Uptown Charlotte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Uptown Charlotte
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Neighborhood and central business district
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Uptown Charlotte skyline in 2018
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| Nickname(s):
Uptown, Historic Downtown
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| <mapframe width=300 height=300 zoom=10 latitude=35.210 longitude=-80.814>{"type": "ExternalData","service": "geoshape","ids": "Q5086205"}</mapframe>
Location in Charlotte
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| State |  North Carolina |
| County | Mecklenburg |
| City |  Charlotte |
| Council districts | 1, 2 |
| Neighborhood Profile Areas (NPA) | 340, 341, 342, 384 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.5 km2 (2.14 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 20,000 |
| • Density | 3,600/km2 (9,300/sq mi) |
| Zip Codes |
28202, 28204, 28206, 28208
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| Area code(s) | 704 and 980 |
| Median household income | $59,063 |
| Quality of Life Dashboard | |
Uptown Charlotte, also known as Center City, is the main business area of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States. It's like the heart of the city where a lot of important things happen. This area is divided into four sections, called wards, by the crossing of Trade and Tryon Streets. It's surrounded by highways Interstate 277 and Interstate 77.
Uptown Charlotte is the biggest business district in Charlotte and even in the Carolinas. Many large companies, including Bank of America and Duke Energy, have their main offices here. You'll also find sports stadiums like Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center, museums, theaters, hotels, and lots of restaurants and shops.
Contents
Why is it Called Uptown?
People in Charlotte often call their city's center "Uptown." Even though "Downtown" is also understood, "Uptown" has a special history here. The name "Up-Town" was first used way back in 1895. It described how the area around Tryon and Trade Streets was actually higher up than other parts of the city.
For a while, people started using "Downtown" more. But in the 1970s, a local businessman named Jack Wood started a big effort to bring "Uptown" back. He wanted to give the area a fresh, positive image. In 1974, the Charlotte City Council officially declared that the heart of Charlotte should always be known as "Uptown Charlotte."
Exploring the Main Streets
Uptown Charlotte has a grid of streets that are important for getting around and finding major buildings.
Tryon Street: Home to Tall Buildings
Tryon Street is named after William Tryon, who was a governor a long time ago. It's a major road that runs through Charlotte. In Uptown, Tryon Street divides the city into "East" and "West" streets. Many of Charlotte's tallest buildings are located on Tryon Street, including:
Trade Street: Dividing North and South
Trade Street starts near the edge of Uptown and goes through the city. It's the street that separates "North" and "South" labeled streets in Uptown. Some important buildings on Trade Street include:
- 121 West Trade
- Carillon Tower
College Street: Another Key Road
Several buildings are located on College Street, such as:
- One Wells Fargo Center
- Charlotte Plaza
The Four Wards of Uptown
Uptown Charlotte is divided into four main areas, or "wards," by the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets.
First Ward: A Place for Learning and Fun
The First Ward is located to the east of Trade and Tryon Streets. It used to be a less safe area, but it has changed a lot with new buildings and improvements. The Uptown campus of UNC Charlotte is here, with modern classrooms and performance spaces.
This ward also has a park, offices, homes, hotels, and shops. You can visit the Main Library, Spirit Square, ImaginOn Children's Learning Center, Levine Museum of the New South, and the Spectrum Center, where the Charlotte Hornets basketball team plays.
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Second Ward: Government and Entertainment
The Second Ward is south of Trade and Tryon Streets. It's a big area for hotels and jobs. This ward is home to Charlotte's "Government District" and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
This area was once a neighborhood called Brooklyn. Today, the Second Ward has Queen City Quarter, which is a place with entertainment and shops. You can also find the Charlotte Convention Center, the historic St. Peter's Catholic Church, The Green mini-park, and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art+Culture. Duke Energy also has its main office here.
Third Ward: Sports and Arts Hub
The Third Ward is to the west of Trade and Tryon Streets. It's known for its entertainment and cultural spots. Here you'll find the Knight Theatre, the Mint Museum, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
It's also where the Carolina Panthers football team and Charlotte FC soccer team play at Bank of America Stadium. The Charlotte Knights baseball team plays at Truist Field. You can relax at Romare Bearden Park. Johnson & Wales University and Johnson C. Smith University also have campuses nearby. This ward is also getting a new transportation center called Gateway Station.
Fourth Ward: Historic Homes and Parks
The Fourth Ward is north of Trade and Tryon Streets. It's mostly a residential area with many beautiful old Victorian homes. It's a protected historic district.
You can visit the Old Settlers' Cemetery and the Fourth Ward Park. This ward mixes historic homes with modern restaurants and businesses.
Uptown's Busy Economy
Uptown Charlotte is a very important place for jobs and businesses. In 2021, about 120,000 people worked here. It also welcomes over 18 million visitors each year and is home to 35,000 residents.
Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the United States, after New York City. This is because many big banks have their main offices here. Bank of America and Truist Financial both have their headquarters in Uptown. Other large banks like Wells Fargo and Ally Financial also have many employees working in Uptown.
Companies with Headquarters in Uptown
- Bank of America
- Truist Financial
- Wells Fargo (East Coast operations)
- Duke Energy
- Honeywell
- Dole Food Company
- NASCAR
- Atlantic Coast Conference
Where to Stay in Uptown
Uptown Charlotte has many hotels for visitors. There are over 6,600 hotel rooms available, with more being planned or built. Having many hotel rooms close to the Convention Center helps Charlotte attract big events and conferences.
New Buildings and Growth
After a quiet period, Uptown Charlotte has seen a lot of new construction since 2014. Many new office buildings, homes, hotels, and shops have been built or are being planned.
Some companies are building bigger offices to bring different teams together in one place. For example, Ally Charlotte Center and Duke Energy Plaza are new buildings that help companies combine several offices into one. This also helps them adapt to new ways of working, like people working from home part-time.
One area that has grown a lot is the Stonewall Corridor, which is near the highway. This area had a lot of open land, which made it perfect for new buildings like the Bank of America Tower and Ally Charlotte Center.
Learning in Uptown
Uptown Charlotte has several schools and universities, making it a place for education at all levels.
Schools for Younger Students
- Brookstone Schools
- First Ward Creative Arts Academy
- Charlotte Lab School
- Trinity Episcopal School
Colleges and Universities
- Johnson and Wales University, Charlotte campus
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Uptown campus
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Central Piedmont Community College
Libraries for Everyone
Uptown Charlotte has two important libraries. The Main Library is on North Tryon Street and is getting a big new design.
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is a special place for children and teens. It's a partnership between the library and the Children's Theater of Charlotte. ImaginOn offers books, movies, music, and homework help. It also has theaters for children's performances.
Fun and Culture in Uptown
Uptown Charlotte is full of parks, sports, and cultural attractions.
Parks for Relaxation
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You can enjoy several parks in Uptown:
- Romare Bearden Park
- First Ward Park
- Fourth Ward Park
- The Green
- Marshall Park
Sports and Entertainment Venues
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Uptown Charlotte is home to two major sports stadiums:
- Bank of America Stadium: Home of the Carolina Panthers (NFL football) and Charlotte FC (MLS soccer).
- Spectrum Center: Home of the Charlotte Hornets (NBA basketball).
The Charlotte Knights, a minor league baseball team, play at Truist Field.
The Charlotte Convention Center is a large venue that hosts many events and brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Uptown also has many museums, especially around the Levine Center for the Arts. Some of these include:
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
- Discovery Place
- Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
- Mint Museum
- NASCAR Hall of Fame
Performing Arts
If you love live shows, Uptown has several places to see them:
- Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
- Carolina Theatre
- Knight Theater
Media
The main newspaper for Charlotte, The Charlotte Observer, has its headquarters in Uptown.
Getting Around Uptown
Uptown Charlotte is easy to get to because it's surrounded by Interstate 277, which forms its boundaries. Interstate 77 also runs nearby.
The Lynx Blue Line is a light rail train that goes through Uptown. It connects Uptown to other parts of Charlotte, like University City to the northeast.
