About Charlotte

About Our City

Charlotte is a fantastic place to live and work! We have big-city amenities with small-town charm. Charlotte’s population is almost 900,000, making it the fifteenth largest US city. We are the second-largest banking center in the nation and home to seven Fortune 500 companies. 

The city encompasses 298 square miles and contains nearly 200 unique neighborhoods. Charlotte is located only four hours from the Atlantic Ocean and two hours from the Appalachian Mountains, making it an easy weekend’s drive away from popular vacation destinations!

Charlotteans enjoy a mild climate with all four seasons, 214 sunny days per year, and an average snowfall of 5-6 inches. Average temperatures range from 30-49°F in January and 70-89°F in June. Not too shabby!

Most residents live within a 10-mile radius of the hospital. The average commute is under 20 minutes, allowing some residents walk to work. Charlotte is known for its active housing market with safe and affordable homes and excellent public school system. 

Though training is busy, residents make time to enjoy our beautiful city. Read on to learn about our favorite Charlotte activities and events:

Culture

• Enjoy a massive concert at PNC Music Pavillion or Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, where all the major national and international tours play, or come see a more intimate show at one of our smaller venues like The Fillmore or Visulite Theatre.
• Catch an inspired performance at Opera Carolina, visit a free outdoor Summer Pops performance by the Charlotte Symphony, or enjoy classics like the Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty at the Charlotte Ballet.
• Don’t miss Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's PNC Broadway Lights series, which has proudly hosted smash hits such as Hamilton and Wicked.
• Immerse yourself in one of our acclaimed Levine Center for the Arts museums, like The Mint Museum, the Harvey B. Gant Center for African American Arts + Culture, or the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
• Bring the whole family to Discovery Place to play and learn in our museum-meets-science-lab, the NASCAR Hall of Fame to ride the racing simulator, or Carolinas Aviation Museum to see the “Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit. 

Recreation

• You can’t miss the U.S. National Whitewater Center, our very own Olympic kayaking training ground and host to a wide range of attractions from whitewater rafting, biking, high ropes courses, and zip lines, to paddle boarding, live music, craft brew festivals, and ice skating every winter.
• Meet your need for speed on the rollercoasters at Paramount's Carowinds Theme Park or visit their Carolina Harbor WaterPark or annual Carowinds haunted houses in the fall. 
• Getaway to the lake for boating, fishing, and more at Lake Wylie or Lake Norman, both within just a half hour of Charlotte!
• Walk, run, or bike on our over fifty miles of Greenway trails, or take a day trip to hike the scenic Crowder Mountains. Running buffs will also enjoy our numerous races around town, including an annual marathon. 
• Mark your calendar for year-round festivals and events! Enjoy authentic music and food at the famous Yiasou Greek Festival, admire and purchase the work of local artists and musicians at Festival in the Park, and jam out to live music by touring rock and country artists at Circle K Speed Street.

Sports

• NBA - Charlotte Hornets
• NFL - Carolina Panthers 
• NASCAR - Home of Charlotte Motor Speedway
• PGA - Wells Fargo Golf Championship
• Minor League Hockey - Charlotte Checkers
• Minor League Baseball - Charlotte Knights
• NCAA Sports - University of North Carolina at Charlotte

To Learn More About our Great City, Visit:

• Charlotte Agenda
• Charlotte’s Got A Lot
• Charlotte Chamber
• Charlotte Observer
• Charlotte Parent
• Charlotte Sports