In 1752, a small community of Scots-Irish people, having traveled the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, established a settlement at the crossroads of two Indian trading paths east of the Catawba River. Prior to the American Revolution, the townspeople professed their loyalty to the British Crown by naming their settlement Charlotte after the new bride of King George the III. Mecklenburg County was named of the birthplace of Princess Charlotte - the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Germany.

Charlotte was incorporated in 1768. Many years following the war of Independence, a 17-pound gold nugget was discovered in the Charlotte area, bringing forth a prosperous, yet short-lived, gold boom. When gold fever diminished, the cotton industry along with the advent of the railroads, ushered in a modern era in Charlotte's history.

Modern Charlotte is a cosmopolitan city rich in culture, science, history, recreation, education and a high standard of quality living. The city center is alive with commerce - home to nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies and 350 foreign firms. Interstates 77 and 85 intersect in Charlotte, linking the city with the Great Lakes region, New England and Florida. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic beaches are a short dive away. Arts and culture are alive and thriving in Charlotte.

The University of North Carolina and the University Research Park also attract newcomers to the Northeast area with their many resources. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) are a premier, urban integrated school system, which serves more than 109,000 students in approximately 141 schools.

Area museums include Discovery Place, the Mint Museum and its sister property, the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, the Charlotte Museum of History and the Historic Trolley Museum. Charlotte nightlife is positively aglow at the dazzling $55 million Blumenthal Performing Arts Center or premier performances of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Afro-American Children's Theater.

Of course, Charlotte is also a national sports hub. The Ericsson Stadium in uptown Charlotte is home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. In addition, the city supports the Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association, the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and the East Coast Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers, who play at historic Cricket Arena. Lowe's Motor Speedway is a popular attraction for lovers of stock car and Indy car racing. The Charlotte Speed Street festival is held every year in conjunction with the annual Coca Cola 600, a high-performance race at the Speedway.

Amateur athletes enjoy a wide variety of recreational amenities through the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Parks, which feature the standard park amenities of tennis, swimming, golf, picnic areas, fitness trails and ball fields. Several specialized facilities include the Aquatic Center, the equestrian and raptor center at historic Latta Plantation Park, and a PGA-sanctioned golf development at Piper Glen. Two Golf Digest Top 100 golf courses are in Charlotte at Country Club and Quail Hollow. Other popular community events include the annual Charlotte Observer Marathon and Center City Fest, a celebration of entertainment and food.

Just like the Vortex, a stand-up roller coaster at Paramount's Carowinds, which is an 83-acre theme park on the North and South Carolina border, the city of Charlotte - in all its cosmopolitan glory - will take your breath away.