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91-693: Prior to 1976, public transportation in Charlotte was entirely privatized. Trolleys operated in the city from 1891 until 1938. Privately operated bus routes also ran in Charlotte until 1976. In 1976, the City of Charlotte began operating bus routes under the Charlotte Transit brand, which operated from 1976 until CATS' founding in 2000. (Charlotte Transit and the Charlotte Area Transit System are not to be confused despite

182-569: A hub-and-spoke system , with the Charlotte Transportation Center being its center and Eastland, Rosa Parks Place, and Southpark as mini-hubs in their respective areas. The Eastland Community Transit Center is a neighborhood-sized transit hub located at the former Eastland Mall site, along Central Avenue. The 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) site includes an open-air plaza and space to accommodate 8-10 small and regular-sized buses. The Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center

273-547: A 30-member transit funding task force released a draft report in which they estimated it would cost $ 3.3 billion to build the remaining transit corridors, and $ 1.7 billion to operate and maintain the lines through 2024. To fund the build-out by sales taxes alone would require a 0.78 cent increase in the sales tax, which would need to be approved by the state General Assembly. The committee recommended any sales tax increase be limited to 0.5 cent and other methods used to raise funds; some suggested methods included: Although build-out of

364-487: A formidable national bank that through aggressive acquisitions eventually merged with BankAmerica to become Bank of America . First Union , later Wachovia in 2001, experienced similar growth before it was acquired by San Francisco –based Wells Fargo in 2008. Measured by control of assets, Charlotte became the second largest banking headquarters in the United States after New York City . On September 22, 1989,

455-586: A major impact on the area, as they often pull tree limbs down onto power lines and make driving hazardous. Snow has been recorded a small number of times in April, most recently on April 2, 2019. As of 2020 , the Charlotte metropolitan area as a whole is noted for having one of the worst weather radar gaps among any major U.S. East Coast city , with little to no coverage in a roughly quadrilateral area spanning Concord , Salisbury and much of Statesville . As

546-509: A normal July daily mean temperature of 80.1 °F (26.7 °C). Hot and humid days can arrive as early as May and last to the end of September. There is an average of 44 days per year with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C). Official record temperatures range from 104 °F (40 °C) recorded six times, most recently from June 29 to July 1, 2012 , down to −5 °F (−21 °C) recorded on December 30, 1880 , February 14 1899 and January 21, 1985 . The record cold daily maximum

637-689: A reevaluation of the entire corridor, the CATS decided to move forward with a bus rapid transit (BRT) service instead, the I-77 Bus Rapid Transit, and shelve the commuter rail service, which was met with frustration by various city leaders and residents impacted by it. However, in June 2024, it was announced that the City of Charlotte plans to purchase a section of the O-Line between Charlotte and Mooresville, NC for commuter rail service, thus placing

728-402: A total capacity of 255 passengers, and have four wheelchair spaces and two bicycle racks. They are 85.25 ft (26 m) long by 8.67 ft (2.64 m) wide, with each weighing 101,081 lb (45,850 kilograms). Maximum speed is 35 miles per hour (56 km/h), with an operational speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). Their design and color schemes are similar to the vehicles used on

819-476: Is 14 °F (−10 °C) on February 12 and 13, 1899 . The record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on August 13, 1881. The average window for freezing temperatures is November 5 to March 30, allowing a growing season of 220 days. Charlotte is directly in the path of subtropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico as it heads up the eastern seaboard, thus the city receives ample precipitation throughout

910-414: Is 200 miles (320 km) inland, and residents from coastal areas in both Carolinas often wait out hurricanes in Charlotte. In December 2002, Charlotte and much of central North Carolina were hit by an ice storm that resulted in more than 1.3 million people losing power. During an abnormally cold December, many were without power for weeks. Many of the city's Bradford pear trees split apart under

1001-623: Is 66 miles per hour (106 km/h), with a top speed of 71.5 miles per hour (115.1 km/h); power comes from a 750-volt overhead wire . When not in use, the vehicles are stored at the South Boulevard Light Rail Facility, located along South Boulevard, between the New Bern and Scaleybark stations in the Sedgefield neighborhood . The facility is approximately 92,000 square feet (8,547.1 m), and houses

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1092-603: Is a neighborhood-sized transit hub located at the Mecklenburg County Health Department, at the intersection of Rosa Park Place and Beatties Ford Road. The facility is named after Rosa Parks , who was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott . The SouthPark Community Transit Center is a neighborhood-sized transit hub located underneath SouthPark Mall . The facility

1183-410: Is a proposed 25-mile (40 km) commuter rail service routed along the existing Norfolk Southern O-Line right-of-way, connecting the towns in northern Mecklenburg and southern Iredell counties to Uptown Charlotte , North Carolina . However, several issues had arisen that included ineligibility for federal funding and Norfolk Southern refusal to allow access to its right-of-way. In 2019, after

1274-703: Is a proposed 29-mile (47 km) east-west light rail line that would connect the outlying cities and towns of Belmont , Matthews , Stallings and Indian Trail to Uptown Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport . Originally setup as two separate projects known as the Southeast Corridor and West Corridor, they were merged in 2019 by the Metropolitan Transit Commission. Tentative opening date in 2037. The Lynx Red Line

1365-452: Is an emerging center for arts and entertainment. Myers Park , Dilworth , and Eastover are home to some of Charlotte's most affluent, oldest and largest houses, on tree-lined boulevards, with Freedom Park nearby. The SouthPark area offers shopping, dining, and multifamily housing. Far South Boulevard is home to a large Hispanic community. Many students, researchers, and affiliated professionals live near UNC Charlotte in

1456-630: Is currently working to launch microtransit in 2024, covering the University and North End zones, as well as a zone including Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville. This is proposed to replace the North Meck Village Rider service covering the latter three cities. A pilot program was deployed in 2022. Source: CATS 2010 Annual Report , National Transit Database ' Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( / ˈ ʃ ɑːr l ə t / SHAR -lət )

1547-683: Is expected to wrap up in late 2020 or early 2021, will extend the existing line to Sunnyside Avenue in Plaza-Midwood and French Street by Johnson C. Smith University . In 2018, the Blue Line extension opened, connecting the existing Blue Line to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte , connecting the University City , NoDa , Optimist Park, Plaza-Midwood , and Belmont neighborhoods. The Red Line project, an integral piece of

1638-516: Is now Charlotte was first settled by European colonists around 1755 when Thomas Spratt and his family settled near what is now the Elizabeth neighborhood. Thomas Polk (great-uncle of President James K. Polk ), who later married Thomas Spratt's daughter, built his house by the intersection of two Native American trading paths between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers. One path ran north–south and

1729-461: Is still in the planning stages. CATS currently operates two models of rail cars, Siemens S700 and S70 , with a fleet total of 48 vehicles: The vehicles are 93.6 ft (28.5 m) long and 8.7 ft (2.65 m) wide, with each having an empty weight of 99,500 lb (45,100 kilograms). Each vehicle contains 68 seats and has a maximum capacity of 230 passengers complete with four wheelchair spaces and four bike racks. Maximum operational speed

1820-539: Is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County . The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census , making Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the South , and the second-most populous city in the Southeast behind Jacksonville, Florida . Charlotte is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of

1911-812: Is the twenty-sixth-most expansive city in the United States and lies at an elevation of 751 feet (229 m). Charlotte constitutes most of Mecklenburg County in the Carolina Piedmont . Uptown Charlotte sits atop a long rise between two creeks, Sugar Creek and Irwin Creek, and was built on the gunnies of the St. Catherine's and Rudisill gold mines . Charlotte is 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Concord ; 26 miles (42 km) northeast of Rock Hill, South Carolina ; 83 miles (134 km) southwest of Greensboro ; 135 miles (217 km) west of Fayetteville ; and 165 miles (266 km) southwest of Raleigh ,

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2002-507: The 1930 census , and has remained North Carolina's largest city since. Until 1958, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad operated a daily passenger train from its own station (which had opened in 1896) to Wilmington . The city's modern-day banking industry achieved prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, largely under the leadership of financier Hugh McColl . McColl transformed North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) into

2093-672: The American Revolution . May 20, the traditional date of the signing of the declaration, is celebrated annually in Charlotte as "MecDec", with musket and cannon fire by reenactors in Independence Square. North Carolina's state flag and state seal also bear the date. Charlotte is traditionally considered the home of Southern Presbyterianism , but in the 19th century, numerous churches, including Presbyterian, Baptist , Methodist , Episcopal , Lutheran , and Roman Catholic formed, eventually giving Charlotte

2184-749: The Billy Graham Library , Levine Museum of the New South , Charlotte Museum of History , Carowinds amusement park, and U.S. National Whitewater Center . Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate . It is located several miles east of the Catawba River and southeast of Lake Norman , the largest human-made lake in North Carolina. Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller human-made lakes located near

2275-580: The Blue Line . The streetcars are equipped with a hybrid wireless onboard energy storage system (OESS); they draw power from 750V DC overhead wires along most of the line except between Mint Street and the Charlotte Transportation Center, where they run on battery power. The batteries are recharged when the vehicles resume running on-wire. Delivered in the fall of 2004, the three heritage streetcars , from Gomaco Trolley Company , were replacements of three non-owned historic streetcars that initially started

2366-532: The Charlotte Trolley , operating three Birney-style replica streetcars between Atherton Mill and 9th Street . In 2006, the trolley service was suspended to allow the line's conversion to light-rail. Resumed on a limited schedule in 2008, the heritage streetcar line was discontinued two years later on June 28, 2010. The Lynx Blue Line is a 19.3-mile (31.1 km) light rail in Charlotte , North Carolina . Opened on November 24, 2007 and hailed as

2457-527: The Charlotte metropolitan area increased 55 percent, largely due to the expansion of express bus services. CATS chief Ron Tober began the planning process for what would become the Lynx Blue Line in the early 2000s. Under Tober's leadership, the MTC adopted the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan in 2006. The initial plan called for the "Red Line" commuter rail with service to Northern Mecklenburg County ,

2548-464: The Charlotte metropolitan area , whose estimated 2023 population of 2,805,115 ranked 22nd in the United States . The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of an 18-county market region and combined statistical area with an estimated population of 3,387,115 as of 2023. Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents. Based on U.S. census data from 2005 to 2015, Charlotte tops

2639-778: The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , with the majority of those multiple-stop routes serving the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown . Other routes that do not serve Uptown mainly connect directly between Lynx rail stations and outlying neighborhoods. Three community transit centers in different parts of the city were built in the mid-2000s: the Eastland Community Transit Center in East Charlotte located near

2730-791: The Lynx Silver Line , a multibillion-dollar east–west light rail line that will run from Matthews through Uptown Charlotte and west to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River to Belmont . The line, projected to open in 2030, will connect to the Blue Line at 11th Street and the future intermodal Charlotte Gateway Station . CATS bus service primarily serves Mecklenburg County , with service in Charlotte , Davidson , Huntersville , Cornelius , Matthews , Pineville , and Mint Hill . Limited local and express service operated by CATS also extends to Iredell County , Gaston County , Union County , and York County, South Carolina . CATS operates local routes within

2821-558: The NBA team was known as the Charlotte Bobcats when the name was chosen); also, "Lynx" is a homophone of "links", and was mainly chosen because the light rail is about "connectivity." The color scheme of the rail cars is silver, with black and blue accents and gold around the "Lynx" logo to tie in the history of the Charlotte region being home to the first major U.S. Gold Rush . CATS rail service first began on June 28, 2004 with

Charlotte Area Transit System - Misplaced Pages Continue

2912-568: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte The line uses the Siemens S70 as rolling stock, which connects its 26 stations. The CityLynx Gold Line is a 4-mile modern streetcar route that runs from French Street to Sunnyside Avenue through central Charlotte. When the final phase is completed the line will run from Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center through Uptown Charlotte and down Central Avenue, terminating at Eastland Community Transit Center. A Federal Urban Circulator Grant

3003-596: The state capital . Though the Catawba River and its lakes lie several miles west, there are no significant bodies of water or other geological features near the city center. Consequently, development has neither been constrained nor helped by waterways or ports that have contributed to many cities of similar size. The lack of these obstructions has contributed to Charlotte's growth as a highway, rail, and air transportation hub. Charlotte has 199 neighborhoods radiating in all directions from Uptown . Biddleville ,

3094-511: The 12 lighted tennis courts at the park. In September 2013, the 5.4-acre (2.2 ha) Romare Bearden Park opened to the public. The urban section of Little Sugar Creek Greenway was completed in 2012. Inspired in part by the San Antonio River Walk , and integral to Charlotte's extensive urban park system, it is "a huge milestone" according to Gwen Cook, greenway planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. However,

3185-457: The 1990s. Voluntary buyouts of 700 households have created around 200 acres (81 ha)s of open land that can flood safely, thereby saving an estimated $ 28 million in flood damage and emergency rescues. McAlpine Creek Park and integrated McAlpine Creek Greenway constructed in 1978 was the first greenway built in the western piedmont of North Carolina. Like much of the Piedmont region of

3276-483: The 2030 System Plan, has run into significant headwinds due to disagreements with Norfolk Southern , which owns the tracks the Red Line was planned to operate on, and funding concerns. In September 2024, the city of Charlotte voted in approval of the purchase of the rail corridor for the Red Line from Norfolk Southern and a sales tax increase to support operations. CATS is currently in the planning and design stages for

3367-487: The Blue Line Extension at a cost of $ 96.2 million. This purchase allowed CATS to have more three-car trains on the existing Blue Line. The first car was delivered in late October 2014, and the last in spring 2017. After delivery of the 22 additional S70 cars, the fleet had a total of 42 light rail vehicles. The first series is numbered 101–116, the second series 201–204 (originally 117–120; renumbered 2018), and

3458-637: The Blue Line opened, CEO Ron Tober, who had led CATS since its inception, retired. After Tober's departure, CATS hired Carolyn Flowers, who had previously headed the bus system in Los Angeles County . During Flowers' tenure, the transit system pushed ahead with the Gold Line and Blue Line extension projects in the wake of the Great Recession . In 2014, Flowers resigned to take a Federal Transit Administration position. John M. Lewis Jr.

3549-535: The Blue Line, the CityLynx Gold Line streetcar, and a busway along the route of what is now planned to be the Lynx Silver Line . In 2007, the initial portion of the Blue Line opened, connecting the Uptown , South End , Scaleybark, Tyvola, and Arrowood neighborhoods. The initial phase of the Blue Line spurred an explosion of development along the rail corridor, particularly in South End . Shortly after

3640-556: The Catawba had no natural immunity against. At the time of their largest population, the Catawba population was 10,000. But by 1826, the Catawba population dropped to 110. The city of Charlotte was developed first by a wave of migration of Scots-Irish Presbyterians , or Ulster-Scot settlers from Ulster , who dominated the culture of the Southern Piedmont Region and made up the principal founding population in

3731-565: The Charlotte Trolley in 1988. The streetcars operated along the, grade-separated , Charlotte Trolley from 2004 to 2006 and then on a limited schedule from 2008 to 2010, when the Charlotte Trolley ceased operations. The streetcars were then put back into service during the first phase of the CityLynx Gold Line; from 2015 to 2019, they operated along 1.5-mile (2.4 km) line along Trade Street and Hawthorne Lane. In 2020,

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3822-749: The Charlotte general area. In 2018, Charlotte proper had over 700 places of worship. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is now the fourth largest denomination in Charlotte, with 68,000 members and 206 congregations. The second largest Presbyterian denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America has 43 churches and 12,000 members, followed by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with 63 churches and 9,500 members. Plaza-Midwood (Charlotte neighborhood) Too Many Requests If you report this error to

3913-567: The I‑485 perimeter, has experienced rapid growth over the past ten years. The Steele Creek neighborhood which is primarily in Mecklenburg county is located within minutes near Uptown Charlotte. Since the 1980s in particular, Uptown Charlotte has undergone massive construction of buildings, housing Bank of America , Wells Fargo , Hearst Corporation , and Duke Energy , several hotels, and multiple condominium developments. Latta Park

4004-586: The Little Sugar Creek Greenway bears no relation to the San Antonio River Walk. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway is prone to flooding during thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain. Creation of Little Sugar Creek Greenway cost $ 43 million and was controversial because it required the forced acquisition of several established local businesses. The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County began purchasing flood-prone homes in

4095-569: The Lynx rail maintenance staff, operations staff and the Rail Operations Control Center. Officially dedicated on June 23, 2007, the facility contains 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of track and 5,200 ties. In January 2004, CATS began the process of accepting bids for construction of the system's vehicles. Original estimates for the vehicles was $ 3.5 million per car with the firms Bombardier , Siemens and Kinki Sharyo bidding for

4186-741: The Sprinter service from the CTC to Charlotte Douglas International Airport . This center city to airport link will be replaced by the Lynx Silver Line upon its completion. CATS also operates the Special Transportation Service (STS), a paratransit service which provides transportation to people with disabilities certified as eligible based on the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. STS provides service during

4277-549: The U.S. government established Camp Greene , north of present-day Wilkinson Boulevard. The camp supported 40,000 soldiers, with many troops and suppliers staying after the war, launching urbanization that eventually overtook older cities along the Piedmont Crescent . In the 1920 census , Charlotte fell to being the state's second largest city, Winston-Salem with 48,395 people, had two thousand more people than Charlotte. Charlotte would pass Winston-Salem in population by

4368-504: The U.S. in millennial population growth. Throughout the 2020s, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as " Charlotteans ". Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America , Honeywell , Truist Financial , and the East Coast headquarters of Wells Fargo , which, when combined with other Charlotte-based financial institutions, makes

4459-689: The area during this period. In 2005, CATS built three community transit bus centers to supplement the central Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown Charlotte . The centers were built in SouthPark (inside the SouthPark Mall parking facility), Eastland (at the old Eastland mall), and at Rosa Parks Place in the Wilson Heights neighborhood north of Uptown . As a result of CATS' expansion during its early years, transit ridership in

4550-564: The area throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the 1837 founding of the Charlotte Mint . North Carolina was the chief producer of gold in the United States, until the Sierra Nevada found in 1848, although the volume mined in the Charlotte area was dwarfed by subsequent rushes. Some groups still pan for gold occasionally in local streams and creeks. The Reed Gold Mine operated until 1912. The Charlotte Mint

4641-641: The backcountry. German immigrants also settled in the area before the American Revolutionary War , but in smaller numbers. They still contributed greatly to the early foundations of the region. Mecklenburg County was initially part of Bath County (1696 to 1729) of the New Hanover Precinct, which became New Hanover County in 1729. The western portion of New Hanover split into Bladen County in 1734, and its western portion split into Anson County in 1750. Mecklenburg County

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4732-626: The boundary between the Carolinas in 1772, William Moultrie stopped in Charlotte, whose five or six houses were "very ordinary built of logs". Local leaders came together in 1775 and signed the Mecklenburg Resolves , more popularly known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence . While not a true declaration of independence from British rule, it is among the first such declarations that eventually led to

4823-578: The city but was driven out by hostile residents. He wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet 's nest of rebellion", leading to the nickname "The Hornet's Nest". Within decades of Polk's settling, the area grew to become the Town of Charlotte, incorporated in 1768. Though chartered as Charlotte, the name appears as a form of "Charlottesburgh" on many maps until around 1800. A form of "Charlottetown" also appears on maps of British origin depicting General Cornwallis' route of invasion. The crossroads in Piedmont became

4914-701: The city the second-largest banking center in the nation. Charlotte's notable attractions include three professional sports teams, the Carolina Panthers of the NFL , the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA , and Charlotte FC of MLS . The city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame , Opera Carolina , Charlotte Symphony , Charlotte Ballet , Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum , Harvey B. Gantt Center , Bechtler Museum of Modern Art ,

5005-404: The city was hit by Hurricane Hugo . With sustained winds of 69 mph (111 km/h) and gusts of 87 mph (140 km/h), Hugo caused massive property damage, destroyed 80,000 trees, and knocked out electrical power to most of the population. Residents were without power for weeks, schools were closed for a week or more, and the cleanup took months. The city was caught unprepared; Charlotte

5096-482: The city. As of 2024, 66% of the city's area is occupied by green spaces. The city ranks 1st in the United States and 29th in the world in the ranking of the greenest cities on the planet. The Catawba Indians were the first known historic tribe to settle Mecklenburg County in the Charlotte area and were first recorded around 1567, according to Spanish records. By 1759, half the Catawba tribe had died from smallpox , an endemic disease among European colonists, which

5187-401: The commuter rail option for the Red Line back into consideration. But a few weeks after the letter of understanding was made, local lawmakers passed a law stating that the city of Charlotte cannot buy land outside Mecklenburg County without the approval of each county and municipality with the railway that’s being acquired, which could possibly limit potential expansion outside of Davidson. CATS

5278-445: The entire system has been estimated for completion by 2030, by July 2015, the Charlotte Area Transit System reported it lacked the funds to support any future transit projects apart from the already budgeted 2.5-mile long Phase 2 segment of the CityLYNX Gold Line. CATS has entered into a partnership with Duke Energy to pilot the use of electric buses . 18 BEBs from three manufacturers will be used over 18 months. The Lynx Silver Line

5369-409: The final contract. The $ 52 million contract was awarded to Siemens on February 25, 2004. The original order of 16 S70 Avanto vehicles, similar to those in operation on the METRORail system in Houston , Texas , was delivered between 2006 and 2007; these cars are numbered 101–116. Car 101 arrived via flatbed truck on Friday, June 23, 2006, from the Siemens facility in Florin, California . Testing of

5460-424: The first major rapid rail service of any kind in North Carolina, the line has 15 stations and ran 9.6 miles (15.4 km) between I-485/South Boulevard , near Pineville , and 7th Street , in Uptown Charlotte ; the line was partly shared with the Charlotte Trolley from 2008–2010. On March 16, 2018, a 9.7-mile (15.6 km) extension was opened that added 11 stations north from 7th Street to UNC Charlotte–Main , at

5551-419: The first phase of the CityLynx Gold Line streetcar opened. The initial line connected the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown to Hawthorne Lane and 5th Street, through the First Ward and Cherry neighborhoods. The first phase of the Gold Line utilized retro trolley streetcars, while future phases will incorporate Siemens S70 streetcar vehicles. The second phase of the Gold Line, construction of which

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5642-456: The ground (below 5,000 ft (1,500 m)). In the 2020 census , there were 874,579 people, 342,448 households, and 195,614 families living in the city. In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates showed 885,708 residents living within Charlotte's city limits and 1,093,901 in Mecklenburg County. The combined statistical area , or trade area, of Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC had an estimated population of 3,387,115 in 2023. Figures from

5733-450: The heart of Uptown Charlotte . In 1770, surveyors marked the streets in a grid pattern for future development. The east–west trading path became Trade Street, and the Great Wagon Road became Tryon Street, in honor of William Tryon , a royal governor of colonial North Carolina. The intersection of Trade and Tryon is commonly known today as "Trade and Tryon", or simply "The Square", and formally as "Independence Square". While surveying

5824-483: The interior was wood, including oak, cherry, birch, and plywood. Each streetcar had an accessible-compliant integrated wheelchair lift and air conditioning . Running equipment was a 30HP General Electric traction motor, utilizing 650 V DC via overhead lines . The streetcars had a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h). CATS currently operate four transit centers , with a fifth, Charlotte Gateway Station, currently under construction. The transit centers operate as

5915-543: The more comprehensive 2010 census show Charlotte's population density was 2,457 per square mile (949/km ). There were 319,918 housing units at an average density of 1,074.6 per square mile (414.9/km ). In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Charlotte's population as 30.2% Black and 68.9% White. In 2020, 39.72% of the population was non-Hispanic white, 32.5% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 7.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.15% other or mixed, and 16.32% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. This reflected

6006-447: The national demographic shift as Hispanic or Latinos and Asians increased in population. In 2020, the median income for a household in Charlotte was $ 48,670. The median income for a family was $ 59,452. Males had a median income of $ 38,767 versus $ 29,218 for females. The per capita income for Charlotte was $ 29,825. The percentage of the population living at or below the poverty line was 10.6%, with 7.8% of families living at or below

6097-523: The nearest NWS -owned NEXRAD is located in Greer, South Carolina , more than 80 mi (130 km) to the west-southwest of Charlotte, this deficit is particularly problematic during severe thunderstorm or tornado episodes. The current lowest angle of the radar, based in Greer, is quite far above the surface over Charlotte, so the velocities measurement for detecting rotations cannot be below mid-level in potential tornado-forming storms and thus cannot indicate whether said rotation extends closer to

6188-410: The nickname, " The City of Churches ". In 1799, in nearby Cabarrus County, 12-year-old Conrad Reed found a 17- pound rock, which his family used as a doorstop. Three years later, a jeweler determined it was nearly solid gold, paying the family a paltry $ 3.50. The first documented gold find in the United States of any consequence set off the nation's first gold rush . Many veins of gold were found in

6279-425: The northeast area known as University City . The large area known as Southeast Charlotte is home to many golf communities, luxury developments, churches, the Jewish community center, and private schools. As undeveloped land within Mecklenburg has become scarce, many of these communities have expanded into Weddington and Waxhaw in Union County . Ballantyne , in the south of Charlotte, and nearly every area on

6370-443: The now-closed Eastland Mall , the SouthPark Community Transit Center in South Charlotte located under SouthPark Mall , and the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center in North Charlotte located near Johnson C. Smith University . Express buses in the CATS system serve Union County , far northern Mecklenburg County , the Lake Norman area, Gastonia , and Rock Hill, South Carolina . CATS operates one bus rapid transit line,

6461-635: The poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Charlotte has been historically Protestant and remains predominantly Protestant today. It is the birthplace of Billy Graham , and is also the historic seat of Southern Presbyterianism . The changing demographics of the city's increasing population have brought scores of new denominations and faiths. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , Wycliffe Bible Translators ' JAARS Center, SIM Missions Organization, and The Christian Research Institute make their homes in

6552-604: The primary historic center of Charlotte's African American community, is west of Uptown, starting at the Johnson C. Smith University campus and extending to the airport. East of The Plaza and north of Central Avenue, Plaza-Midwood is known for its international population, including Eastern Europeans, Greeks , Middle-Easterners , and Hispanics . North Tryon and the Sugar Creek area include several Asian American communities. NoDa (North Davidson), north of Uptown,

6643-662: The purchase of four additional S70 vehicles to expand the fleet's capacity beyond the existing 16 vehicles. The vehicles cost $ 3.8 million each and were delivered by Siemens between January and March 2010. In 2012, after only four years of operation, the original 16 vehicles underwent significant maintenance at the Siemens facility in California for an estimated cost of $ 400,000 each, having run by then for nearly 300,000 miles (480,000 km). In January 2014, CATS announced it would buy 22 more Siemens S70 light-rail vehicles for

6734-457: The railroad platform in Uptown. Local promotors began building textile factories, starting with the 1881 Charlotte Cotton Mill that still stands at Graham and 5th streets. Charlotte's city population at the 1890 census grew to 11,557. In 1910, Charlotte surpassed Wilmington to become North Carolina's largest city with 34,014 residents. The population grew again during World War I , when

6825-542: The replica trolleys were retired and sold to the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) for $ 550,000. Built in Ida Grove, Iowa , they were 48.9 ft (14.9 m) long, 10 ft (3.0 m) wide and 12.9 ft (3.9 m) tall, with a weight of 48,000 lb (22,000 kg), and a crush load of 105 people (48 sitting and 57 standing). The exterior is painted green and yellow, while

6916-404: The same times and in the same locations as the fixed route bus service. During a typical week, CATS buses carry about 190,000 riders. CATS operates with a fleet of 323 buses on 73 bus routes. CATS operates two rail lines under the "Lynx" (stylized as "LYNX") system umbrella. Announced on February 22, 2006, the name fits in with the city's cat theme (the NFL team is the Carolina Panthers and

7007-450: The similarity in name.) Charlotte Transit operated almost entirely local bus routes, with the exception of two express routes. As the Charlotte metro area's population grew rapidly, the bus service operated by Charlotte Transit proved to be inadequate. In 1998, a Mecklenburg County referendum was approved by citizens that enacted a 0.5% sales tax increase to improve public transportation in the area. The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC)

7098-420: The southeastern United States, Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with four distinct seasons. Charlotte is part of USDA hardiness zone 8a, transitioning to 7b in the suburbs in all directions except the south. The following narrative reflects 1991–2020 climate data. Winters are short and fairly mild, with a normal January daily mean temperature of 42.1 °F (5.6 °C). On occasion

7189-450: The temperature can fall below 20 °F (−6.7 °C) but Charlotte also enjoys multiple warm winter days in excess of 65 °F (18.3 °C). On average, there are 59 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 1.5 days that fail to rise above freezing. Precipitation is evenly distributed through the year. Only August stands out as a slightly wetter month, averaging 4.35 inches of rainfall. Summers are hot and humid, with

7280-618: The third series 301–322 (originally 121–142). From late 2021 to at least 2025, the original (Series 1) vehicles will undergo extensive mid-life overhauls in Sacramento at a total cost of $ 30–50 million. Vehicles will be sent to California two at a time; overhauling each one will take approximately six to nine months. Six Siemens S700 low-floor streetcars service the Gold line. They were delivered between August 2019 and April 2020 and are numbered 401–406. The vehicles have 56 passenger seats, with

7371-548: The vehicles began in August 2006 along a 1.3-mile (2.1 km) stretch of track between Tremont Avenue and the light rail maintenance facility off South Boulevard. During the testing phase, each car logged 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to test the acceleration, braking and overall performance for each vehicle. With an option in place to purchase up to an additional 25 vehicles, and better than expected ridership, in May 2008 CATS announced

7462-499: The weight of the ice. In August 2015 and September 2016, the city experienced several days of protests related to the police shootings of Jonathan Ferrell and Keith Scott . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 312.00 square miles (808.1 km ), of which 310.02 square miles (802.9 km ) is land and 1.98 square miles (5.1 km ) (0.63%) is water. Charlotte

7553-744: The year but also many clear, sunny days. Precipitation is generally less frequent in autumn than in spring. On average, Charlotte receives 43.60 inches (1,110 mm) of precipitation annually, evenly distributed throughout the year. Annual precipitation has historically ranged from 26.23 in (666 mm) in 2001 to 68.44 in (1,738 mm) in 1884. There is an average of 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of snow, mainly in January and February and rarely December or March, with more frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain. Seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts in 2011–12 to 22.6 in (57 cm) in 1959–60. Snow and ice storms can have

7644-729: Was active until 1861 when Confederate forces seized it at the outbreak of the Civil War . The mint was not reopened at the war's end, but the building, albeit in a different location, now houses the Mint Museum of Art . The city's first boom came after the Civil War, as Charlotte became a cotton processing center and railroad hub. By the 1880s, Charlotte sat astride the Southern Railway mainline from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Farmers from miles around would bring cotton to

7735-853: Was awarded in July 2010, allowing construction of phase 1. The initial 1.5-mile (2.4 km) segment of the line commenced service on July 14, 2015. This section runs from the Charlotte Transportation Center / Arena station to Hawthorne Lane & 5th Street. The initial phase utilized replica Birney trolley cars. After several delays, the second 2.5-mile (4.0 km) segment opened on August 30, 2021, extending service to French Street in Biddleville and Sunnyside Avenue. The trolley cars were then replaced with Siemens S700 streetcar vehicles. Phase 3, which would extend service north along Beatties Ford Road to Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center and east along Central Avenue to Eastland Community Transit Center,

7826-494: Was created as a result of the vote, leading to the consolidation of Charlotte Transit and the MTC in 2000 as the Charlotte Area Transit System, creating CATS as it is today. After the founding of CATS, more express routes were added to the edges of Mecklenburg County and local bus service was expanded, especially to the fast-growing southern areas of Charlotte. Some commuter/express routes were also initiated outside Mecklenburg County . CATS also expanded bus infrastructure throughout

7917-700: Was created in 1891 as an amusement park. Bryant Park was established in the 1930s and is one of the earliest small-scale public parks in Charlotte. It is the only green space remaining in West Morehead Street's industrial sector. The 120-acre (49 ha) Park Road Park is a prominent landmark near the SouthPark area. Park Road Park features eight basketball courts, two horseshoe pits, six baseball fields, five picnic shelters, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and an 11-acre (4.5 ha) lake. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation Department operates 36 tennis facilities and

8008-575: Was formed from Anson County in 1762. Further apportionment was made in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War, with Cabarrus County formed from Mecklenburg. In 1842, Union County formed from Mecklenburg's southeastern portion and a western portion of Anson County. These areas were all part of one of the original six judicial/military districts of North Carolina known as the Salisbury District . The area that

8099-570: Was part of the Great Wagon Road ; the second path ran east–west along what is now Trade Street. Nicknamed the "Queen City", like its county a few years earlier, Charlotte was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , who had become the queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland in 1761, seven years before the town's incorporation. A second nickname derives from the American Revolutionary War , when British commander General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis occupied

8190-547: Was the first of its kind, for CATS, to operate as a "mini-hub" for the SouthPark neighborhood and surrounding area. The facility includes artwork from George Handy of Asheville ; called Migration North and Migration South , they are made from corrugated wood. Future expansion includes plans for light rail , streetcars and bus rapid transit along the corridors in the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan adopted in 2006 by Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC). On May 6, 2013,

8281-403: Was then hired as the new head of the transit system. After the success of the Blue Line, CATS reversed course on its initial plans to expand bus service to Matthews and the airport, instead planning for a second light rail line, the Lynx Silver Line, that would travel southeast to Matthews and west to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and across the Catawba River to Belmont . In 2015,

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