CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG COUNTY
City/County Offices
600 E. 4th Street
Charlotte 704-336-2248
https://www.mecknc.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
330 South Tryon Street
Charlotte 704-378-1300
https://charlotteregion.com/
Services
Home to the leading metropolitan area in North Carolina as well as thriving suburbs and tranquil lakefront communities, beautiful Mecklenburg County is a model of livability. Strong support from individuals, businesses, and communities has produced one of the nation’s finest public school systems. The options for private education are abundant in the area’s parochial and independent schools, from preschool through college-prep academies. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System excels in supporting challenged students while providing opportunities for students who are willing to take on challenging projects including advanced placement and college-credit courses for high school students.
Higher education close to home is available in career and technical institutes, Central Piedmont Community College, several private institutions, and the public University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Serving Charlotte as well as the surrounding 14-county metropolitan area, UNC Charlotte encompasses a graduate school and seven outstanding colleges. In addition to the 1,000-acre main campus in the University City area, the college offers a downtown Charlotte campus in the Arts and Cultural District. Respected private colleges in and near Mecklenburg County include Davidson College in Davidson, Gaston College, King’s College, Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith College, Johnson & Wales University, Montreat College, Pfeiffer University at Charlotte, Wake Forest University, Belmont Abbey College, Barber-Scotia College, Gardner Web University, Wingate University, and Winthrop University. Highly specialized degree programs are available at Brookstone College of Business, the Art Institute of Charlotte, and York Technical College.
Metropolitan Charlotte and Mecklenburg County are served by state-of-the-art healthcare facilities that include nationally renowned teaching hospitals and research institutions. Emergency care centers, small clinics that excel in personalized attention, specialty centers, rehabilitation facilities, home health, long-term care, and hundreds of skill professionals are all dynamic components of the highly advanced and comprehensive network of services. The not-for-profit Carolinas HealthCare System is one of the region’s leading providers, anchored by the Carolinas Medical Center—the largest hospital in Charlotte and the flagship of a system that serves communities in both North and South Carolina. Presbyterian Healthcare also operates a flagship hospital near downtown Charlotte, Presbyterian Hospital. Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville is especially convenient to residents of northern Mecklenburg and southern Iredell counties.
Lifestyle
Unrivaled for its mild year-round climate and four-season splendor, natural beauty, robust economy, low cost of living, and Southern hospitality, Mecklenburg County offers a rich quality of life. New residents can look forward to public schools that have received the national Community Award for Excellence, an active cultural community, world-class recreational opportunities, and hundreds of welcoming neighborhoods filled with attractive homes. Families will find amusement and entertainment centers, zoos and natural wonders, science and discovery venues, elaborate playgrounds, children’s theatre, and library programs with the younger set in mind.
Increasingly diverse and cosmopolitan, the Metropolitan Charlotte area has remained one of the nation’s fastest growing for well over a decade, attracting Fortune 500 companies and international commerce as well as throngs of new residents. Sports fans will appreciate the many professional teams in the Charlotte area as well as the NASCAR action at nearby Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Championship golf courses, tennis courts and racquet clubs, local lakes for boating and water sports, sprawling lush parks with green space and facilities, abundant sports leagues and recreational programs ensure quality leisure hours. Complementing popular community parks, the county manages 5,200 acres of nature preserves that protect fragile habitats.
Wonderful museums like the Afro-American Cultural Center, the Mint Museum of Art, the Charlotte Museum of History, and the Discovery Place are designed to capture the attention of every age group and interest. With Charlotte claiming the nation’s strongest per-capita financial support for the arts, the proliferation of local talent and touring groups is no surprise. Professional theatre, dance, opera, choral groups, Broadway shows, comedy, and dinner theater are part of the kaleidoscope of attractions. The ideal venue for every performance, production, and event is available in Charlotte, including the dazzling $55 million Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. More than half the funding for this magnificent five-level center came from private funding.
Cornelius
Municipal Offices
704-892-6031
https://www.cornelius.org
Chamber of Commerce
704-892-1922
https://www.lakenormanchamber.org
Proud of its character as a friendly, active, and rapidly growing community serving as the Gateway to the Lake Norman region, Cornelius provides an attractive residential setting surrounded by natural beauty. Preserving the historic legacy of the first cotton mill, the town maintains a small manufacturing center along with expanded shops and services. The steady influx of new residents and the construction of handsome new homes—many of which are nestled along Lake Norman—have spurred commercial growth. Harmonizing yesterday’s charm with modern convenience, the renovated downtown district combines with upscale new shopping centers and restaurants to meet every need. Primarily regarded as a “lake community,” Cornelius is evolving as a balanced community of thriving businesses, comfortable neighborhoods, and active residents. Adding to the green space and recreational opportunities is the 106-acre Jetton Park.
Davidson
Municipal Offices
Davidson 704-892-7591
https://www.ci.davidson.nc.us
Chamber of Commerce
704-892-1922
https://www.lakenormanchamber.org
Davidson is a lakeside town on Lake Norman in the northern part of Mecklenburg County. It is home to more than 10,944 at the 2010 census. It is home to Davidson College and the town is centered around the college from which it takes its name. The town was founded in 1837 with the establishment of the Presbyterian Davidson College, named for Brigadier General William Lee Davidson, a local Revolutionary War hero in Mecklenburg County. The land for Davidson College came from Davidson’s estate, a large portion of which was donated by his son. This charming town presents a wide array of leisure activities including upscale shopping, golfing, NASCAR, fishing, and water fun. And with its close proximity to Charlotte, residents get to enjoy all of the urban amenities the city offers.
Being home to Davidson College, the community has the lively feel of a college town, set in a little bit of traditional small town America. Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,900 students. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
The town offers its residents a high quality of life, with plenty of activities for every interest. The downtown is home to a traditional main street that has quaint shops, galleries, restaurants and more. The town is designed for walking and biking. In fact these forms of transportation are encouraged, so much so that the town doesn’t allow drive-thrus. The town is also home to a town green which is used for festivals and community activities. Combine the small town charm, college life, the unmatched recreation offered by Lake Norman and close proximity to Charlotte and you end up with a community that has a lot to offer its residents and newcomers alike. Davidson is a wonderful place to call home.
Huntersville
Municipal Offices
704-875-6541
https://www.huntersville.org
Chamber of Commerce
704-892-1922
https://www.lakenormanchamber.org
As a testimony to yesterday’s agricultural community, modern Huntersville still preserves remnants of the split-rail fences that protected farmland from grazing animals. Named for a prominent family in the area, the community boasts a rich history that includes two prominent institutions of higher education in the 1800s. At one time, a brickyard provided the building materials for many of the local buildings. In the older sections of Huntersville, some of these sturdy brick structures and remaining chimneys from the original brick can still be seen. Like many of the communities in the Lake Norman area, Huntersville has experienced tremendous growth and development. Throngs of new residents are blending with rooted residents who have owned property in the community for decades. The rural charm of open space, picturesque farmland, a quick commute to the city, sparkling Lake Norman, and a burgeoning business sector are all part of the attraction to Huntersville.
Matthews
Municipal Offices
704-847-4411
https://www.matthewsnc.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
704-847-3649
https://matthewschamber.org/
The sleepy farming community of Matthews began to change after World War II, affected by the sprawl of Charlotte’s real estate boom and residential growth into the countryside. The Interstate 485 outer beltway that connected Matthew directly with Interstates 77 and 85 as well as to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport greatly accelerating the area’s development. Subdivisions and housing developments, businesses, a leading hospital, and several large corporations settled in Matthews. As it enters the 21st century, Matthews is recognized as one of the region’s most affluent and desirable communities. At the same time, a quaint and small-town atmosphere still prevails in the downtown district with its charming antique shops. Along the Highway 74 corridor, Matthews residents can find all the goods and services they need close to home. Strip malls, spacious shopping centers, and fine or casual dining establishments thrive in this bustling commercial center.
Mint Hill
Municipal Offices
704-545-9726
https://www.minthill.com
Chamber of Commerce
704-378-1300
https://charlotteregion.com/
To the east of Charlotte, the community of Mint Hill offers a tranquil, bucolic residential haven for those who desire upscale housing and a family-oriented atmosphere. The town has managed to retain a rural flavor, enhanced by generous home sites with sweeping lots. Many of these handsome developments surround premier golf courses, adding to their sense of openness and natural beauty. Blending a touch of Mayberry with advanced technologies, a thriving industrial park, Interstate 485 convenience, and modern shopping centers, Mint Hill is only 25 minutes from uptown Charlotte. With its excellent transportation facilities, easy access to metropolitan attractions and institutions of higher education, and prime tracts of available land, Mint Hill is destined for continued growth and quality development. Community assets include strong retail activity, an athletic association, active civic clubs, and a dedicated historical society. Acres of parkland offer open green space, picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, sports courts, a skating rink, volleyball facility, and a fitness trail.
Pineville
Municipal Offices
704-889-2291
https://pcsfiber.net/
Chamber of Commerce
704-378-1300
https://charlotteregion.com/
The small but rapidly growing town of Pineville is well known throughout the region for the charming cluster of antique shops that line Main Street. In spite of the quiet residential atmosphere, Pineville attracts a regional population to burgeoning shopping centers, a major mall, flourishing businesses, and services that include a state-of-the-art medical park with one of the area’s finest hospitals. This well-managed community even owns and operates its own utilities including telephone service that provides high-speed Internet access and business communications systems. The local parks and recreation department provides opportunities for basketball, karate, cheerleading, aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, weights, racquetball, ceramics, summer camp, and many special events.
