Pineville, Mint Hill & Matthews continue to thrive

The southern suburbs of Pineville, Mint Hill and Matthews have seen explosive growth in recent decades. These towns offer residents easy access to downtown Charlotte as well as lower tax rates.

Although the towns are all part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, each has its own unique personality and history.

Matthews

Incorporated in 1879, Matthews has grown from a population of 191 residents to more than 27,000.

Several major corporations are located within Matthews' town limits, including local grocery store chain Harris Teeter.

One of Matthews' main attractions is its annual Matthews Alive! Festival. All proceeds from the event, which is held every Labor Day weekend, go toward local non-profits.

Another is Stumptown Park, a community hub that hosts Matthews Alive! but is also home to many of the town's other celebrations.

And if all goes according to plan, Matthews will eventually have another great big gathering place: In July, Mecklenburg County Commissioners moved forward with plans for a $34 million sports complex near Interstate 485 and Independence Boulevard. The Matthews Sportsplex was first approved by voters in 2004 but the recession delayed construction.

The complex is expected to have 12 athletic fields, walking trails, playgrounds, a cross country course and a 2,700-seat stadium for soccer and other sports events.

Mint Hill

Since its incorporation in 1971, Mint Hill's population has steadily grown from 2,284 to more than 22,000 residents.

Mint Hill is comprised mostly of residential communities, although the business sector has grown to about 285 businesses in recent years.

Development has been robust in this town, and shows no signs of slowing. During the 2010-11 school year, Rocky River High School opened its doors to more than 1,500 students. Mint Hill (along with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation) is in the active-planning phase of Ezell Community Park, which will be built on 95 acres along Matthews-Mint Hill Road.

Mint Hill Arts serves as a museum for fine art and crafts and offers classes and seminars.

Late every August, the town holds Sunday Afternoon in the Park, where artists and musicians can display, perform and demonstrate their craft.

Pineville

Incorporated in 1873, Pineville is well known for being the birthplace of President James K. Polk, who served between 1845 and 1849.

Polk's birthplace is a state historic site and features two reconstructed log cabins from that era. Guides dressed in period clothing show tours around the main house, cookhouse and log barn on the site.

Today, the southern Mecklenburg town has a population of about 7,479 residents.

The town has a larger commercial sector than residential, and is home to Carolina Place Mall, featuring more than 130 shops. Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville has served southern Mecklenburg, York and Lancaster counties since 1987.

In January, the town broke ground on its $4.5 million police station. The 25,000 square foot, two-story station will be located off Main Street in downtown Pineville, in front of Jack Hughes Park.