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As the importance of the mines diminished, cotton took hold as the town's money producer. The invention of the cotton gin helped to establish Charlotte as a ginning and exchange center, and the town evolved into a textile power. The beginning of the city's development as a major distribution center began in the mid-1880s with the convergence of several railroad lines in Charlotte. After the Civil War, hydroelectric power was developed on the Catawba River near Charlotte. The city began to serve as a textile center in the late nineteenth century, and by 1903, more than half of the nation's textile production was located within a 100-mile radius of Charlotte. The evolution of North Carolina's interstate highway system in the 1900s further paved the way for Charlotte to become the major distribution center that it is today. Charlotte enjoyed great expansion after World War I. The location of a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank in the 1920s also had a major impact, and Charlotte subsequently evolved into a top banking center. In the 1940s Charlotte contributed to military efforts and in the 1950s underwent another period of growth. Charlotte became a banking and distribution center that grew more than 30 percent in the 1970s, profiting from a historic desegregation ruling and a dedication to metropolitan renewal and development.
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 06-08-2010 at 07:15 AM..
In the 1990s, large-scale business expansions and relocations created many new jobs and an economy that continued to thrive despite the recession in the early 2000s. In 2005 the Charlotte Business Journal reported on a study that indicated Charlotte was the second-most popular destination for relocating families. Several factors contribute to the success of the area, including a cost of living below the national average and a graceful blend of historical homes alongside new development. The city's population is projected to grow nearly four percent annually, resulting in an expanding job market accompanied by a diverse business community that allows for prosperity even during difficult economic times.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Pineville, North Carolina, just southwest of Charlotte, might currently be known as home to Carolina Place Mall, but the town of Pineville is also the birthplace and childhood home of the 11th U.S. President, James K. Polk. A reconstructed log cabin sits on land once owned by the parents of James K. Polk and is now a state historic site.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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The Battle of Cowan's Ford
. . .At 1:00 A.M., Cornwallis reveals in his own account of the skirmish at "McCowan's ford," he began his march to the river, which was reached after much difficulty and the loss of some of their cannon, "the morning being very dark and rainy & part of our way through a wood where there was no road." But instead of going to Beatties Ford, which his actions there during the day had indicated he would try to force, he moved down the river to Cowan's. This was actually 2 fords; one, the horse ford, though shallower than the other, was longer, because it crossed the stream obliquely; the other, called the wagon ford, went straight across the river.
Davidson evidently feared that Tarleton's troops might, in the darkness of a winter's night, slip across the Catawba and get behind him, from which position they could attack him as the British infantry began its crossing. So he stayed well back from the river bank opposite to the point where the horse ford emerged on the Mecklenburg side. Meanwhile, the pickets huddled on the bank at the eastern end of the wagon ford. . . .
Baseball legend Babe Ruth delights sports fans when he hits a home run as the New York Yankees play the Brooklyn Robins in Charlotte. Four thousand fans show up to see the exhibition game played at Wearn Field on South Mint Street.
Your mention of Babe Ruth playing in Charlotte brings up an almost completely overlooked part of Charlotte's history, and that is Wearn Field.
Many Charlotteans do fondly remember Crockett Park, the old minor league baseball park on Magnolia Avenue. The old wooden ballpark hosted Charlotte's minor league teams from 1941 up until a fire destroyed the ballpark in the 1980's. I suspect, though, that most Charlotteans have never heard of the ballpark that came before Crockett Park. Known originally as Wearn Field and later as Hayman Park, the facility on South Mint St. was the home of the Charlotte Hornets from 1908 through the 1940 season. Many of the legendary figures from baseball's early history played there including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Walter Johnson, Mel Ott and many others. The ballpark was part of the old streetcar route. From looking at old copies of the Observer on microfilm at the library, I learned that just about every game received extensive front page coverage on the sports page. Baseball was the only game in town in those days and the park must have held a lot of fond memories for generations of Charlotteans. It just seems surprising that we don't hear more about this ballpark because it obviously represents an important part of Charlotte's history during the 20th century. Even finding a quality photo of the ballpark proved to be impossible, but I did find some grainy photos on microfilm, including this one of Babe Ruth, who posed for this photo when he played here in Charlotte.
[I bet this is how they came up with the name of the former NBA team[/quote]
You're right about that. That was definitely what the name of the NBA team was based on. It should me mentioned, though, that Charlotte's minor league baseball teams had that name for about 80 years starting in 1901. In fact, the real life version of Archibald Moonlight Graham, the character from the movie, 'Field of Dreams', played for the 1902 Charlotte Hornets. Graham was a Charlottean. The team set an all time record of 25 consecutive wins, but dominated the league to such a degree that the league disbanded before the season was over.
One other interesting tidbit about the Hornets thing: For a long time, Charlotte was officially known as the Hornets Nest, rather than the Queen City. They changed it sometime early in the 20th century. I guess they thought it sounded more sophisticated.
Your mention of Babe Ruth playing in Charlotte brings up an almost completely overlooked part of Charlotte's history, and that is Wearn Field.
Many Charlotteans do fondly remember Crockett Park, the old minor league baseball park on Magnolia Avenue. The old wooden ballpark hosted Charlotte's minor league teams from 1941 up until a fire destroyed the ballpark in the 1980's. I suspect, though, that most Charlotteans have never heard of the ballpark that came before Crockett Park. Known originally as Wearn Field and later as Hayman Park, the facility on South Mint St. was the home of the Charlotte Hornets from 1908 through the 1940 season. Many of the legendary figures from baseball's early history played there including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Walter Johnson, Mel Ott and many others. The ballpark was part of the old streetcar route. From looking at old copies of the Observer on microfilm at the library, I learned that just about every game received extensive front page coverage on the sports page. Baseball was the only game in town in those days and the park must have held a lot of fond memories for generations of Charlotteans. It just seems surprising that we don't hear more about this ballpark because it obviously represents an important part of Charlotte's history during the 20th century. Even finding a quality photo of the ballpark proved to be impossible, but I did find some grainy photos on microfilm, including this one of Babe Ruth, who posed for this photo when he played here in Charlotte.
A couple of the Hornet's players at Wearn Field, notice the logo.
the 1902 Charlotte Hornets, who played at Latta Park. Moonlight Graham, upper left
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Andrew Jackson
