Charlotte is a city that has earned a national and international reputation as a choice destination for dining, nightlife, shopping, professional sports, entertainment and residential living. The city manages to maintain a familiar smaller city atmosphere while quietly offering all the luxuries of a major cosmopolitan area – often at a lower cost of living than comparable cities.

Charlotte ’s earliest influences are rooted in its Scotch Irish settlers and German colonists. In fact, the city owes its name to German born Queen Charlotte, wife of England ’s King George III, and the county to her birthplace of Mecklenburg . That’s also why Charlotte is referred to as the “ Queen City ” and why the well-known Bank of America building has a crown architecturally incorporated in its design.

Charlotte abruptly attained city status with America ’s first discovery of gold in 1799. It was also the first small step in establishing the city as a financial center. Charlotte quickly became the gold mining capital of the country until the emergence California Gold Rush 50 years later. Today, the legacy of the early gold miners is maintained in Charlotte ’s bustling business climate.

Convenience of travel continues to propel business activities to higher and higher levels in the Queen City. Charlotte is a major distributor hub and is at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in America . Charlotte/Douglas international airport provides national and international service, acting as the largest hub for USAirways flights.

The Charlotte region is located in the southwest part of North Carolina’s Piedmont area and includes 13 counties that surround the city of Charlotte itself. The communities throughout the region are made up of small country settings, mid-sized towns and upscale urban neighborhoods.

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Chuck Webb, Wilkinson & Associates, www.chuckwebb.net