and modernized Charlotte Museum of History provides a grand entrance to the site and a reproduction of Alexander's 1770s home.
This area also includes University City, so named because it is the home of The University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Today, University City is spreading and new subdivisions and shopping centers are opening all the time, thanks to U.S. Highways 29 and N.C. 49. The single-family homes average $143,000; condominiums and town homes, $87,900.
East (Elizabeth and Mint Hill) - Area 3
East of Uptown is Elizabeth, with features similar to Dilworth: grid-style streets, restored front-porch bungalows and sidewalks for wandering. Here, you'll find the beautiful Independence Park and Seventh Street shops and restaurants. Central Piedmont Community College is located on the westernmost side of Elizabeth.
Farther to the east are a portion of Matthews and all of Mint Hill. Mint Hill is a haven for families looking for upscale residential homes. The town retains a largely rural feel, and home sites have large lots, many of which lie in golf course communities. Single-family homes average $168,000; condominiums and town homes, $113,900.
Southeast (Eastover and Matthews) - Area 4
Matthews was named in 1874 in honor of an official of the Central Carolina Railroad. The railway still goes through the Matthews, whose historic downtown—complete with old-time hardware store—retains a cozy, small-town feel. Outside the downtown area, however, residential growth has increased to the point where the post office had to be expanded, and the high-rise Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews was constructed. Nearby Eastover is another old residential area and home of the Mint Museum of Art. The average list price for single family homes is $330,800 and for condominiums/town homes is $180,900.
South (Dilworth, Myers Park and Ballantyne) - Area 5
Dilworth homeowners are busy renovating their turn-of-the-century bungalows, while enjoying the unique restaurants, shops and the urban green space of Freedom Park. Between Dilworth and Elizabeth lies Myers Park. With its larger lots and houses, Myers Park is home to many Old Charlotte families. The streets may get confusing. You'll hear many newcomers gripe about the intersection of Queens Road and Queens Road, but Freedom Park and the drive under canopies of trees are spectacular.
Not quite 30 years ago, this area south of the Park Road Shopping Center was mostly farmland. But the arrival of South Park mall changed all that, bringing with it shopping and residential dollars. Newcomers who sought more land than available in the older Charlotte neighborhoods were able to build larger houses at lower cost.
More high-end development is wrapped up in the enormous Ballantyne development, which includes a country club, apartments, shopping centers, office buildings and sizeable homes. Some of the finest golf course communities are in this area: Myers Park, Quail Hollow, Raintree, Piper Glen, Ballantyne and Providence Country Clubs. Single-family homes average $597,000; condominiums and town homes, $235,000.
South End (Pineville) - Area 6
The South End is just west of Dilworth. Pineville, the home of James K. Polk, the 11th President of the United States, has a picturesque historic downtown, yet most shoppers are drawn to the Carolina Place Mall and surrounding big-box stores. Because the town itself is small, residential options are not as plentiful as in other areas. Single-family homes average $206,000; condominiums and town homes $156,000.
Southwest - Area 7
Bordered by Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on the north, I-77 to the east, the Catawba River and Lake Wylie to the west and South Carolina to the south, the southwestern chunk of Mecklenberg County is beginning to attract developers. Much of Lake Wylie's residential development was on its South Carolina side, but it is now spreading to Mecklenburg's lakefront. Development is expected to increase in the coming years now that the Interstate 485 "outer loop" has been completed to I-85. Here, you'll also find McDowell Park Nature Center, a campground, a 1,000-acre park and nature preserve; as well as Paramount's Carowinds theme park. Single-family homes average $176,000; condominiums and town homes, $112,000.
West - Area 8
West Charlotte is the best place to see the juxtaposition of old and new. There still are landowners who trace their family roots to pre-Revolutionary land grants from George III, and pockets of old forests. Here, you will also find much of the area's heavy industry. Around Mount Holly-Huntersville Road, middle-income subdivisions have cropped up. As Charlotte has grown to the south and east, neighborhoods on the west side of the city have grown less quickly. Part of the reason is the expansion of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, which is easily accessible from West Boulevard, but which also has brought increased traffic and airport noise. Affordable land has caused homeowners to take a fresh look at the west side. Single-family homes average $113,000; condominiums and town homes, $73,000.
Northwest - Area 9
The communities around Lake Norman—approximately 15-20 miles north of downtown—have blossomed, thanks to a combination of Lake Norman, beautiful settings and easy access to the city via Interstate 77. Huntersville, an old railroad depot, has expanded with commuters, suburban shopping centers and subdivisions. Single-family homes average $171,500; condominiums and town homes, $115,300.
Lakefront
The Catawba River runs north to south to the west of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. The river was dammed by Duke Energy in three locations on the River creating three man-made lakes — Lake Norman to the north, Mountain Isle Lake in the middle and Lake Wylie to the south. All three lakes are recreational lakes with lakefront living permitted on both the east and west sides of each lake.
Lake Norman - Area 13
The combination of beautiful settings, great recreational advantages and easy access to Charlotte via Interstate 77 make the Lake Norman area a great place to live. Lake Norman is an inland sea that covers 32,475 acres and has 520 miles of shoreline—the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina. Duke Power created it when it dammed the Catawba River in 1963.
The area includes parts of for counties—Mecklenburg and Iredell to the east and Catawba and Lincoln to the west. Duke Power partnered with the state in the establishment of the Lake Norman State Park. In addition, the power company has built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline. Duke Power State Park, on the northern shore, offers a public swimming area, nature trails and boat ramps. The southern shores boast three county parks: Blythe Landing, Jetton Road Park and Ramsey Creek.
Single-family homes average $539,800; condominiums and town homes, $193,500.
Lake Wylie - Area 15
Lake Wylie is a 12,445-acre lake located 17 miles southwest of Charlotte, surrounded primarily by Mecklenburg County, N.C., and York County, S.C. The geography, people and economic vitality have fashioned a community with a distinctive Southern lifestyle. With 325 miles of shoreline, the lake is ideal for boating, fishing, water skiing and sailing. The temperate, yet wonderfully distinct, seasonal changes not only enhance the area's beauty, but also afford year-round enjoyment of the lake and other outdoor pastimes like golf, tennis and bicycling.
The Lake Wylie community offers a wide range of housing options, from lakeside homes to spacious, convenient condominiums. It has the additional advantage of two excellent school systems—Clover and Fort Mill.
Single-family homes average $442,600; condominiums and town homes, $156,700.
Mountain Isle Lake - Area 42
Mountain Isle Lake is located near Charlotte and Mount Holly, N.C., in the Catawba River Basin Watershed. Its shoreline passes through Gaston, Mecklenburg and Lincoln counties. It was created in 1924 with the construction of Mountain Isle Hydroelectric Station. The lake covers approximately 3,281 acres and has 61 miles of shoreline. Duke Power and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission provide two boating access areas and a platform for bank fishing.
Single-family homes average $288,800; condominiums and town homes, $97,700
Surrounding Mecklenburg County and Charlotte are several counties that support a growing number of "bedroom" communities. Although they differ in character, they all provide easy access to the city. Many families are finding them affordable and attractive alternatives to city living.
Cabarrus County (Concord, Kannapolis, and Harrisburg) - Area 11
Northeast of Charlotte, Cabarrus County is growing as fast as the cars that go around Lowe's Motor Speedway, one of the county's largest attractions. Another is the new Concord Mills Mall, North Carolina's second-largest mall with some 200 stores. The county seat, Concord, was incorporated in 1798 and named for the peaceful resolution of a dispute over where the town should be located. It is now home to a regional airport, a historic downtown, Barber-Scotia College, and thousands of new homeowners. Residents enjoy direct routes to Charlotte via U.S. Highway 29 and N.C. 49, and to Lake Norman via N.C. 73. County population: 146,000, Median household income: $49,700. Per capita income: $22,500. Single-family homes average $186,000; condos and townhomes, $128,000.
Catawba County (Hickory) - Area 29
Catawba County has been recognized as being one of the top ten areas in America to raise a family, and is building on its traditional business base of furniture, textile, and telecommunications. The cities and towns in the county are Claremont, Conover, Hickory, Long View, Maiden, and Newton. The county has two colleges: Lenoir-Rhyne College, a 113 year old liberal arts institution, and Catawba Valley Community College, a member of the NC Community College System. The county also boasts two outstanding hospitals (one county-owned), a large medical community, and nursing and rest homes. Catawba County has seven beautiful golf courses playable year-round; the Hickory Motor Speedway, which has been in continuous operation for 42 years; and the Crawdads, the Class A farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bass Tournaments are held from March through October on Lake Hickory and Lake Norman. County population: 148,500, Median household income: $43,700. Per capita income: $22,900. Single-family homes average $207,400; condos and townhomes, $96,000.
Gaston County (Mt. Holly, Belmont and Gastonia) - Area 16
Located just west of Charlotte across the Catawba River, Belmont and Mount Holly offer quiet living in historic Old South towns. Belmont, home of Belmont Abbey College and the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, was established in the 1870s around several cotton mills. Belmont planners anticipated the area's growth and in 1994 developed a strategic plan that includes the renovation and revitalization of the downtown area, adopted a new code that discourages suburban sprawl, adopted a tree protection ordinance, and began development of a National Register historic district. Mt. Holly, an older textile town, dates back to 1801. Like Belmont, it has tree-lined downtown streets. The current revitalization in downtown Gastonia, to the west of these towns, may accelerate home development there. Already planners estimate that new Gaston County homes and businesses are consuming more than 3,000 acres of undeveloped land each year. County population: 180,000.Textile production and trucking drives the county economy. Attractions include the C. Grier Beam Truck Museum in Cherryville, the Gaston County Museum of Art and History and the Schiele Museum of Natural History. County population: 194,000. Median household income: $42,400. Per capita income: $21,100. Single-family homes average $144,000; condos and townhomes, $106,000.
Iredell County (Mooresville and Statesville) - Area 12
North of Charlotte and Lake Norman, Iredell's Mooresville has emerged as another community popular with newcomers who don't mind driving 45 minutes or so down Interstate 77 to get to the city. In fact, so many businesses are popping up the county, the attractions of the city are diminishing. Mooresville was founded in 1873 and named for its first mayor, who donated land for the town's railroad depot. Today, development has moved west toward the lake, where new luxury homes coexist with more modest longtime residences. Known by locals as Race City USA due to the prevalence of NASCAR race team garages, the town has eight parks, 14 private and eight public tennis courts, one public and one private golf course and a country club. Shopping centers are not yet as plentiful as they are at other Lake Norman towns, but more are on the way. County population: 136,700. Median household income: $45,400. Per capita income: $22,900. Single-family homes average $288,000; condos and townhomes, $147,000.
Lincoln County (Denver) - Area 14
Located on the west side of Lake Norman, but easily accessible to Charlotte by taking Highway 16 south or Highway 73 east to Interstate 77, Denver is showing signs of new growth. Residential developers have been quick to snap up every inch of Lake Norman shoreline. SailView, an enormous waterfront community launched by the developers of South Charlotte's Ballantyne, has broken ground on half-acre home sites, with home prices soaring to more than $1 million. Retail shopping is popping up nearby. The county is the home of the Charlotte International Airport. County population: 68,400. Median household income: $44,900. Per capita income: $19,900. Single-family homes average $214,000; condos and townhomes, $132,000.
Union County (Weddington, Waxhaw and Indian Trail) - Area 10
What once were small rural communities to Charlotte's southeast are now development hot spots thanks to the open land available and improved roadways. Charlotte's busy Providence Road (N.C. Highway 16) runs right into Weddington, 15 miles from the city, just past a busy interchange of the Interstate 485 "outer loop." Almost daily, new homes of every size are popping up in this town of approximately 11 square miles. Indian Trail lies southeast of Matthews, off of U.S. 74, and just to the outside of the "outer loop." Its proximity to an I-485 interchange guarantees that more growth will soon be headed its way. Wingate is home to Wingate University and its 1,300 students. County population: 152,800. Median household income: $54,400. Per capita income: $23,100. Single-family homes average $310,000; condos and townhomes, $136,000.
Lancaster County, S.C. - Area 24
South of Charlotte, this county was founded by settlers from Lancaster County, Pa., in the 18th century, and is the birthplace of President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). The county has three incorporated communities—Lancaster, Kershaw and Heath Springs—as well as eight townships. Bordered by the Catawba River and close to a number of lakes and waterways, the county is home to Springs Industries and the Andrew Jackson State Park. Although the county has been primarily agricultural, gold mining began there in the 1820s and textile manufacturing sprang up following the Civil War. Governor and U. S. Senator Stephen Decatur Miller (1787-1838), surgeon J. Marion Sims (1813-1883), industrialist Elliott White Springs (1896-1959), and astronaut Charles M. Duke, Jr. were all Lancaster County residents. County population: 62,900. Median household income: $37,500. Per capita income: $17,700. Single-family homes average $294,000; condos and townhomes, $123,000.
York County, S.C. (Rock Hill and Ft. Mill) - Area 17
Southwest of Charlotte, York county is home the Museum of York County, which possesses the largest displays of African animals and arts in the Southeast; the Charlotte Knights Triple A baseball team; Winthrop University; and York Technical College. Two battles were fought in this area during the Revolutionary War, Williamson's Plantation (July 12, 1780) and Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780); the latter battle was a major victory for the Americans. Small-scale cotton farming was prevalent in the county in the nineteenth century, but textile mills became important in the twentieth century, contributing to the growth of the county's largest city, Rock Hill. Some well-known natives of York County are Revolutionary leader Colonel William Bratton (1742-1815) and writer Dori Sanders. County population: 182,200. Median household income: $48,000. Per capita income: $23,600. Single-family homes average $232,000; condos and townhomes, $120,000.
