During the mid-1700s, settlers from Scotland and Ireland journeyed along the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia. They settled near two Native American trading areas east of the Catawba River. Charlotte was incorporated in 1768. The town was named after King George III’s wife, and the county was named after his wife’s native land in Germany. In 1799, a short gold boom attracted prospectors to the area’s mines. A branch of the U.S. Mint was constructed in Charlotte in 1837.

Known as the “Queen City,” Charlotte is a thriving city with plenty of amenities for the enjoyment of residents. Locals relish the area’s amusement parks, including Ray’s Splash Planet and Paramount’s Carowinds; and its museums and cultural arts centers, including Charlotte Historic Trolley Museum, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Discovery Place Science Museum, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Mint Museum of Art. Charlotte hosts the Coca-Cola 600, one of the nation’s largest sports gatherings. Other area events include the Jewish Community Cultural Arts Festival and Charlotte Ball.

Charlotte prides itself on its thriving economy. The business-minded city houses the headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies. A major industry in the Queen City is finance. Two of the nation’s largest banks are headquartered in Charlotte, and the city ranks second only to New York City in terms of financial holdings.

Charlotte students are served by the 19 pre-kindergarten schools, 29 elementary schools, 29 middle schools and 18 high schools of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public School system. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and Johnson C. Smith University are fine higher education choices in the area.

Mecklenburg County has more than 175 parks encompassing more than 14,000 acres and approximately five public golf courses. Hornets Nest Park and Latta Plantation Park are favorite recreational destinations for Northwest Charlotte residents. The 102-acre Hornets Nest Park has a disc-golf area, BMX bicycle track, lake and fishing pier as well as ball fields, nature trails, playgrounds, horseshoe pits and tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.

Latta Plantation Park, a nature preserve, is the county’s largest park. Its approximately 1,290 acres form a peninsula that borders Mountain Island Lake. The park was the site of an early 19th-century cotton plantation. Residents hike, horseback ride, fish, canoe, kayak and watch wildlife at the park, which is home to many birds, mammals and endangered plants. The Carolina Raptor Center, a rehabilitation center for birds of prey, is near Latta Plantation Park.

Mountain Island Lake, another recreational paradise, is situated in the Catawba River Basin Watershed and is a haven for wintering waterfowl. This Piedmont Prairie restoration site offers a variety of terrain including uplands, bottomlands, hardwood forests, open fields and streams. Locals journey to Lake Norman, North Carolina’s largest manmade lake, for additional recreational fun including boating and cross-country skiing.