Charlotte metropolitan area
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[[Image:Metrolinamap.png|thumbnail|right|Counties most commonly associated with the Charlotte Metro area are in dark red, counties often included are light red, and counties sometimes included are in orange. The NC/SC state line is shown in yellow.|300px]]
The '''Charlotte metropolitan area''' (also '''Metrolina''', '''Metro Charlotte''', or '''Charlotte USA''') is a [[metropolitan area]]/[[region]] of [[North Carolina|North]] and [[South Carolina|South]] [[The Carolinas|Carolina]] within and surrounding the city of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]. Located in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] of the [[Southeastern United States]], the Charlotte metropolitan area is well-known for its auto racing history (especially [[NASCAR]]) and is the United States' second largest banking and financial hub, behind [[New York City]]. It is also the Carolinas' largest manufacturing region<ref name="CCOC1">[http://www.charlottechamber.com/index.php?submenu=manufacturing_region&src=gendocs&ref=ManufacturingintheRegion&category=emerging_industry Charlotte Chamber of Commerce: Manufacturing in the Region]</ref>.
The '''Charlotte-[[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]]-[[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]]''' Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is defined as five counties in North Carolina and one county in South Carolina. The population of the MSA was at 1,405,173 in the 2000 [[US Census]]; 2005 estimates place the population at 1,521,278. At present, the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the [[List of United States metropolitan areas|35th largest in the U.S]] and the city of Charlotte is the 18th largest city in the U.S.<ref name="CCOC2">[http://www.charlottechamber.com/index.php?submenu=DemographicsEconomicProfile&src=gendocs&ref=DemographicsEconomicProfile&category=eco_dev Charlotte Chamber of Commerce: Demographics Info]</ref>
The '''Charlotte-[[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]]-[[Salisbury, North Carolina|Salisbury]]''' [[Combined Statistical Area]] (CSA)<ref name="CB1">[http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/0312csa_ccbsa.txt U.S. Census Bureau CSAs]</ref> is a regional population area including parts of North Carolina and South Carolina with a 2006 population of 2,191,604<ref name="CB2">[http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metropop/2006/cbsa-06-fmt.csv U.S. Census Bureau 2006 population estimates of Combined Statistical Areas]</ref>. The aforementioned MSA is the only metropolitan area (as defined since 2003) included in the CSA, but there are six included [[micropolitan area]]s: [[Albemarle, North Carolina|Albemarle]], [[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], [[Shelby, North Carolina|Shelby]] and [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Statesville-Mooresville]] in North Carolina and [[Lancaster, South Carolina|Lancaster]] and [[Chester, South Carolina|Chester]] in South Carolina. Additionally, Catawba and Alexander Counties in North Carolina are sometimes counted in larger estimates of the Region's true size due to their close proximity to the Charlotte Metro. They are technically a part of the [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]]-[[Lenoir, North Carolina|Lenoir]]-[[Morganton, North Carolina|Morganton]]'' ''Metropolitan Statistical Area (also known as [[The Unifour]]). Adding these two counties along with Chesterfield County, SC to the aforementioned Charlotte CSA would yield a Regional 2006 estimated population of 2,424,333. "As of January 1, 2008, the Consolidated Statistical Area alone had grown to 2,491,650 according to the 2008 estimate of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce."
== Nicknames and regional identity ==
The regional area around the city was (at one time) called Metrolina, a term which has fallen out of widespread general use, though it is still maintains a presence and is used by the [[North Carolina Department of Transportation]]. The term does retain a marketing value, and is thus also used by many businesses in the area. Metrolina refers to the region that includes the cities of: Charlotte, [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]], [[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]] and [[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]]. The name Metrolina came into fashion when North Carolina's other two large metropolitan areas took on nicknames— the [[Research Triangle|Triangle]] for [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]/[[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]]/[[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]] and the [[Piedmont Triad|Triad]] for [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]]/[[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]]/[[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]]. The Triad now goes by the name [[Piedmont Triad]] to distinguish it from other [[tri-cities]].
The term Charlotte USA is sometimes also used as the metro's name, though again in more official and professional circles than in general public usage. The term is championed by the Charlotte Regional Partnership, a non-profit organization made up of both private- and public-sector members from throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area <ref name="CRP">[http://www.charlotteusa.com/index.asp Charlotte USA - Charlotte Regional Partnership]</ref>.
Region J of the [[North Carolina Councils of Government]], of which a majority of the Charlotte area municipalities and counties belong, uses the term '''Centralina''' in its body's name, [[Centralina Council of Governments]]. This term, however, is sparingly used among locals.
==Area==
=== Counties ===
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'''Official metropolitan area'''
''The Charlotte metropolitan area components include the '''Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord''' MSA (Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union & York Counties), along with the following [[micropolitan]] areas: Albemarle, Chester, Lancaster, Lincolnton, Salisbury, Shelby, and Statesville-Mooresville. The Combined Statistical Area includes all of those entities. Charlotte USA includes all the CSA counties along with Alexander and Catawba counties of North Carolina.
([[Census Bureau]] definition for CSA)
2006 Population Estimates In (*)
{|
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*[[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County, NC]] (902,803)
*[[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County, NC]] (199,397)
*[[York County, South Carolina|York County, SC]] (199,035)
*[[Union County, North Carolina|Union County, NC]] (175,272)
*[[Cabarrus County, North Carolina|Cabarrus County, NC]] (156,395)
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*[[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County, NC]] (153,784)
*[[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County, NC]] (146,206)
*[[Rowan County, North Carolina|Rowan County, NC]] (136,254)
*[[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland County, NC]] (98,373)
*[[Lincoln County, North Carolina|Lincoln County, NC]] (71,894)
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*[[Stanly County, North Carolina|Stanly County, NC]] (59,358)
*[[Lancaster County, South Carolina|Lancaster County, SC]] (63,628)
*[[Chesterfield County, South Carolina|Chesterfield County, SC]] (42,768)
*[[Alexander County, North Carolina|Alexander County, NC]] (36,177)
*[[Chester County, South Carolina|Chester County, SC]] (32,875)
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*[[Anson County, North Carolina|Anson County, NC]] (25,472)
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=== Anchor city ===
*[[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], ''Mecklenburg'' 671,588
=== Primary cities ===
*[[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], ''Gaston'' 69,904
*[[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]], ''Cabarrus'' 62,587
*[[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]], ''York'' 61,620
*[[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]], ''Catawba'' 40,212
*[[Salisbury, North Carolina|Salisbury]], ''Rowan'' 28,480
=== Suburban towns and cities over 10,000 in population===
(including county and 2005 census bureau population estimates)
*[[Albemarle, North Carolina|Albemarle]], ''Stanly'' 15,390
*[[Cornelius, North Carolina|Cornelius]], ''Mecklenburg'' 17,875
*[[Huntersville, North Carolina|Huntersville]], ''Mecklenburg'' 34,332
*[[Indian Trail, North Carolina|Indian Trail]], ''Union'' 15,610
*[[Kannapolis, North Carolina|Kannapolis]], ''Cabarrus & Rowan'' 38,547
*[[Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]], ''Cleveland & Gaston'' 10,634
*[[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], ''Lincoln'' 10,194
*[[Matthews, North Carolina|Matthews]], ''Mecklenburg'' 23,897
*[[Mint Hill, North Carolina|Mint Hill]], ''Mecklenburg & Union'' 17,480
*[[Monroe, North Carolina|Monroe]], ''Union'' 28,422
*[[Mooresville, North Carolina|Mooresville]], ''Iredell'' 20,122
*[[Newton, North Carolina|Newton]], ''Catawba'' 13,229
*[[Shelby, North Carolina|Shelby]], ''Cleveland'' 21,275
*[[Statesville, North Carolina|Statesville]], ''Iredell'' 24,489
=== Suburban towns and cities under 10,000 in population===
(Including county and 2004 Census Bureau population estimates)
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*[[Ansonville, North Carolina|Ansonville]], ''Anson'' 626
*[[Badin, North Carolina|Badin]], ''Stanly'' 1,127
*[[Belmont, North Carolina|Belmont]], ''Gaston'' 8,786
*[[Belwood, North Carolina|Belwood]], ''Cleveland'' 996
*[[Bessemer City, North Carolina|Bessemer City]], ''Gaston'' 5,120
*[[Boiling Springs, North Carolina|Boiling Springs]], ''Cleveland'' 3,851
*[[Chester, South Carolina|Chester]], ''Chester'' 6,273
*[[China Grove, North Carolina|China Grove]], ''Rowan'' 3,694
*[[Cherryville, North Carolina|Cherryville]], ''Gaston'' 5,430
*[[Cleveland, North Carolina|Cleveland]], ''Rowan'' 819
*[[Clover, South Carolina|Clover]], ''York'' 4,054
*[[Cramerton, North Carolina|Cramerton]], ''Gaston'' 2,990
*[[Dallas, North Carolina|Dallas]], ''Gaston'' 3,403
*[[Davidson, North Carolina|Davidson]], ''Mecklenburg, Iredell & Cabarrus'' 8,343
*[[Earl, North Carolina|Earl]], ''Cleveland'' 236
*[[East Spencer, North Carolina|East Spencer]], ''Rowan'' 1,759
*[[Fairview, North Carolina|Fairview]], ''Union'' 4,122
*[[Faith, North Carolina|Faith]], ''Rowan'' 699
*[[Fallston, North Carolina|Fallston]], ''Cleveland'' 612
*[[Fort Lawn, South Carolina|Fort Lawn]], ''Chester'' 844
*[[Fort Mill, South Carolina|Fort Mill]], ''York'' 8,041
*[[Granite Quarry, North Carolina|Granite Quarry]], ''Rowan'' 2,224
*[[Great Falls, South Carolina|Great Falls]], ''Chester'' 2,121
*[[Grover, North Carolina|Grover]], ''Cleveland'' 696
*[[Harmony, North Carolina|Harmony]], ''Iredell'' 570
*[[Harrisburg, North Carolina|Harrisburg]], ''Cabarrus'' 4,925
*[[Heath Springs, South Carolina|Heath Springs]], ''Lancaster'' 863
*[[Hemby Bridge, North Carolina|Hemby Bridge]], ''Union'' 1,594
*[[Hickory Grove, South Carolina|Hickory Grove]], ''York'' 362
*[[High Shoals, North Carolina|High Shoals]], ''Gaston'' 744
*[[Kershaw, South Carolina|Kershaw]], ''Lancaster'' 1,638
*[[Kingstown, North Carolina|Kingstown]], ''Cleveland'' 850
*[[Lake Park, North Carolina|Lake Park]], ''Union'' 2,444
*[[Lancaster, South Carolina|Lancaster]], ''Lancaster'' 8,472
*[[Landis, North Carolina|Landis]], ''Rowan'' 3,047
*[[Lattimore, North Carolina|Lattimore]], ''Cleveland'' 419
*[[Lawndale, North Carolina|Lawndale]], ''Cleveland'' 640
*[[Lilesville, North Carolina|Lilesville]], ''Anson'' 445
*[[Locust, North Carolina|Locust]], ''Stanly & Cabarrus'' 2,525
*[[Love Valley, North Carolina|Love Valley]], ''Iredell'' 33
*[[Lowell, North Carolina|Lowell]], ''Gaston'' 2,663
*[[Lowrys, South Carolina|Lowrys]], ''Chester'' 203
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*[[Marshville, North Carolina|Marshville]], ''Union'' 2,690
*[[Marvin, North Carolina|Marvin]], ''Union'' 1,273
*[[McAdenville, North Carolina|McAdenville]], ''Gaston'' 627
*[[McConnells, South Carolina|McConnells]], ''York'' 312
*[[McFarlan, North Carolina|McFarlan]], ''Anson'' 87
*[[Midland, North Carolina|Midland]], ''Cabarrus'' 2,729
*[[Mineral Springs, North Carolina|Mineral Springs]], ''Union'' 1,728
*[[Misenheimer, North Carolina|Misenheimer]], ''Stanly'' 617
*[[Mooresboro, North Carolina|Mooresboro]], ''Cleveland'' 318
*[[Morven, North Carolina|Morven]], ''Anson'' 570
*[[Mount Holly, North Carolina|Mount Holly]], ''Gaston'' 9,639
*[[Mount Pleasant, North Carolina|Mount Pleasant]], ''Cabarrus'' 1,336
*[[New London, North Carolina|New London]], ''Stanly'' 322
*[[Norwood, North Carolina|Norwood]], ''Stanly'' 2,174
*[[Oakboro, North Carolina|Oakboro]], ''Stanly'' 1,187
*[[Patterson Springs, North Carolina|Patterson Springs]], ''Cleveland'' 624
*[[Peachland, North Carolina|Peachland]], ''Anson'' 544
*[[Pineville, North Carolina|Pineville]], ''Mecklenburg'' 3,643
*[[Polkton, North Carolina|Polkton]], ''Anson'' 1,897
*[[Polkville, North Carolina|Polkville]], ''Cleveland'' 537
*[[Ranlo, North Carolina|Ranlo]], ''Gaston'' 2,191
*[[Richburg, South Carolina|Richburg]], ''Chester'' 325
*[[Richfield, North Carolina|Richfield]], ''Stanly'' 515
*[[Rockwell, North Carolina|Rockwell]], ''Rowan'' 1,976
*[[Sharon, South Carolina|Sharon]], ''York'' 434
*[[Smyrna, South Carolina|Smyrna]], ''York'' 63
*[[Spencer, North Carolina|Spencer]], ''Rowan'' 3,344
*[[Spencer Mountain, North Carolina|Spencer Mountain]], ''Gaston'' 58
*[[Stallings, North Carolina|Stallings]], ''Union'' 3,666
*[[Stanfield, North Carolina|Stanfield]], ''Stanly'' 1,113
*[[Stanley, North Carolina|Stanley]], ''Gaston'' 3,085
*[[Tega Cay, South Carolina|Tega Cay]], ''York'' 4,264
*[[Troutman, North Carolina|Troutman]], ''Iredell'' 1,677
*[[Unionville, North Carolina|Unionville]], ''Union'' 6,053
*[[Waco, North Carolina|Waco]], ''Cleveland'' 329
*[[Wadesboro, North Carolina|Wadesboro]], ''Anson'' 5,328
*[[Waxhaw, North Carolina|Waxhaw]], ''Union'' 3,046
*[[Weddington, North Carolina|Weddington]], ''Union'' 7,982
*[[Wesley Chapel, North Carolina|Wesley Chapel]], ''Union'' 3,175
*[[Wingate, North Carolina|Wingate]], ''Union'' 2,728
*[[York, South Carolina|York]], ''York'' 7,028
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=== Unincorporated communities ===
(2000 census figures)
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*[[Boger City, North Carolina|Boger City]], ''Lincoln'' 554
*[[Elgin, South Carolina|Elgin]], ''Lancaster'' 2,426
*[[Enochville, North Carolina|Enochville]], ''Rowan'' 2,851
*[[Eureka Mill, South Carolina|Eureka Mill]], ''Chester'' 1,737
*[[Gayle Mill, South Carolina|Gayle Mill]], ''Chester'' 1,094
*[[India Hook, South Carolina|India Hook]], ''York'' 1,614
*[[Indian Land, South Carolina|Indian Land]], ''Lancaster'' [Undetermined]
*[[Erwin, South Carolina|Irwin]], ''Lancaster'' 1,343
*[[JAARS, North Carolina|JAARS]] ''Union'' 360
*[[Lake Wylie, South Carolina|Lake Wylie]], ''York'' 3,061
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*[[Lancaster Mill, South Carolina|Lancaster Mill]], ''Lancaster'' 2,109
*[[Lesslie, South Carolina|Lesslie]], ''York'' 2,268
*[[Light Oak, North Carolina|Light Oak]], ''Cleveland'' 779
*[[Lowesville, North Carolina|Lowesville]], ''Lincoln'' 1,440
*[[Newport, South Carolina|Newport]], ''York'' 4,033
*[[Riverview, South Carolina|Riverview]], ''York'' 708
*[[South Gastonia, North Carolina|South Gastonia]], ''Gaston'' 5,433
*[[Westport, North Carolina|Westport]], ''Lincoln'' 2,006
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== Transportation ==
=== Mass Transit ===
The [[Charlotte Area Transit System]], or CATS, is the local public transit agency that operates bus service that serves Charlotte and its immediate suburban communities in both North and South Carolina. CATS is also constructing a [[light rail]] and [[commuter rail]] network as a supplement to its established bus transit throughout the region. Plans are for it to stretch initially to Mooresville, Pineville, Matthews, the [[University of North Carolina at Charlotte]]. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport will be connected to the system by [[streetcar]]. Service is scheduled to begin operation in 2007.
=== Roads ===
The Charlotte region is also served by 3 major interstate highways, and their 2 spurs: [[I-85]], [[I-77]], [[I-40]], [[Interstate 277 (North Carolina)|I-277]], and [[I-485]] - currently over budget and behind schedule - [[I-85]] and [[I-77]] intersect in North [[Charlotte]], with the transcontinental [[I-40]] passing across the northern portion of the region (linked to [[Charlotte]] and [[Gastonia]] via [[I-77]] and the [[US 321]] freeway). Other major freeways include Independence Boulevard (east Charlotte to [[Interstate 277 (North Carolina)|I-277]]), a portion of [[US 321]] between [[Hickory]] and [[Gastonia]], the proposed [[Garden Parkway]] loop around Gastonia, and the proposed Monroe Connector and Monroe Bypass, each projected to cost over $1 billion per project.
Other important US highways in the region include: [[US 74]] (east to Wilmington, west to Asheville and Chattanooga), [[US 52]] (through the eastern part of the region), [[US 321]] (through Chester, York, Gastonia, Dallas, Lincolnton and Hickory), [[US 601]] (passing east of Charlotte) and [[US 70]] (through Salisbury, Statesville and Hickory).
Primary state routes include [[NC 49|NC]]/[[SC 49]], [[NC 16]] (which extends north to [[West Virginia]]), [[NC 73]], [[NC 150]], [[NC 18]], [[NC 24]], [[NC 27]], [[SC 9]] and [[SC 5]].
=== Air ===
[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport]], the 17th busiest in the country. In April 2007, Charlotte was the fastest growing airport in the US.
<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-04-18-charlotte-airport-is-fastest-growing_N.htm | title= Fastest Growing}}</ref> CLT went on to surpass its sister US Airways hub in Philadelphia as one of the 30 busiest airports in the world in terms of passenger traffic.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} A new terminal to the northwest of the center of the airport will be built in the near future, possibly as a Caribbean/Latin America international terminal. CLT is also supplemented by regional airports in [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]], [[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], [[Statesville, North Carolina|Statesville]], [[Monroe, North Carolina|Monroe]], and [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]] in North Carolina, as well as [[Rock Hill, South Carolina]].
== Higher education ==
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*[[Barber-Scotia College]]
*[[Belmont Abbey College]]
*[[Carolinas College Of Health Sciences]]
*[[Catawba College]]
*[[Catawba Valley Community College]]
*[[Central Piedmont Community College]]
*[[Cleveland Community College]]
*[http://www.clintonjuniorcollege.edu/index2.html Clinton Junior College]
*[[Davidson College]]
*[[Gardner-Webb University]]
*[[Gaston College]]
*[http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMHEC HMHEC - Hickory Metro Higher Education Center]
*[[Johnson & Wales University]]
*[[Johnson C. Smith University]]
*[[King's College, Charlotte|Kings College]]
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*[[Lenoir-Rhyne College]] now Lenoir-Rhyne University
*[[Livingstone College]]
*[[Mitchell Community College]]
*[[N.C. Center for Engineering Technologies-Hickory]]
*[[Pfeiffer University]]
*[[Queens University of Charlotte]]
*[[Rowan Cabarrus Community College]]
*[[Southern Piedmont Community College]]
*[[Stanly Community College]]
*[[University of North Carolina at Charlotte]]
*[[University of South Carolina at Lancaster]]
*[[Wingate University]]
*[[Winthrop University]]
*[[York Tech College]]
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== Attractions ==
=== Nature and geography ===
The foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] begin along the western edge of the region; the descent (the [[fall line]]) to the [[coastal plain]] begins along the eastern edge. Amid this varied topography, the [[Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens]] and several state parks (Morrow Mountain, Crowders Mountain, South Mountains, Duke Power, Landsford Canal, Andrew Jackson) offer recreational possibilities, along with the [[Uwharrie National Forest]] just east and northeast of [[Albemarle, North Carolina|Albemarle]], and the [[Sumter National Forest]] at the southwest corner of the area. [[Kings Mountain National Military Park]] is partially located in [[York County, South Carolina|York County]] and in [[Cherokee County, South Carolina|Cherokee County]] near [[Blacksburg, South Carolina]].
=== Cultural attractions ===
Attractions in Charlotte include the [[Afro-American Cultural Center]], [[Discovery Place]], [[Spirit Square]], the soon to be built [[NASCAR Hall of Fame]], the [[Blumenthal Performing Arts Center]], Children's Theatre of Charlotte[http://www.ctcharlotte.org], The [[Mint Museums]], the [[Charlotte Museum Of History]],[[Levine Museum of the New South]], and the [[Wing Haven Gardens]]. Soon the [[Betchler Art Museum]] and [[Knight Theater]] in Uptown Charlotte will open, expanding the art venues in Charlotte.
Other places of interest in the Charlotte suburbs include the [[Schiele Museum]] (in Gastonia), [[Carowinds]] Theme Park (in Mecklenburg County, NC and York County, SC), [[Lowes Motor Speedway]] (in Concord), the [[Carolina Raptor Center]] (in Huntersville), [[Latta Plantation]] (in Huntersville), [[Historic Brattonsville]] (in McConnells), the [[North Carolina Transportation Museum]] (in Spencer), [[Fort Dobbs]] historical site (in Statesville), the Arts & Science Center of Catawba Valley/Millholland Planetarium (in Hickory) the [[Museum Of York County]] (in Rock Hill), [[James K. Polk]] historical site (in Pineville), , the [[Catawba Cultural Center]] (in York County), the [[Museum Of The Waxhaws]] (in Waxhaw), [[Glencairn Gardens]] (in Rock Hill), and the Reed Gold Mine (in Locust).
=== Entertainment ===
The [[Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte]] is located in Charlotte in the [[University City, Charlotte, North Carolina|University City]] community of Charlotte. The performing arts amphitheatre has hosted many popular music concerts. The [http://www.charlottewhitewater.com U.S. National Whitewater Center], The U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC) is the world’s premier outdoor recreation and environmental education center. Alongside mountain-biking and running trails, a climbing center, and challenge course, the park’s unique feature is a multiple-channel, customized whitewater river for rafting and canoe/kayak enthusiasts of all abilities.
The USNWC is only 10 minutes from downtown Charlotte and provides over {{convert|300|acre|km2}} of woodlands along the scenic Catawba River. Olympic-caliber athletes, weekend warriors and casual observers share this world-class sports and training center.
Inspired by the successful [[Penrith Whitewater Stadium]] built for the 2000 Olympics and the stadium built for the 2004 Athens Games, the USNWC is the world’s only multi-channel recirculating whitewater river. The USOC has designated the USNWC an official Olympic Training Site.
=== Shopping ===
Regional-scale [[Shopping malls]] include [[SouthPark Mall]], [[Northlake Mall]], [[Eastland Mall]] (all in Charlotte), [[Carolina Place Mall]] (Pineville), [[Rock Hill Galleria]] (Rock Hill), [[Westfield Shoppingtown Eastridge]] (Gastonia), [[Concord Mills]] (Concord) and [[Valley Hills Mall]] (Hickory).
Other important malls in the area include [[Carolina Mall]] (Concord), Gaston Mall (Gastonia), Monroe Mall (Monroe), and Signal Hill Mall (Statesville).
Concord Mills is unique in that it does not feature the typical [[anchor store]]s found at the other mall; it focuses more on attracting [[outlet store]] tenants. As of 2006, the mall is the state's largest tourist attraction, visited by over 15 million annually.
Alongside enclosed malls and strip centers are several other shopping districts. Several downtowns can claim an abundance of shopping options, along with restaurants and other entertainment, and a few other specific districts have emerged: ''Central Avenue'', especially in the ''[[Plaza-Midwood]]'' area; the ''[[NoDa]]'' area of North Charlotte; and the ''Arboretum'' in southeast Charlotte (geographically, south), to offer a handful of examples. Several of these areas are at the center of the area's growing immigrant business communities.
=== Sports ===
In addition to the Lowes Motor Speedway, there are plenty of other sports venues, including the [[Knights Stadium|Knights Castle]] in Fort Mill (home of the [[Charlotte Knights]], the [[Minor league baseball#Today's Farm System|Triple-A]] affiliate of the [[Chicago White Sox]]), [[Bank of America Stadium]] (home of the [[NFL]]'s [[Carolina Panthers]]), and [[Time Warner Cable Arena]] (home of the [[NBA]]'s [[Charlotte Bobcats]], and the [[East Coast Hockey League]]'s [[Charlotte Checkers]]). The [[Charlotte Eagles]] of the [[United Soccer Leagues]] call the area home, and the [[Kannapolis Intimidators]] and [[Hickory Crawdads]] are Single-A Minor-League Baseball teams located in this region.
== Commerce and employment ==
Among the largest employers in the area (listed in order by number of local employees) are<ref name="largeem">[http://www.charlotteusa.com/Regional/regional_communities.asp Charlotte USA - Regional Communities]</ref>:
*[[Wachovia]]
*[[Carolinas HealthCare System|Carolinas Healthcare System]]
*[[Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools]]
*[[Bank of America]]
*City of [[Charlotte]]
*[[US Airways]]
*[[Duke Energy]]
*Presbyterian Healthcare
*[[Lowe's]]
*[[University of North Carolina at Charlotte]]
*[[BellSouth]]
*[[Belk]]
*[[Family Dollar]]
*[[Food Lion]]
*[[IBM]]
Companies with headquarters in the region include [[Bank of America]], [[Belk]], [[BellSouth Telecommunications]], [[Bojangles']], The [[Compass Group]], [[Carolina Beverage Corporation]] Inc. (makers of [[Sun Drop]] and [[Cheerwine]]), [[Duke Energy]], [[Family Dollar]], [[Food Lion]], [[Harris Teeter]], [[Lance, Inc]], [[LendingTree]], [[Lowe's]], [[Meineke Car Care Center]]s, [[Muzak]], [[Nucor]], [[Transbotics]], [[Royal & SunAlliance]] (USA), [[Time Warner Cable]] (a business unit of Fortune 500 company Time Warner), and [[Wachovia]].
Charlotte has gained fame as the second largest banking and finance center in the U.S., and the area's orientation towards emerging industries is seen in the success of the University Research Park (the 7th largest research park in the country) and the redevelopment of part of the [[Pillowtex]] site in Kannapolis as a biotech research facility featuring the participation of [[University of North Carolina at Charlotte]], [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], [[Duke University]] and [[North Carolina State University]].
== People ==
Artist [[Romare Bearden]], astronauts [[Charles Duke]] and [[Susan Helms]], evangelist [[Billy Graham]], musicians [[Earl Scruggs]] (Flatt & Scruggs), [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] (Parliament, Funkadelic), [[Fred Durst]] (Limp Bizkit), [[Prairie Prince]] (The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, Utopia), [[Blind Boy Fuller]] and [[Randy Travis]], independent filmmakers [[Tim Kirkman]] (Loggerheads, Dear Jesse) and [[Ross McElwee]] (Bright Leaves, Sherman's March), actor [[Randolph Scott]], actress [[Berlinda Tolbert]] (she played Jenny on the long-running, classic 70's sitcom "The Jeffersons"), political figures [[Sue Myrick]], [[Harvey Gantt]], [[Elizabeth Dole]] and [[Jesse Helms]], U.S. presidents [[Andrew Jackson]] and [[James K. Polk]], professional wrestling legend [[Ric Flair]], professional tennis champion [[Alex Glass]], and NASCAR driver [[Dale Earnhardt]].
R&B singers [[Fantasia Barrino|Fantasia,]] [[Anthony Hamilton (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]] and [[K-Ci & JoJo]] of [[Jodeci]]. Novelist, playwright and screenwriter [[Carson McCullers]] was a Charlotte resident while writing her best known works. More recently, Reflections Studios in Charlotte played an important role in the emergent late-20th-century American musical underground - [[R.E.M. (band)|R.E.M.]], [[Pylon]], [[Let's Active]], [[Don Dixon]] and Charlotte's [[Fetchin Bones]] (among many others) all recorded influential and acclaimed albums there. Charlotte-based Ripete and Surfside Records maintain important catalogs of regional soul and beach music, and the area has also played a role in the history of gospel, bluegrass and country music. The Milestone, one of the first punk clubs in the South, is located in west Charlotte, and in the past hosted legendary appearances from the likes of R.E.M., [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], Charlotte's [[Antiseen]] and many others.
== Government ==
A majority of the municipalities and counties in the North Carolina parts of the Charlotte metropolitan area belong to the [[Centralina Council of Governments]]. Cleveland County belongs to the [[Isothermal Planning and Development Commission]] and Alexander and Catawba counties belong to the [[Western Piedmont Council of Governments]].
== See also ==
*[[I-85 Corridor]]
*[[Piedmont Crescent]]
*[[The Upstate]]
==External links==
*[http://www.charlottechamber.com Charlotte Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.charlotteusa.com Charlotte USA - The Charlotte Regional Partnership]
*[http://www.ncsmartlink.org/cameras/metrolina.html NC SmartLink Metrolina traffic cameras]
==References==
<references/>
{{Charlotte, North Carolina}}
{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}
{{North_Carolina}}
{{South_Carolina}}
[[Category:Charlotte metropolitan area| ]]
[[Category:Economy of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Regions of North Carolina]]
[[eo:Centralina]]
[[fr:Metrolina]]
[[bpy:সেন্ট্রালিনা]]
[[no:Centralina]]
[[pt:Centralina]]
[[ro:Centralina]]
[[ru:Сентралина]]
[[vo:Centralina]]