SPOTLIGHT ON CHARLOTTE

WELCOME TO CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and is the county seat of Mecklenberg County. With a current population of 809, 958, Charlotte is the 17th largest city in the United States and its great weather, natural beauty and stable job market make it the third fastest-growing major city in the country. Charlotte has been recognized as a “Gamma-Plus” global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Contents

Climate and Geography 02

Cost of Living and Transportation 03

Sports and Outdoor Activities 04

Shopping and Dining 05

Schools and Education 06

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CLIMATE Charlotte, NC Climate Graph

Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, usually humid summers and mild to cold winters. The air quality for Charlotte is rated 15% better than the national average.

Average High/Low Temperatures Low / High December 30oF / 51oF

July 68oF / 89oF

Average Precipitation Rain 42 in.

Snow 4 in.

GEOGRAPHY

Charlotte’s city center sits atop a long rise between two creeks and was built on the gunnies of the St. Catherine’s and Rudisill gold mines. The city is located just east of the Catawbe River and southeast of Lake Norman - the largest man-made lake in North Carolina. Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller man-made lakes located near the city. Charlotte is fairly hilly and situated on top of the Piedmont Plateau, roughly 130 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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COST OF LIVING

Charlotte average cost of living is 1% lower than the national average. However, with the average home in Charlotte selling for $170,200, housing is 3% less than the national average. Additionally, Charlotte residents enjoy a 3% savings on goods and services versus the average of the rest of the United States. As one of the fastest-growing major U.S. cities, homes in Charlotte have a year- after-year appreciation of 8.05%.

Key Housing Figures*

Median Home Purchase Price Median Monthly Rent (1BDRM) $269,995 $1,324

*Sources: www.zillow.com - accessed 09/21/2017, www.numbeo.com - accessed 09/21/2017

TRANSPORTATION

Highways Interstate Highways 77, 85, 277, 485 US Highways 29, 74, 521 State Highways 16, 24, 27, 49, 51, 115, 160

Airports

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Department of Motor Vehicles 6635 Executive Circle Charlotte, NC 28212 http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv

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LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

Charlotte is a happening place. With four distinct seasons, the beauty of Charlotte encourages its inhabitants to get outside. There are many parks and trails - both urban and so deep in the woods that one could forget that he or she was still in a major U.S. city. Charlotte is also home to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This outdoor recreation and training facility for rafting, kayaking, canoing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking is open to the public. The city plays host to many event sand festivals, including the Carolina Renaissance Festival - one of the largest Renaissance-themed events in the country. The city is rich in history and Charlotte’s museums and galleries celebrate both its rich past and its future. Charlotte sports enthusiasts are fanatical about their Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets, but there is a whole new level of excitement when NASCAR comes to town.

SPORTS

Teams AHL - Charlotte Checkers ILB - Charlotte Knights MLL - Charlotte Hounds MLS - Charlotte Independence NBA - Charlotte Hornets NFL - Carolina Panthers

Major Venues Bank of America Stadium Charlotte Motor Speedway Spectrum Center

OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE

Parks & Trails Fun on the Water Attractions Discover More

Clark’s Creek Greenway Catawbe River Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden charlottemagazine.com Freedom Park Lake Norman NASCAR Hall of Fame charlotteonthecheap.com Reedy Creek Park Lake Wylie Sea Life Aquarium charlottesgotalot.com

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SHOPPING & DINING

A Taste for Everyone A Shoppers Paradise

As a large metropolitan city, Charlotte is home to an Charlotte offers something for every shopper. From design abundance of restaurants that server a vast array of outlet malls to local boutiques and specialty shops to cuisine from all around the world at a wide range of high-end malls, shoppers have just as much fun browsing dining atmospheres - and the corresponding price points. as they purchasing. Charlotte residents can stroll and get However, Charlotte is located in The South, and comfort fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables at the 7th Street food still reigns supreme. The number of wonderful Public Market. For a more upscale experience there is restaurants in Charlotte is staggering and, like the city Southpark which has fine shops and nationally recognized itself, continuously growing. stores and restaurants.

ART & CULTURE

Charlotte plays home to an astounding collection of museums, galleries and attractions. The city is filled with historic homes, commemorative and artistic statues, as well as fantastic venues in which to catch top performances of music, dance, and acting.

Theaters: l Amos’ Southend Music Hall l Blumenthal Performing Arts Center l Children’s Theatre of Charlotte

Museums: l Bechtler Museum of Modern Art l Carolinas Aviation Museum l Charlotte Nature Museum l Discovery Place Science and Technology Museum l McColl Center for Visual Arts

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EDUCATION IN CHARLOTTE, NC

Notable Colleges & Universities Elementary & High School

Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools Charlotte, NC Schools There are 126 public schools in Charlotte. The average Charlotte School of Law test scores in Charlotte are 5% higher than the national Charlotte, NC average.

John C. Smith University Charlotte Educational Attainment Charlotte, NC High School Graduates or higher 86% Bachelor’s Degree or higher 41%

Queens University of Charlotte Contact Charlotte, NC 600 E. Fourth Street Fifth Floor University of North Carolina - Charlotte Charlotte, NC 28202 Charlotte, NC (980) 343-3000 l www.cms.k12.nc.us

CONNECT WITH GMS

Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solutions is a global corporate relocation services company that specializes in workforce mobility. The company’s corporate relocation services include global assignment management, domestic relocation management, and a range of pre-decision solutions. Global Mobility Solutions is a perennial winner of the HRO Today “Baker’s Dozen” customer satisfaction survey, being recognized as a top relocation company for the last four years in a row.

Online Resources Phone & Email Baker’s Dozen www.gmsmobility.com 1-800-617-1904 Customer Satisfaction Ratings LinkedIn: Global Mobility Solutions [email protected] RELOCATION 2017 Winner

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