Charlotte, North Carolina, known as the 'Queen City' to visitors and residents alike, is the 21st largest city in the United States today, yet Charlotte retains its gracious Southern charm and small town hospitality. The largest city found between Atlanta and Washington DC, Charlotte is the number one travel destination in the Carolinas. Aesthetic beauty and fine array of cultural and sports activities lure visitors irresistibly to Charlotte.

Settled by German and Scot-Irish colonists in the 1740's, the city's name came from German Queen Charlotte, wife to King George III, and the surrounding Mecklenburg County was named in honor of her birthplace. Today's Bank of America building has a crown incorporated into its design, celebrating the 'Queen City' and its heritage. Charlotte grew from a quaint village to a major city when gold was found here in 1799, and remained the gold capitol of the nation until the California Gold Rush in the mid 1800's. The city was well established as a financial hub for the region, and that legacy lives on today. When railroads connected the country, Charlotte became the main distribution hub as well. Seated in the center of the nation's two largest railways, Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation, as well as being served by major north-south and east-west Interstate Highways, Charlotte is a vital link in the nation's transportation and distribution routes. The Charlotte International Airport connects the city with the rest of the world.

The Carolina Piedmont Region is the nation's fourth largest manufacturing district. The Charlotte Metropolitan Area is one of the leaders in the trade, with over 2,000 manufacturing firms employing over 115,000 workers, paying out more than 4 billion dollars in payroll for 2003. From its early beginnings as a major textile producer, today's Charlotte also holds state of the art firms specializing in precision technology, the biomedical field and electronics along with the more traditional business making metals, plastics and chemicals. A rapidly increasing number of international firms have discovered Charlotte, with more than 480 foreign-owned companies found here.

The University of North Carolina in Charlotte has a reputation as a top-notch research institute, focusing on biosciences and biotechnology, as well as E-business technology and optical communications. The Central Piedmont Community College also calls Charlotte home, and each of these campuses educate local residents in specific worker-trainer programs designed along with incoming firms to teach their particular needed skills. Thirty-five different colleges and universities serve the Charlotte area, providing excellent educational opportunities for residents.

Located mere hours from both the Coastal Region and the lovely North Carolina Mountains, Charlotte residents enjoy a wonderfully moderate climate as well, encouraging outdoor activities year-round. While winter snows average less than six inches per year, ski resorts lie only two hours away. Spring and fall bring Charlotte alive with bursts of color in its carefully landscaped neighborhoods, and the brutal heat and humidity of most southern cities is escaped here, with average summer temperatures of 76 degrees. Camping and fishing wait just outside the city limits, while within Charlotte itself are many greenways and lovely parks with biking and hiking trails used year-round.

The arts and cultural entertainment opportunities abound in Charlotte, attracting almost 3 million visitors per year to the city. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center along with a wealth of symphonies and orchestras give nightly performances. The Discovery Place, Museum of the New South and the Mint Museum are just a few of the museums where heritage and learning are preserved. For sports enthusiasts, Charlotte remains a true Paradise, as the base for the Carolina Panthers, the WNBA Charlotte Sting as well as the newly formed Bobcats. Lowe's Motor Speedway hosts three major Nascar Nextel Cup events, along with year-round stock-car racing.

Charlotte, North Carolina reigns as the 'Queen City' of the South, whether for a family or firm to relocate to, or a get-away vacation to enjoy the gracious hospitality and modern convenience.