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Overview
Charlotte is the center of the nation’s
fifth largest urban region. Of the major distribution centers
in the Southeast, Charlotte has 6.9 million and Atlanta has
7.5 million people living within a 100-mile radius. This radius
population well exceeds Miami’s 5.8 million and the 2.6
million around Memphis. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill,
NC-SC MSA totals more than 1.6 million people in a 9 county
area.
As a result, Charlotte has emerged as a
financial, distribution and transportation center for the
entire urban region. In addition, Charlotte has developed
into a major wholesale center with the highest per capita
sales in the United States, ranking 6th nationally in total
wholesale sales.
Charlotte serves as the subsidiary headquarters
for many major national and international companies. During
the past ten years, 8,888 new firms have invested $9.1 billion
in new Charlotte facilities. Abundant modern office space
is conveniently located throughout the city, with 6.7 million
square feet available for lease.
Dun & Bradstreet lists 687 companies
in their Million Dollar Data Base with facilities in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
In addition, 286 of the Fortune 500 companies have facilities
here, nine of which are headquartered in the Charlotte area,
ranking Charlotte 5th nationally in the number of headquartered
firms.
Charlotte is first and foremost a banking
city. With more than $1.3 trillion in assets, it is the second
largest financial center in the nation, behind only New York.
Two of the nation's largest banks, Bank of America and Wachovia,
are headquartered here. Each are ranked by Forbes magazine.
In total, 20 banks with more than 218 local branches, as well
as a Federal Reserve Branch, are located in Charlotte. Our
banks provide a wealth of services to commercial and individual
customers and are leaders in the financial services industry.
The growing number of international companies
is of increasing importance to the Charlotte area. Over 480
foreign-owned companies have Charlotte facilities, representing
over half of all foreign companies in North Carolina.
Charlotte is served by an excellent state
and federal highway network, including major north-south and
east-west interstate arteries, and a modern, expanded international
airport terminal. In addition, eight major airlines offer
direct and nonstop daily flights to 155 cities. International
travelers appreciate the nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Munich,
London, Toronto, Mexico and the Caribbean. Each year over
11.8 million passengers board planes at Charlotte/Douglas
International Airport, ranking it the 17th most active air
transportation center in the nation.
The Charlotte region is also the center
of the country's largest consolidated rail system. Two major
rail systems, Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation,
link 27,000 miles of rail between Charlotte and 22 eastern
states.
Charlotte's center city and urban corridors
have undergone a renaissance in recent years, with the addition
of major arts and sports facilities, entertainment and dining
options, and residential communities that have enhanced the
24-hours-a-day appeal of this area.
Source: Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
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