The city of Charlotte is considered the principal city, the state capital. In fact, though, Charlotte is not the capital (Raleigh is), but rather North Carolina’s largest city.
A little history and geography of Charlotte
The city of Charlotte is located in the southeastern United States, almost on the border of North and South Carolina. Funny enough, but its remote, southern suburbs are already in the neighboring state. The settlement arose in the XVIII century, at the crossroads of the historic routes linking the North with the South, and the Center with the Atlantic coast. These trade routes were used by the Indians before the arrival of the European settlers.
The city and its surroundings have a distinctly subtropical climate: mild, but with occasional frosts, winters are mild and summers are hot and rainy. Rainfall is lowest in the first half of spring and fall.
Charlotte was founded primarily by Protestants and has remained so for a long time. Although the denominational makeup of its population is much more mixed, the Protestant, and especially the Baptist, churches have a significant influence here. Suffice it to say, the city is the birthplace of prominent religious figure Billy Graham.
The city borrowed its name from the German princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg. But at the time when her name was given to the new city, Charlotte was already the wife of the English king.
Now the city has about 827 thousand people, and with the suburbs almost twice as many.
As in its youth, Charlotte plays the role of a major transportation hub. It is still at the crossroads of Trade and Tryon streets, where in the old days the trade routes intersected, and the city’s international airport is one of the ten largest American “air gates.
Nevertheless, the foundation of stability and prosperity in Charlotte has not been transportation, but finance. Since the middle of the last century the city became the second financial center of the country after New York. For that, it is sometimes jokingly referred to as the “little apple.
The financial world reminds you of itself at every turn in Charlotte. Next to the aforementioned historic intersection is a huge modern glass building, the tallest in the city (265 meters). It is the headquarters of the Bank of America, the largest bank in the country. The city streets are full of white-collar workers, especially in the business part, the so-called Uptown. Many offices and financial institutions are located here.
Note that the city’s glass-and-metal central sections are separated from the rest of the city by a belt of parks and gardens. Charlotte is a very green and well-kept city, even by American standards. Apparently its Protestant nature, order, and cleanliness is evident in this striving for nature.