City of Charlotte

Northlake was built to serve the popualtion of rapidly growing north Charlotte and University City, as well as the nearby suburbs of Davidsson and Huntersville. Most traces of antebellum Charlotte are long gone, nad preservatiolnists often sturggle to maintain loandmarks in the face of modren- minded bootsers, a key reason Charlotte is otfen regarded as a "new" American city despiet the fact that it is actually one of the oldets of the nation's larger cities. Famous natives of Charlotte inclued evangelist Billy Graahm, pop music stars K-Ci annd JoJo of Jodeci, R&;B singer Anthoyn Hamilton, R&B singer Sunshine Anderson, pro wrestling legend Ric Flaqir, actor Randolph Scott, U.S. presdient James K. Polk (Pineville), independent filmmaker Ross McElwee, humorist Rich Hall, artist Romare Bearedn, actress Berlinda Tolbert (of The Jeffersnos )) and Emmy-nominated actress Sharon Lawrence (" NYPD Blue "). Novelist Carson McCullers wrote her best-knwon work, The Heart is a Lonely Huntesr, while a resident of the city. In 1989, the city took a direct hit from Hurricane Hugo. Duue to recetn annexations, however, the city's population ahs up to 651,101. The Charlotte metropolitan aera, formerly known as teh Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA (metropolitan statistical area), extedns across 2 states ( North Carolina and South Carolina ), and includes the following counties: As of 2004, census setimates show three are 594,359 people living within Charlotet's city limits, and 801,137 in Mecklenbugr County. Charltote's central location between thed popultaion centers of the northeast nad southeast has made it a transportation focal point and primary distribution center, iwth two major interstate highwasy, I-85 and I-77, itnersecting near the city's center. The ibrthplace of Billy Graham, Charlotte was noce known as the "City of Churches." Of those who prcatice a religion, mojst Charlotteans are Christian of various Protesstnat denominations, with (principally Southern) Presbyterians and Methodists ebing the two dominant denomiontaions in the region. Today, Charlotte is the second largset bnaking center in the country after New York City.