Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. Charlotte's 2010 population is estimated to be 756,912 by the Charlotte Chamber, making it the 18th largest city in the United States.
History
The current land of Mecklenburg County has a long and storied history that involves being located in five different counties since 1696 or over 300 years of existence. Retracing the exact beginning of Mecklenburg goes back to its inclusion as a part of Bath County (1696–1729) of New Hanover Precinct of The House of Hanover royalty in England. Bath County became New Hanover County (1729–present) that split into Bladen County (1734–present) and then Anson County (1750–present). The current Mecklenburg (1762–present) saw Cabarrus County split off (1792–present) and Union County (1842–present) to its current land size. Charlotte has a rich history and further information can be found here.
Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte and the county containing it are named in honor of the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, who had become queen consort of British King George III the year before the city's founding. A second nickname derives from later in the 18th century. During the American Revolutionary War, British commander General Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out afterwards by hostile residents, prompting him to write that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," leading to another city nickname: The Hornet's Nest.
Forbes named Charlotte as the third most undervalued real estate markets in the U.S. in 2007. In 2008, Charlotte was chosen the "Best Place to Live in America" by relocate-America.com in its annual ranking, based on factors including employment opportunities, crime rates, and housing affordability. It was also named #8 of the 100 "Best Places to Live and Launch" by CNNMoney.com; cities were picked for their vibrant lifestyles and opportunities for new businesses. Lifestyle was also noted when in 2007 Prevention Magazine rated the city the fourth best "Walking City" in the nation, and the best in North Carolina, and Self Magazine named it one of "Five Cities with Big Outdoor Appeal" for features like its Public Art Walking Tour, accessible museums such as the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, and nearby outdoor excursions like the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
