Charlotte, city in southern North Carolina and seat of Mecklenburg County. The city is located in the Piedmont Plateau region near the Catawba River. The largest city in the state, Charlotte lies at the heart of a growing metropolitan region that includes seven counties and extends into South Carolina. Charlotte is one of the principal banking centers of the nation and an important manufacturing, trade, transportation, and services center for the surrounding region. Major industries include banking and printing; the manufacture of chemicals, microelectronics, textiles, furniture, machinery, metal and paper products, and processed food is important to the city's economy. Many national and international companies have their subsidiary headquarters in Charlotte, which is a port of entry. Air transportation is through Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
Queens College (1857), Johnson C. Smith University (1867), a campus (established in 1946) of the University of North Carolina, and several junior colleges are in Charlotte. Points of interest include the Mint Museum of Art, housed in a reconstructed former branch of the United States Mint (in operation 1837-1861, 1867-1913); the Charlotte Nature Museum; and Discovery Place, an interactive science and technology museum. Other cultural institutions are the Charlotte Museum of History and the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, former home of the writer of the first constitution of North Carolina and the oldest surviving residence in Mecklenburg County; and Spirit Square, a cultural and performing arts center. The city is also home to the Charlotte Hornets professional basketball team and the Carolina Panthers professional football team. Just to the north of the city is the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Annual Charlotte events include the Southern Spring Show and SpringFest.
