By Christophe Rude
The city of Charlotte, NC is a great place to live. With a variety of industries to choose from, it’s easy to find something that you’ll enjoy. It’s also one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., with more than a million people living in the area, making it a popular choice for many. Whether you’re interested in exploring history, discovering new foods, or taking in all of the attractions, there’s something here for everyone.
Gold mining
When the United States started its gold rush in the early 1800s, North Carolina was the nexus of the activity. While other states such as California, Pennsylvania, and New York were discovering gold, Charlotte had already become the center of commerce. The gold rush triggered a number of people to migrate south to the Carolinas.
Gold mining began in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. During the early days, local landowners were responsible for mining operations. By the 1850s, the Carolinas had a gold production of almost $1 million a year.
While the North Carolina gold rush did not lead to a gold rush in Mecklenburg County for many years, it did set the stage for the economic boom of the late 1860s and early 1870s. In the antebellum South, mining constituted roughly 25 percent of the labor force.
During the gold rush, many Cornish immigrants moved to North Carolina to participate in the burgeoning mining industry. They were characterized as hard-working and ambitious.
Cotton production declines
The cotton industry in Charlotte has a history of steady expansion, but growth has stalled during the past decade. This is a result of a combination of factors, including rising corn prices and losses in infrastructure.
During the New South era, Charlotte was transformed into a textile and distribution center. Its railroad ties provided the city with an outlet for the national economy.
After the Civil War, Charlotte was part of a nationwide boom. This era saw the city become the largest in both North Carolina and the Carolinas.
Charlotte’s economic base was diversified, though textiles still accounted for the majority of its manufacturing. In fact, many mill owners lived in Myers Park and Eastover.
As a textile and distribution center, Charlotte was at the center of paved highways and a mass transit system. Charlotte was also home to the first railway in western North Carolina.
By the end of the decade, 82,675 people lived in the city. These numbers represented an upswing from the 59,680 who lived in Charlotte in 1910.
Post-war suburbs
The post-war suburbs of Charlotte were built after World War II. A large portion of the city’s population growth took place in these neighborhoods. These suburbs were characterized by low-density infrastructure. Many of the historic buildings in these areas have been replaced.
In the early twentieth century, the southern Southeastern states were predominantly rural. This changed with the arrival of the railroad in the late nineteenth century. Charlotte became an important industrial center. It sat on the Southern Railway main line.
By the early twentieth century, Charlotte was a textile manufacturing hub. As the textile industry began to take over the region, Charlotte grew rapidly. When World War I broke out, Charlotte’s growth rate slowed.
Charlotte was one of the few cities in the country that did not completely fall into the Great Depression. Its economy was diversified, but the nation’s economy suffered.
Charlotte’s success in the New South era resulted in it becoming the largest city in North Carolina. Charlotte was also a major distribution and textile center.
The industry base makes it a city moving forward
The Charlotte region has an energy industry base that is on the rise. This industry base has helped the city and the surrounding area reach a critical mass to attract new players. In addition, the Charlotte region has an international infrastructure and a diverse workforce.
Some of the industries in the Charlotte area include banking, retail, automotive parts, healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering. Charlotte is also home to eight Fortune 500 companies.
The city’s recent job market has surpassed 1.6 percent growth in the U.S., with an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent. During the first half of this year, more than 1,000 jobs have been created in the energy sector. And in April, Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas launched an initiative to help make the Charlotte area’s energy infrastructure more visible.
An offshoot of the city’s planning efforts is the Transformational Mobility Network Task Force. It proposes a multibillion-dollar mobility plan. Additionally, the city plans to launch a 10-year construction plan.