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Mecklenburg County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Mecklenburg County
U.S. county
Uptown Charlotte skyline
Old Mecklenburg County Courthouse
Governors Island on Lake Norman
First Presbyterian Church
Pineville Historic District
President James K. Polk Historic Site
Charlotte Research Institute campus at UNC Charlotte
Flag of Mecklenburg County
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Meck County
Map of North Carolina highlighting Mecklenburg County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded December 11, 1762
Named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Seat Charlotte
Largest municipality Charlotte
Area
 • Total 546.09 sq mi (1,414.4 km2)
 • Land 523.61 sq mi (1,356.1 km2)
 • Water 22.48 sq mi (58.2 km2)  4.12%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,115,482
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 1,163,701 Increase
 • Density 2,042.671/sq mi (788.680/km2)
Demonym(s) Mecklenburger
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 12th, 14th

Mecklenburg County is a county in the southwestern part of North Carolina, in the United States. It was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was the Queen of the United Kingdom. Her name came from the Mecklenburg region in Germany, meaning "large castle."

As of 2020, over 1.1 million people live here. This makes it the second-most populated county in North Carolina. It was also the first county in the Carolinas to have more than a million people. The main city and county seat is Charlotte, which is the largest city in North Carolina. Mecklenburg County is also the center of the larger Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area.

History of Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County was created in 1762 by English colonists. It was formed from the western part of Anson County. The county was named to honor the marriage of King George III to Queen Charlotte. The city of Charlotte is also named after her.

At first, the county's borders were not clear. Some areas that are now part of South Carolina were once considered part of Mecklenburg County. In 1768, a large western part of Mecklenburg County became Tryon County. Over the years, more parts of Mecklenburg County were used to form other counties. In 1792, Cabarrus County was created from its northeastern part. Later, in 1842, Union County was formed from its southeastern part and part of Anson County.

Important Declarations and Gold Rush

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was supposedly signed on May 20, 1775. If it is real, Mecklenburg County was the first place in the Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. The "Mecklenburg Resolves" were adopted on May 31, 1775. Mecklenburg County still celebrates this declaration every May. The date is even on the flag of North Carolina.

The first gold rush in the United States happened nearby. A 12-year-old boy found a gold nugget in a stream in Cabarrus County. This led many miners and merchants to settle in Mecklenburg County. The first U.S. branch mint was built in Charlotte in 1837. It made coins until 1913. The original building is now a museum.

Growth and Development

During World War I in 1917, Camp Greene was set up west of Charlotte as an army training camp. It closed after the war in 1919. In the 1930s and 1940s, the county's population grew quickly. New places like Carolinas Medical Center and Charlotte College (now University of North Carolina at Charlotte) were built. Lake Norman was finished in 1964 after five years of building.

The county kept growing fast in the mid-1900s. Many new government buildings were constructed. Charlotte Douglas International Airport was also made bigger in 1954. By 1960, a quarter-million people lived in the county. By 1990, the population reached half a million. Today, the Charlotte metropolitan area includes 11 counties in North and South Carolina. It had an estimated population of over 2.8 million people in 2023.

In 2020, a large gasoline leak happened from the Colonial Pipeline near Huntersville. About 2 million gallons of gasoline leaked. This was one of the biggest gasoline spills in U.S. history. Cleanup efforts are still ongoing.

Geography of Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County covers about 546 square miles. Most of this area, about 523 square miles, is land. The rest, about 22 square miles, is water.

Protected Areas and Sites

Mecklenburg County has many protected areas and historical sites. These include:

There are also several nature preserves in Charlotte:

  • Auten Nature Preserve
  • Big Rock Nature Preserve
  • Latta Nature Preserve
  • McDowell Nature Preserve
  • Reedy Creek Nature Preserve

Major Water Bodies

Important rivers and lakes in the county include:

Neighboring Counties

Mecklenburg County shares borders with these counties:

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 11,395 —
1800 10,439 −8.4%
1810 14,272 36.7%
1820 16,895 18.4%
1830 20,073 18.8%
1840 18,273 −9.0%
1850 13,914 −23.9%
1860 17,374 24.9%
1870 24,299 39.9%
1880 34,175 40.6%
1890 42,673 24.9%
1900 55,268 29.5%
1910 67,031 21.3%
1920 80,695 20.4%
1930 127,971 58.6%
1940 151,826 18.6%
1950 197,052 29.8%
1960 272,111 38.1%
1970 354,656 30.3%
1980 404,270 14.0%
1990 511,433 26.5%
2000 695,454 36.0%
2010 919,628 32.2%
2020 1,115,482 21.3%
2023 (est.) 1,163,701 26.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020
Mecklenburg county population
Population grew 2.5% per year from 1970 to 2008

In 2020, Mecklenburg County had 1,115,482 people. There were 426,313 households and 254,759 families living in the county. The population is very diverse, with people from many different backgrounds.

Economy and Jobs

Mecklenburg county unemployment
Unemployment data from 1990 to 2009
Mecklenburg county labor force
Labor force data from 1990 to 2009

The main industries in Mecklenburg County are banking, manufacturing, and professional services. These services often support banking and medicine. Many large companies have their headquarters here. For example, Bank of America, Nucor (a steel company), and Duke Energy (an electric power company) are based in Mecklenburg County.

The largest employers in the county include Atrium Health (healthcare), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (education), and Bank of America. Other big employers are American Airlines, Harris Teeter (a grocery store), and Duke Energy.

Transportation in Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County has many ways to get around, from air travel to trains and buses.

Air Travel

The main airport for the county is Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It is located in Charlotte.

Train Services

Mecklenburg County is a busy place for freight trains. This is because it's on a major train line between Washington and Atlanta.

Three Amtrak passenger train routes serve Mecklenburg County daily:

  • The Crescent connects Charlotte to cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.
  • The Carolinian connects Charlotte to New York, Washington D.C., and Raleigh.
  • The Piedmont connects Charlotte to Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro.

The main train station is at 1914 North Tryon Street. A new station, Gateway Station, is planned. It will include light rail, a bus station, and the Crescent train line. There are also plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Charlotte to Washington, D.C.

Local Transit

LYNX Rapid Transit Services provides light rail service. The Lynx Blue Line runs for about 19 miles. It goes from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, through Uptown Charlotte, to Pineville. The CityLynx Gold Line is a streetcar line. It runs through Uptown Charlotte.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) offers bus service. It covers all of Mecklenburg County, including Charlotte and nearby towns. There are also plans for a new light rail line, the Lynx Silver Line. This line would connect Charlotte to surrounding towns like Belmont and Matthews.

Freight Transport

Mecklenburg County is a major hub for the trucking industry. This is due to its manufacturing base and its central location. The Inland Port of Charlotte is also here. It is a key rail corridor for freight.

Major Roads

Many important highways run through Mecklenburg County:

  • I-77
  • I-85
  • I-277
  • I-485
  • US 21
  • US 29
  • US 74
  • US 521
  • NC 16
  • NC 24
  • NC 27
  • NC 49
  • NC 51
  • NC 73
  • NC 115
  • NC 160
  • NC 218
  • Charlotte Route 4 shield.svg Charlotte Route 4

Education in Mecklenburg County

School System

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system serves all of Mecklenburg County. North Carolina also has approved several charter schools in the county. These are independently run schools funded by taxes.

Colleges and Universities

Mecklenburg County is home to many colleges and universities:

Libraries

The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County serves all residents. You can use a library card from any of its 20 locations. The library has over 1.5 million items, including books, DVDs, and audiobooks.

The Billy Graham Library holds papers and items related to the famous evangelist, Billy Graham.

Healthcare Services

Mecklenburg County has two main healthcare providers: Atrium Health and Novant Health. Together, they offer 14 emergency departments. These include special emergency departments for mental health and for children. Two hospitals in the area provide trauma services. Atrium Health is the county's public hospital authority.

MEDIC, the Mecklenburg EMS Agency, provides emergency medical services. They handle all emergency ambulance calls in the county. In 2024, MEDIC responded to over 157,000 calls.

Arts and Culture

Mecklenburg County offers many cultural and entertainment options.

Museums and Libraries

Sports and Entertainment

The county is home to several professional sports teams and venues:

Music and Performing Arts

Amusement Parks

Other Attractions

Communities of Mecklenburg County

Map of Mecklenburg County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Mecklenburg County with municipal and township labels

Mecklenburg County has seven main towns and cities. These include the City of Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville to the north. To the south and southeast are Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville. A small part of Stallings is also in Mecklenburg County.

City

  • Charlotte (the county seat and largest city)

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

These are areas that are not part of any city or town:

Notable People from Mecklenburg County

Many famous people have come from Mecklenburg County:

  • Nathaniel Alexander (1756–1808), a U.S. Congressman and governor of North Carolina.
  • Romare Bearden (1911–1988), a famous African-American artist.
  • Brigadier General William Lee Davidson (1746–1781), a general during the American Revolutionary War.
  • Ric Flair (born 1949), a retired professional wrestler.
  • Anthony Foxx (born 1971), a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and mayor of Charlotte.
  • Billy Graham (1918–2018), a world-famous speaker.
  • Anthony Hamilton (born 1971), an American R&B/soul singer.
  • James K. Polk (1795–1849), the 11th president of the United States. He was born in Mecklenburg County.
  • Shannon Spake (born 1976), an ESPN sports reporter.

Images for kids

  • Mecklenburg county population

    Population grew 2.5% per year from 1970 to 2008

  • Mecklenburg county unemployment

    Unemployment data from 1990 to 2009

  • Mecklenburg county labor force

    Labor force data from 1990 to 2009

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Mecklenburg (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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