Map Charlotte

Charlotte (pronounced /ˈʃɑrlət/) is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and the 20th-largest city in the United States. In 2006, Charlotte's population was estimated to be 630,478, an increase of 46% since 1990. The city is the seat of Mecklenburg County. A resident of Charlotte is referred to as a Charlottean.
Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte (as well as the county containing it) is named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, who had become queen consort of King George III the year before the city's founding. A second nickname derives from later in the 18th century. During the American Revolutionary War, British commander General Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out soon afterwards by hostile residents, prompting him to write that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," leading to another city nickname: The Hornet's Nest.
In 2006, the Charlotte metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,583,016. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a wider thirteen-county labor market region or combined statistical area that has an estimated population (as of 2008) of 2,491,650. In 2008, Charlotte was chosen the "Best Place to Live in America" by relocate-america.com in its annual ranking, based on factors including employment opportunities, crime rates, and housing affordability.