Charlotte is among the fastest growing U.S. cities. What’s all the hype about?
From bright-eyed hopefuls eager to start a new life to families looking for a more suburban setting to raise a family, Charlotte seems to be the destination of choice for young people who are on the hunt for a place to call home.
The rapid growth the region is experiencing is more than noticeable to longtime Queen City natives and recent transplants. They are left with one question in particular:
Why has the city grown so much?
Here are six things that make Charlotte the perfect place for newcomers.
Other major cities in the U.S. are already overpopulated
According to the most recent metro-to-metro migration data from the United States Census Bureau, Charlotte ranks as No. 9 on the list of fastest growing populations in the country. Although major cities like Los Angeles and New York are what first come to mind when on the topic of fast-growing cities, Charlotte provides a happy medium between metro life and suburban charm. The Observer previously reported that the city’s population grew 19.6% over the last decade, to 874,579, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
In fact, the data reveals that most of Charlotte’s metro-to-metro newcomers are arriving here from New York.
Charlotte is one of the largest banking centers in the nation
For decades, Charlotte has been revered as one of the largest banking and financial centers in the country, most recently fighting with San Francisco to maintain its second-place spot. Home to the Bank of America headquarters and operations from several other banking companies, Charlotte has proven itself to be one of the more attractive destinations for those who work in the financial services sector.
The Queen City’s location along the eastern coastline is perfect
Charlotte is essentially located in the center of the East Coast. This prime location offers Queen City residents the luxury of only being a two-hour flight (on average) from destinations at the top and bottom of the coast. That means Charlotteans don’t have to worry about being too far from other major cities on this side of the United States.
The weather
One benefit of living in Charlotte that many northern newcomers will enjoy as they settle in is relatively warmer weather. Although this season’s temperatures and snow expectancies have been rather turbulent, the cold that Charlotteans experience pale in comparison to the brutal winters endured by New Englanders each year.
Charlotte’s renewed focus on recreation is enticing to a younger crowd
Restaurants, breweries, and brand new attractions like South End’s Puttery seem to be popping up around the city before locals even have a chance to blink. On one hand it means more traffic and construction, a nuisance in the eyes of many Charlotte natives. However, for adults scouting for a new home, Charlotte’s steadily improving nightlife scene is all the more reason to move here.
More development means more job opportunities
As development has continued to boom across the metro area and surrounding suburbs within the last few years, Charlotte-based companies and businesses have become increasingly confident in the notion that growth essentially leads to more jobs. For recent grads and those rendered unemployed by the global pandemic, Charlotte and its wide array of employment opportunities serve as a beacon of hope for professionals who are looking for work.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 5:21 PM.
