General Information Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the 18th largest city in the United States. With a population over  650,000 people, our city's economy is fueled by healthcare. financial services and retail commerce (Bank of America and Wachovia, to name just a few). The county of Mecklenburg (of which Charlotte is the county seat) has over 825,000 people and incorporates several other muncipalities including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville. Home to several Fortune 500 companies including Duke Energy, Family Dollar, Goodrich Corporation, Nucor, Sonic Automotive, SPX Corporation and Wachovia, Charlotte's job market offers positions in a multitude of fields. Other major companies headquartered in Metro Charlotte include Time Warner Cable, Lowe's Home Improvement, Continental Tire North America, Muzak, Belk, Harris Teeter, Meineke Car Care Centers, Lance Inc, Bojangles', Carlisle Companies, Lending Tree, Compass Group USA, and Food Lion in suburban Salisbury. Also, neighboring Gastonia is home to Choice Beverage, Inc., makers of SunDrop and Cheerwine and Parkdale world headquarters. Charlotte is also a major center in the US motorsports industry, with NASCAR having multiple offices in and around Charlotte and soon to have the NASCAR Hall of Fame. With an average temperature of 72°, Charlotte has more than enough beautiful days to enjoy boating, sailing, golfing, tennis,  fishing, biking as well as gorgeous day trips to the nearby Appalachian Mountains for hiking. We have flowers in bloom twelve months a year! We have a multitude of parks (including several dog parks and bike paths) and access to the largest man made white water rafting facility in the world! Education Whether you are looking for schools for a toddler, teenager or college student, you will find a school that meets your needs in the Charlotte area. The city's public school system, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is the second largest in North Carolina and 20th largest in the nation. About 132,000 students are taught in 161 separate elementary, middle and high schools. Secular and religious private schools are prominent, from well-established schools with large campuses to others that are small and new. The relatively recent phenomenon of charter schools, independently operated public schools, are another education option. Charlotte's largest higher education institution, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, located in  the northeastern portion of Charlotte.  At 22,000 students and counting, it is the fastest-growing university in the state system. The area is also home to University Research Park, a 3,200 acre (13 km²) research and corporate park. Central Piedmont Community College has multiple campuses, all in the Charlotte metro area, and is the largest community college in North Carolina or South Carolina. The Queen City is home to a number of notable private universities and colleges such as Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University, and Davidson College; the latter being 20 miles north of Charlotte. A recent addition to Charlotte is Johnson & Wales University, a nationally renowned culinary institute. Sports Charlotte is home to many sports teams, including the 2004 NFC Champion Panthers! We also have the Charlotte Knights (baseball), the Charlotte Checkers (Ice Hockey) and the Charlotte Bobcats (basketball).  And don't forget, we're also the home of NASCAR. With the NASCAR Hall of Fame coming to Charlotte and Lowe's Motor Speedway, we can definately take the title for the fastest city in the Southeast! Neighborhoods      Charlotte has 199 neighborhoods. Below is a partial listing. Uptown/Downtown (Center City): Central business district composed of four wards Cotswold:  Shopping area with a mix of old and new homes South End:  Trendy area south of Uptown Myers Park/Eastover:   Some of the most prestigious addresses and tree lined streets NoDa:   Historical arts district near uptown Southpark:  High end shopping, commercial & residential University Area:  UNCC Charlotte area Ballantyne:  Upscale area in South Charlotte near the SC border Steele Creek:  Developing area in southwest Charlotte Dilworth:  Artsy, pedestrial friendly historical neighborhood Elizabeth:   Hip area, convenient historic district