Charlotte, North Carolina was nicknamed the "Queen City," after the German Princess Mecklenberg who became Queen after marrying British King George III. This vibrant southern city has received a myriad of accolades; most notably Charlotte was chosen as "The Best Place to Live in America" in 2008. It is also considered one of the best cities to launch a new business. 2010 was a banner year for Charlotte. For years, the skyline has been filled with cranes, as the city was a work in progress. Now, there are new hotels, restaurants and other attractions drawing in new residents. Those moving to Charlotte will quickly discover an area with the perfect mix of big city appeal and small town southern charm.
Economy:
Charlotte is perhaps best known as a banking city – it is the current home of America and the former headquarters for Wachovia. There are a multitude of other major companies based there across all different industries. A few of the more recognizable ones are Lowe's, Goodrich, Belk, Family Dollar and Meineke. There are also many energy related companies based in Charlotte. Another big business in Charlotte is NASCAR. The majority of the NASCAR drivers and its employees live within two hours of city. Charlotte is home to the Charlotte Motor Speedway where the annual Coca-Cola 600 is held. NASCAR boasts more corporate sponsors than any other sport. The NASCAR Hall of Fame was opened in Charlotte on May 11, 2010.
Tourism:
Discovery Place is considered to be one of the best interactive science museums in the United States. There are several other museums that cater to a variety of interests like the Levine Museum of the South, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture. Charlotte also has a fabulous walking tour where visitors can get up close and personal to many of the city's major highlights. You can catch a Charlotte Panthers football game or watch the Charlotte Bobcats dribble up and down the basketball court. It's no wonder Charlotte moving companies are so busy
History:
The first immigrants to Charlotte were from Europe and arrived in 1755. The first gold ever discovered in the U.S. was found in Charlotte in 1799. Pioneers continued to find more gold there for the next 100 plus years. In 1837 the Charlotte mint was opened, but in 1861 this gold minting facility was invaded by the Confederacy. The building now exists as the Mint Museum of Art. The city really began to flourish in the period following the Civil War due to cotton processing. The city was also became a railroad hub. In the 1970s a man by the name of Hugh McColl had something major in the works. He started the ball rolling on growing the North Carolina National Bank into what is known today as Bank of America. Thus Charlotte is now a financial force to be reckoned with.