Things newcomers might not know about Charlotte (Jacksonville, Greenville: live in, centers)

[brokensky]

It would be neat if everyone would post things that newcomers might not know about this region.

For example, surely everyone knows that Lake Norman is a man-made lake, right? But maybe some don't know that . . .

So share any info you have that newcomers may not know about the history of Charlotte (or the metro area).

[SunnyKayak]

'The Queen City
Charlotte was named in honor of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III of Britain and is often referred to as 'The Queen City'.

Average commute time in Charlotte is only 24.8 minutes.

Fortune 500: Charlotte ranks 6th nationally in number of Fortune 500 headquartered companies

Distribution Centers: The city ranks 5th nationally in the number of distribution centers.

Temperatures average 71.3°F year round.
A typical January day will start with a morning low of 32 °F and top out at 51 °F in the afternoon
Temperatures average only 76 °F, although July and August can be hot, with 90 °F not uncommon. However, the city boasts less humidity and less than half the number of 90 °F days than other southern cities Jacksonville and Houston

demographics
The demographic of Charlotte has evolved with the establishment of many ethnic communities. Greek, Asian, Indian, German, British, Vietnamese, Russian, African and Latino populations .

[nkjaws]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

'The Queen City
Charlotte was named in honor of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III of Britain and is often referred to as 'The Queen City'.

Average commute time in Charlotte is only 24.8 minutes.

Fortune 500: Charlotte ranks 6th nationally in number of Fortune 500 headquartered companies

Distribution Centers: The city ranks 5th nationally in the number of distribution centers.

Temperatures average 71.3°F year round.
A typical January day will start with a morning low of 32 °F and top out at 51 °F in the afternoon
Temperatures average only 76 °F, although July and August can be hot, with 90 °F not uncommon. However, the city boasts less humidity and less than half the number of 90 °F days than other southern cities Jacksonville and Houston

demographics
The demographic of Charlotte has evolved with the establishment of many ethnic communities. Greek, Asian, Indian, German, British, Vietnamese, Russian, African and Latino populations .

Interesting facts:
Largest City: Charlotte with 550,000 residents and over 1.4 million in the metro area.
Charlotte history:
Around the middle of the 1700's, Scotch-Irish settlers came along the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia. Near the Catawba River, they stopped and built a settlement which continued to grow as new neighbors moved in. The name for this new settlement was Charlotte in honor of the wife of King George III, who was the king of England(as sunny stated).. In 1768, Charlotte became an incorporated city. Charlotte was located in the new county of Mecklenburg, which was also named in honor of Queen Charlotte's homeland of Germany.
1799 brought a new experience for Charlotte with the discovery of a 17 pound gold nugget, bringing more prospectors and the opening of new mines. It didn't last, though, as the call from California's gold fields took away the miners. Cotton was also a staple crop for Charlotte. The railroad came to town and helped the economy stabilize even more.

[brokensky]

Here is a really interesting thread on roads in the 1700s:

//www.city-data.com/forum/charl...ads-1700s.html

[njmdpanc]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Average commute time in Charlotte is only 24.8 minutes.

From where to where?

[DavesJeep]

Originally Posted by njmdpanc

From where to where?

I live in Matthews(south edge of Charlotte) and it takes me only 15-20 min to get down town at 8 am week days.

Remember he said average commute. Some will be 45 min some will be 10 min.

[QC Misfit]

How about turns signals are needed so we know when your turning Especially on these roads that take forever to turn out off such as Stumptown Rd in Huntersville.

[PeytonC]

I read somewhere recently that Charlotte has the largest number of German-owned businesses in the nation.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by PeytonC

I read somewhere recently that Charlotte has the largest number of German-owned businesses in the nation.

I know that I-85 between Greenville and Charlotte used to be called the "autobahn" because of German businesses.

[vindaloo]

NKJAWS, city and metro populations are much higher than the figures you posted. With 25,000 annual newcomers to Charlotte and 50,000 to the Charlotte area, the population has shot up quite a bit.