The Carolina Cougars were a basketball franchise in the American Basketball Association that existed from 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful seasons in Houston at the Sam Houston Coliseum .
85-618: Bojangles Coliseum , originally Charlotte Coliseum and formerly Independence Arena and Cricket Arena , is an 8,600-seat multi-purpose arena located in Charlotte, North Carolina . It is operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which also oversees nearby Ovens Auditorium and the uptown Charlotte Convention Center . The naming-rights sponsor is the Bojangles restaurant chain. The building's signature domed roof
170-480: A formidable national bank that through aggressive acquisitions eventually merged with BankAmerica to become Bank of America . First Union , later Wachovia in 2001, experienced similar growth before it was acquired by San Francisco –based Wells Fargo in 2008. Measured by control of assets, Charlotte became the second largest banking headquarters in the United States after New York City . On September 22, 1989,
255-577: A major impact on the area, as they often pull tree limbs down onto power lines and make driving hazardous. Snow has been recorded a small number of times in April, most recently on April 2, 2019. As of 2020 , the Charlotte metropolitan area as a whole is noted for having one of the worst weather radar gaps among any major U.S. East Coast city , with little to no coverage in a roughly quadrilateral area spanning Concord , Salisbury and much of Statesville . As
340-531: A normal July daily mean temperature of 80.1 °F (26.7 °C). Hot and humid days can arrive as early as May and last to the end of September. There is an average of 44 days per year with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C). Official record temperatures range from 104 °F (40 °C) recorded six times on 6 September 1954, 9-10 August 2007 and June 29 to July 1, 2012 , down to −5 °F (−21 °C) recorded on December 30, 1880 , February 14 1899 and January 21, 1985 . The record cold daily maximum
425-708: A strong fan base, the Cougars were sold and moved to St. Louis in 1974. The arena hosted the ACC men's basketball tournament from 1968 to 1970, the Southern Conference men's basketball tournament from 1964 to 1971 (and again in 2010 for the tournament's first three days), and was the site of the Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament from 1977 to 1980. Overall, the Coliseum has held no fewer than 15 tournaments between
510-472: Is 14 °F (−10 °C) on February 12 and 13, 1899 . The record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on August 13, 1881. The average window for freezing temperatures is November 5 to March 30, allowing a growing season of 220 days. Charlotte is directly in the path of subtropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico as it heads up the eastern seaboard, thus the city receives ample precipitation throughout
595-414: Is 200 miles (320 km) inland, and residents from coastal areas in both Carolinas often wait out hurricanes in Charlotte. In December 2002, Charlotte and much of central North Carolina were hit by an ice storm that resulted in more than 1.3 million people losing power. During an abnormally cold December, many were without power for weeks. Many of the city's Bradford pear trees split apart under
680-452: Is an emerging center for arts and entertainment. Myers Park , Dilworth , and Eastover are home to some of Charlotte's most affluent, oldest and largest houses, on tree-lined boulevards, with Freedom Park nearby. The SouthPark area offers shopping, dining, and multifamily housing. Far South Boulevard is home to a large Hispanic community. Many students, researchers, and affiliated professionals live near UNC Charlotte in
765-428: Is made of tin, rather than steel or iron. The dome spans 332 feet in diameter and rises to 112 feet tall. Construction began on the Coliseum in 1953 after some delays. Arthur G. Odell Jr. , of A. G. Odell Jr. & Associates . served as project designer, his first major project. James C. Hemphill Jr. oversaw the project. Another important Charlotte figure of the time, Frederick Thompson of FN Thompson Construction, had
850-507: Is now Charlotte was first settled by European colonists around 1755 when Thomas Spratt and his family settled near what is now the Elizabeth neighborhood. Thomas Polk (great-uncle of President James K. Polk ), who later married Thomas Spratt's daughter, built his house by the intersection of two Native American trading paths between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers. One path ran north–south and
935-797: Is the twenty-sixth-most expansive city in the United States and lies at an elevation of 751 feet (229 m). Charlotte constitutes most of Mecklenburg County in the Carolina Piedmont . Uptown Charlotte sits atop a long rise between two creeks, Sugar Creek and Irwin Creek, and was built on the gunnies of the St. Catherine's and Rudisill gold mines . Charlotte is 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Concord ; 26 miles (42 km) northeast of Rock Hill, South Carolina ; 83 miles (134 km) southwest of Greensboro ; 135 miles (217 km) west of Fayetteville ; and 165 miles (266 km) southwest of Raleigh ,
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#17328768333721020-496: The 1930 census , and has remained North Carolina's largest city since. Until 1958, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad operated a daily passenger train from its own station (which had opened in 1896) to Wilmington . The city's modern-day banking industry achieved prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, largely under the leadership of financier Hugh McColl . McColl transformed North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) into
1105-750: The ABA All-Star Game that season, and Cunningham was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Carolina went on to post a 57–27 record, which was the best in the ABA. The Cougars beat the New York Nets in their first-round playoff series 4 games to 1, but lost a close series to the Kentucky Colonels 4 games to 3 in the Eastern Division finals. There were many upset and disappointed fans in Greensboro when
1190-654: The American Revolution . May 20, the traditional date of the signing of the declaration, is celebrated annually in Charlotte as "MecDec", with musket and cannon fire by reenactors in Independence Square. North Carolina's state flag and state seal also bear the date. Charlotte is traditionally considered the home of Southern Presbyterianism , but in the 19th century, numerous churches, including Presbyterian, Baptist , Methodist , Episcopal , Lutheran , and Roman Catholic formed, eventually giving Charlotte
1275-715: The Billy Graham Library , Levine Museum of the New South , Charlotte Museum of History , Carowinds amusement park, and U.S. National Whitewater Center . Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate . It is located several miles east of the Catawba River and southeast of Lake Norman , the largest human-made lake in North Carolina. Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller human-made lakes located near
1360-614: The ECHL version of the Checkers started and won a championship in 1996. The second iteration of the Checkers played at the Coliseum until 2005, with the franchise surrendering its licence to the ECHL when the Carolina Hurricanes moved their AHL franchise from Albany (NY) in 2010, creating the third iteration. The Coliseum would have been available to host playoff games in either the ECHL or AHL during
1445-584: The Houston Mavericks and moved them to North Carolina in 1969. At the time, none of North Carolina's large metropolitan areas – Charlotte , the Piedmont Triad and the Triangle – was large enough to support a professional team on its own. With this in mind, Gardner decided to brand the Cougars as a "regional" team. Gardner sold the team after one season to Ted Munchak, who poured significant resources into
1530-468: The Houston Mavericks moved to North Carolina in 1969. The Cougars were a "regional franchise," playing home games in Charlotte (Charlotte Coliseum), Greensboro ( Greensboro Coliseum ), Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum and Raleigh ( Dorton Arena ). Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown began his coaching career with the Cougars in 1972. Billy Cunningham was the ABA MVP for the Cougars in the 1972–73 season. Despite
1615-554: The county seat of Mecklenburg County . The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census , making Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the South , and the second-most populous city in the Southeast behind Jacksonville, Florida . Charlotte is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area , whose estimated 2023 population of 2,805,115 ranked 22nd in
1700-589: The state capital . Though the Catawba River and its lakes lie several miles west, there are no significant bodies of water or other geological features near the city center. Consequently, development has neither been constrained nor helped by waterways or ports that have contributed to many cities of similar size. The lack of these obstructions has contributed to Charlotte's growth as a highway, rail, and air transportation hub. Charlotte has 199 neighborhoods radiating in all directions from Uptown . Biddleville ,
1785-501: The 12 lighted tennis courts at the park. In September 2013, the 5.4-acre (2.2 ha) Romare Bearden Park opened to the public. The urban section of Little Sugar Creek Greenway was completed in 2012. Inspired in part by the San Antonio River Walk , and integral to Charlotte's extensive urban park system, it is "a huge milestone" according to Gwen Cook, greenway planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. However,
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#17328768333721870-420: The 1970s to the 1990s. WCW also held numerous wrestling events there, including the tenth anniversary of Starrcade , the company's premier event of the year, and the 1997 Slamboree . Additionally, the building hosted UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi on March 31, 2010. All Elite Wrestling aired an episode of AEW Dynamite that was broadcast live from the venue on November 6, 2019. AEW also held Fight for
1955-692: The 1974–75 Spirits. The Spirits were one of two teams that lasted until the very end of the league but not join the NBA; the other was the Kentucky Colonels (the Virginia Squires folded after the final ABA regular season ended but before the ABA–NBA merger due to their inability to meet a league-mandated financial assessment after the season ended.). At the time of the ABA–NBA merger, the Spirits' owners planned to move
2040-452: The 1990s. Voluntary buyouts of 700 households have created around 200 acres (81 ha)s of open land that can flood safely, thereby saving an estimated $ 28 million in flood damage and emergency rescues. McAlpine Creek Park and integrated McAlpine Creek Greenway constructed in 1978 was the first greenway built in the western piedmont of North Carolina. Like much of the Piedmont region of
2125-475: The 2015–2016 season. The Spectrum had poor sight lines for hockey. This franchise had taken the place of the ECHL Checkers four years earlier. The agreement was pending a Charlotte City Council vote to approve $ 16 million in funding for renovations in conjunction with the Checkers' return and that December, the city approved the $ 16 million needed. The renovations would include many modern amenities. This would be
2210-487: The 2020s, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major cities in the United States. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as " Charlotteans ". Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America , Honeywell , Truist Financial , and the East Coast headquarters of Wells Fargo , which, when combined with other Charlotte-based financial institutions, makes the city the second-largest banking center in
2295-541: The Catawba had no natural immunity against. At the time of their largest population, the Catawba population was 10,000. But by 1826, the Catawba population dropped to 110. The city of Charlotte was developed first by a wave of migration of Scots-Irish Presbyterians , or Ulster-Scot settlers from Ulster , who dominated the culture of the Southern Piedmont Region and made up the principal founding population in
2380-761: The Charlotte general area. In 2018, Charlotte proper had over 700 places of worship. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is now the fourth largest denomination in Charlotte, with 68,000 members and 206 congregations. The second largest Presbyterian denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America has 43 churches and 12,000 members, followed by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with 63 churches and 9,500 members. Carolina Cougars The Carolina Cougars franchise began when future Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Jim Gardner bought
2465-540: The Coliseum because it offers more seating and parking capacity than their own on-campus facilities. The Coliseum also hosted the graduation ceremony for the Charlotte campus of the University of Phoenix . In addition, the UNC-Charlotte , Central Piedmont Community College and many local high schools have held and currently hold graduation ceremonies at the building. The Mecklenburg County Public Health Department utilized
2550-472: The Coliseum complex, otherwise unused during the COVID-19 pandemic , as its primary mass vaccination site. 35°12′18.59″N 80°47′42.37″W / 35.2051639°N 80.7951028°W / 35.2051639; -80.7951028 – Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( / ˈ ʃ ɑːr l ə t / SHAR -lət ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and
2635-412: The Coliseum during this time. In 1958, a massive storm went through the region, damaging the Coliseum's roof. However, the roof held up despite the damage. In 1970, a new north entrance was added. Due to its location, visitors walked onto the building's upper concourse after purchasing their tickets. This entrance is still used today. After the new Charlotte Coliseum opened in 1988, the original Coliseum
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2720-572: The Coliseum in 2009. After the season, they announced they would be sitting out the 2010 season and resuming play in 2011 back in Cabarrus. They returned in 2011 to the Coliseum, this time as a member of the Southern Indoor Football League , and remained until 2013. The arena also hosted the worst team in MILL history, the 1996 Charlotte Cobras (0–10). The 1996 season was their one and only in
2805-405: The Coliseum's first major renovation since the 1988 refurbishment. Almost a year to the day when the Checkers announced their return to the Coliseum, the renovations were completed and unveiled to the public. Aside from the new seats and score/video boards, other additions also included a sound system (replacing the one used since 1955), locker rooms, a restaurant, updated concessions and repainting
2890-472: The Cougars decided to hold game 7 of the series in Charlotte. Of the 42 scheduled regular season home games, 25 were usually scheduled for Greensboro while only 12 were played in Charlotte. With Cougar management having the choice of city to play game 7, it mystified its Greensboro area fans with the choice to play such a pivotal game on a less familiar court. Game 7 was hotly contested but Kentucky prevailed, much to Cougar fans dismay. The 1973–74 Cougars started
2975-699: The Fallen on July 28, 2021, and Battle of the Belts on January 8, 2022, at the venue. The Charlotte Roller Girls roller derby league played their home bouts at the arena from 2008 to 2009 before moving to the Grady Cole Center . Bojangles' Coliseum has been the site for numerous concerts, shows, and various events throughout its lifespan. It has been the site for the Spring Commencement ceremonies of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) for several years. JCSU uses
3060-561: The I‑485 perimeter, has experienced rapid growth over the past ten years. The Steele Creek neighborhood which is primarily in Mecklenburg county is located within minutes near Uptown Charlotte. Since the 1980s in particular, Uptown Charlotte has undergone massive construction of buildings, housing Bank of America , Wells Fargo , Hearst Corporation , and Duke Energy , several hotels, and multiple condominium developments. Latta Park
3145-565: The Little Sugar Creek Greenway bears no relation to the San Antonio River Walk. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway is prone to flooding during thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain. Creation of Little Sugar Creek Greenway cost $ 43 million and was controversial because it required the forced acquisition of several established local businesses. The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County began purchasing flood-prone homes in
3230-712: The MILL and the team folded without ever winning a game. In 2012, the arena was home to the Charlotte Copperheads of the now defunct Professional Lacrosse League . An indoor soccer team, the Carolina Vipers, played their one and only season in the CISL in summer 1994. The team went 3–25 and then went "inactive" for 1995, never to return. The Vipers averaged 3,034 fans per game in their one season. The Coliseum hosted both NWA Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from
3315-493: The Spectrum, as well as high school and some college sporting events, along with local attractions. In 2008, Bojangles Restaurants, Inc. , based in Charlotte, bought the naming rights. Questions about the building's future would arise in the years that followed, due to its age and lack of events. In 2012, the city of Charlotte began considering renovating the building itself as a multi-use sports complex. Two years later, another plan
3400-541: The U.S. government established Camp Greene , north of present-day Wilkinson Boulevard. The camp supported 40,000 soldiers, with many troops and suppliers staying after the war, launching urbanization that eventually overtook older cities along the Piedmont Crescent . In the 1920 census , Charlotte fell to being the state's second largest city, Winston-Salem with 48,395 people, had two thousand more people than Charlotte. Charlotte would pass Winston-Salem in population by
3485-425: The United States . The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of an 18-county market region and combined statistical area with an estimated population of 3,387,115 as of 2023. Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents. Based on U.S. census data from 2005 to 2015, Charlotte tops the U.S. in millennial population growth. Throughout
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3570-457: The added travel expenses incurred by the regional concept ultimately proved insurmountable. Munchak sold the Cougars to a consortium of New York businessmen headed by brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna , who moved to St. Louis as the Spirits of St. Louis . However, the new owners assembled an almost entirely new team after moving to St. Louis; only a few players from the 1973–74 Cougars suited up for
3655-632: The apostrophe from its name, and removed the words "Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits" from its logo, becoming simply "Bojangles". Mirroring this, the venue now uses the name Bojangles Coliseum (without a trailing apostrophe) in its communications. During its days as the Charlotte Coliseum, the arena was one of the homes for the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association from 1969 to 1974. The Cougars became tenants after
3740-550: The area throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the 1837 founding of the Charlotte Mint . North Carolina was the chief producer of gold in the United States, until the Sierra Nevada found in 1848, although the volume mined in the Charlotte area was dwarfed by subsequent rushes. Some groups still pan for gold occasionally in local streams and creeks. The Reed Gold Mine operated until 1912. The Charlotte Mint
3825-621: The backcountry. German immigrants also settled in the area before the American Revolutionary War , but in smaller numbers. They still contributed greatly to the early foundations of the region. Mecklenburg County was initially part of Bath County (1696 to 1729) of the New Hanover Precinct, which became New Hanover County in 1729. The western portion of New Hanover split into Bladen County in 1734, and its western portion split into Anson County in 1750. Mecklenburg County
3910-602: The boundary between the Carolinas in 1772, William Moultrie stopped in Charlotte, whose five or six houses were "very ordinary built of logs". Local leaders came together in 1775 and signed the Mecklenburg Resolves , more popularly known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence . While not a true declaration of independence from British rule, it is among the first such declarations that eventually led to
3995-574: The city but was driven out by hostile residents. He wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet 's nest of rebellion", leading to the nickname "The Hornet's Nest". Within decades of Polk's settling, the area grew to become the Town of Charlotte, incorporated in 1768. Though chartered as Charlotte, the name appears as a form of "Charlottesburgh" on many maps until around 1800. A form of "Charlottetown" also appears on maps of British origin depicting General Cornwallis' route of invasion. The crossroads in Piedmont became
4080-404: The city was hit by Hurricane Hugo . With sustained winds of 69 mph (111 km/h) and gusts of 87 mph (140 km/h), Hugo caused massive property damage, destroyed 80,000 trees, and knocked out electrical power to most of the population. Residents were without power for weeks, schools were closed for a week or more, and the cleanup took months. The city was caught unprepared; Charlotte
4165-482: The city. As of 2024, 66% of the city's area is occupied by green spaces. The city ranks 1st in the United States and 29th in the world in the ranking of the greenest cities on the planet. The Catawba Indians were the first known historic tribe to settle Mecklenburg County in the Charlotte area and were first recorded around 1567, according to Spanish records. By 1759, half the Catawba tribe had died from smallpox , an endemic disease among European colonists, which
4250-460: The concourse and a small restaurant opened for select fans in 1995. In 2001, the arena was renamed Cricket Arena in a naming rights arrangement with Cricket Communications . In 2005, the Checkers departed Cricket Arena for the newly opened Charlotte Bobcats Arena . Due to this, the Coliseum was left without a permanent tenant for a decade. The building remained open as a venue for medium-sized concerts and stage shows which would not be suitable for
4335-450: The daunting, yet, highly successful task building the coliseum. In September 1955, the building was opened and dedicated by Billy Graham as the Charlotte Coliseum. At the time, it was the largest unsupported dome in the world and notably was the first free-spanning dome in the United States. Numerous newspapers and architectural magazines ran stories about the building over the following years, especially its dome. Total evacuation time for
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#17328768333724420-440: The entire structure was just four minutes, while seating capacity could be anywhere between 10,000 and 14,000 seats, approximately, depending on the event. The Coliseum hosted numerous acts and events over its first few decades. A Billy Graham Crusade took place at the Coliseum in 1958. Elvis Presley first performed at the Coliseum in 1956; his last performance there was in 1977. Elvis was one of numerous musical acts to perform at
4505-485: The final stages, and it had become apparent that a "regional" franchise would not be viable in the NBA. Although the Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh axis (the Piedmont Crescent or I-85 Corridor ) was beginning an unprecedented period of growth, none of these cities was big enough at the time to support an NBA team on its own. Additionally, several persons quoted in the book Loose Balls by Terry Pluto say
4590-599: The following decade (due to possible scheduling conflicts with Spectrum), but this never occurred as the Bobcats (as the NBA team was called) never made the playoffs during the time (the current Charlotte NBA franchise, which began in 2004, has never won a playoff series). The Carolina Speed of the American Indoor Football Association , formerly playing at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center , moved to
4675-517: The ground (below 5,000 ft (1,500 m)). In the 2020 census , there were 874,579 people, 342,448 households, and 195,614 families living in the city. In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates showed 885,708 residents living within Charlotte's city limits and 1,093,901 in Mecklenburg County. The combined statistical area , or trade area, of Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SC had an estimated population of 3,387,115 in 2023. Figures from
4760-509: The heart of Uptown Charlotte . In 1770, surveyors marked the streets in a grid pattern for future development. The east–west trading path became Trade Street, and the Great Wagon Road became Tryon Street, in honor of William Tryon , a royal governor of colonial North Carolina. The intersection of Trade and Tryon is commonly known today as "Trade and Tryon", or simply "The Square", and formally as "Independence Square". While surveying
4845-423: The interior. The Coliseum celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015. Additional renovations were made in 2016, including upgraded heating/cooling, new internal lighting, and replacing the ice floor among other improvements. In 2018, the city of Charlotte broke ground on a structure to connect the Coliseum to Ovens Auditorium, which was completed in 2020. In August 2020, "Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits" removed
4930-594: The more comprehensive 2010 census show Charlotte's population density was 2,457 per square mile (949/km ). There were 319,918 housing units at an average density of 1,074.6 per square mile (414.9/km ). In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Charlotte's population as 30.2% Black and 68.9% White. In 2020, 39.72% of the population was non-Hispanic white, 32.5% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 7.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.15% other or mixed, and 16.32% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. This reflected
5015-675: The nation. Charlotte's notable attractions include three professional sports teams, the Carolina Panthers of the NFL , the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA , and Charlotte FC of MLS . The city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame , Opera Carolina , Charlotte Symphony , Charlotte Ballet , Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum , Harvey B. Gantt Center , Bechtler Museum of Modern Art ,
5100-447: The national demographic shift as Hispanic or Latinos and Asians increased in population. In 2020, the median income for a household in Charlotte was $ 48,670. The median income for a family was $ 59,452. Males had a median income of $ 38,767 versus $ 29,218 for females. The per capita income for Charlotte was $ 29,825. The percentage of the population living at or below the poverty line was 10.6%, with 7.8% of families living at or below
5185-523: The nearest NWS -owned NEXRAD is located in Greer, South Carolina , more than 80 mi (130 km) to the west-southwest of Charlotte, this deficit is particularly problematic during severe thunderstorm or tornado episodes. The current lowest angle of the radar, based in Greer, is quite far above the surface over Charlotte, so the velocities measurement for detecting rotations cannot be below mid-level in potential tornado-forming storms and thus cannot indicate whether said rotation extends closer to
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#17328768333725270-410: The nickname, " The City of Churches ". In 1799, in nearby Cabarrus County, 12-year-old Conrad Reed found a 17- pound rock, which his family used as a doorstop. Three years later, a jeweler determined it was nearly solid gold, paying the family a paltry $ 3.50. The first documented gold find in the United States of any consequence set off the nation's first gold rush . Many veins of gold were found in
5355-425: The northeast area known as University City . The large area known as Southeast Charlotte is home to many golf communities, luxury developments, churches, the Jewish community center, and private schools. As undeveloped land within Mecklenburg has become scarce, many of these communities have expanded into Weddington and Waxhaw in Union County . Ballantyne , in the south of Charlotte, and nearly every area on
5440-635: The poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Charlotte has been historically Protestant and remains predominantly Protestant today. It is the birthplace of Billy Graham , and is also the historic seat of Southern Presbyterianism . The changing demographics of the city's increasing population have brought scores of new denominations and faiths. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association , Wycliffe Bible Translators ' JAARS Center, SIM Missions Organization, and The Christian Research Institute make their homes in
5525-490: The primary historic center of Charlotte's African American community, is west of Uptown, starting at the Johnson C. Smith University campus and extending to the airport. East of The Plaza and north of Central Avenue, Plaza-Midwood is known for its international population, including Eastern Europeans, Greeks , Middle-Easterners , and Hispanics . North Tryon and the Sugar Creek area include several Asian American communities. NoDa (North Davidson), north of Uptown,
5610-404: The railroad platform in Uptown. Local promotors began building textile factories, starting with the 1881 Charlotte Cotton Mill that still stands at Graham and 5th streets. Charlotte's city population at the 1890 census grew to 11,557. In 1910, Charlotte surpassed Wilmington to become North Carolina's largest city with 34,014 residents. The population grew again during World War I , when
5695-435: The season strong, winning 17 of their first 22 games. Despite injuries and internal squabbles, the Cougars posted a 47–37 record but were swept in the Eastern Division semifinals 4 games to 0 by the Kentucky Colonels . 1973–74 turned out to be the Cougars' last season in North Carolina. Although they were moderately successful overall and had one of the most loyal fan bases in the ABA, talks toward an ABA–NBA merger were in
5780-436: The second head coach of the Hornets. Larry Brown , who coached the Cougars for two seasons and won Coach of the Year during his tenure, would eventually become the eighth head coach of Charlotte's NBA franchise. Two teams in other professional sports leagues include Carolina in their branding: the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League , and the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . The former team
5865-420: The southeastern United States, Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with four distinct seasons. Charlotte is part of USDA hardiness zone 8a, transitioning to 7b in the suburbs in all directions except the south. The following narrative reflects 1991–2020 climate data. Winters are short and fairly mild, with a normal January daily mean temperature of 42.1 °F (5.6 °C). On occasion
5950-475: The team to Salt Lake City, Utah to play as the Utah Rockies ; instead, its players were dealt in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft . Professional basketball would return to North Carolina in 1988 when the Charlotte Hornets entered the NBA. Carl Scheer , who won Executive of the Year as a member of the Cougars, would later become the first executive of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Cougars point guard Gene Littles would become an assistant coach, an executive, and
6035-431: The team. The Cougars were based in Greensboro and played most of their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum , the state's largest arena at the time. Games were also regularly played in Charlotte at the (original) Charlotte Coliseum and in Raleigh at Dorton Arena and Reynolds Coliseum . In early 1972, three regular season games were played in Winston-Salem at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum , and one game
6120-450: The temperature can fall below 20 °F (−6.7 °C) but Charlotte also enjoys multiple warm winter days in excess of 65 °F (18.3 °C). On average, there are 59 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 1.5 days that fail to rise above freezing. Precipitation is evenly distributed through the year. Only August stands out as a slightly wetter month, averaging 4.35 inches of rainfall. Summers are hot and humid, with
6205-526: The third iteration of the Checkers (AHL) returned in 2015, Bojangles' was the home of minor league hockey for many years prior. The first instance started in 1956, when the Baltimore Clippers moved to Charlotte to become the first iteration of the Checkers. The building hosted its first hockey match in January 1956 before a sold-out crowd of over 10,000. The club lasted until 1977, when they folded. In 1993,
6290-593: The three conferences and has also hosted 13 NCAA Tournaments. The Coliseum hosted the Charlotte 49ers basketball teams from 1976 to 1988, and again from 1993 to 1996. In 2017, the first two rounds of the CIAA men's and women's basketball tournaments were played at the Coliseum. This marked the 29th college tournament played at the building. In 2022, the Coliseum hosted the Big South Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments, which it hosted again in 2023. Before
6375-488: The weight of the ice. In August 2015 and September 2016, the city experienced several days of protests related to the police shootings of Jonathan Ferrell and Keith Scott . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 312.00 square miles (808.1 km ), of which 310.02 square miles (802.9 km ) is land and 1.98 square miles (5.1 km ) (0.63%) is water. Charlotte
6460-689: The year but also many clear, sunny days. Precipitation is generally less frequent in autumn than in spring. On average, Charlotte receives 43.60 inches (1,110 mm) of precipitation annually, evenly distributed throughout the year. Annual precipitation has historically ranged from 26.23 in (666 mm) in 2001 to 68.44 in (1,738 mm) in 1884. There is an average of 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of snow, mainly in January and February and rarely December or March, with more frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain. Seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts in 2011–12 to 22.6 in (57 cm) in 1959–60. Snow and ice storms can have
6545-705: Was active until 1861 when Confederate forces seized it at the outbreak of the Civil War . The mint was not reopened at the war's end, but the building, albeit in a different location, now houses the Mint Museum of Art . The city's first boom came after the Civil War, as Charlotte became a cotton processing center and railroad hub. By the 1880s, Charlotte sat astride the Southern Railway mainline from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Farmers from miles around would bring cotton to
6630-535: Was announced with developer GoodSports that would add both a hotel and sports complex next to the Coliseum. Both plans ultimately fell through. In November 2014, the arena secured a permanent tenant once again when a third Checkers franchise , now in the American Hockey League , announced a tentative agreement with the Charlotte Regional Visitors' Authority to return to Bojangles' Coliseum for
6715-539: Was coached by former NBA All-Star Tom Meschery , who had just retired from 10 years of NBA play with the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics . In 1972–73, the Cougars hired retired ABA players Larry Brown and former Cougar Doug Moe as coaches. The 1972–73 Cougars were fairly talented and featured players Billy Cunningham , Joe Caldwell , and Mack Calvin . All three appeared in
6800-558: Was considered as an alternative to the larger Coliseum for events that required less seating or overall space. An expansion franchise in the East Coast Hockey League , the Charlotte Checkers (named in honor of the original Checkers team that played at the Coliseum from 1956 to 1977), became the building's primary tenant. It also got its first name change that same year to Independence Arena. Color TVs were installed inside
6885-743: Was created in 1891 as an amusement park. Bryant Park was established in the 1930s and is one of the earliest small-scale public parks in Charlotte. It is the only green space remaining in West Morehead Street's industrial sector. The 120-acre (49 ha) Park Road Park is a prominent landmark near the SouthPark area. Park Road Park features eight basketball courts, two horseshoe pits, six baseball fields, five picnic shelters, volleyball courts, playgrounds, trails, tennis courts, and an 11-acre (4.5 ha) lake. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation Department operates 36 tennis facilities and
6970-556: Was formed from Anson County in 1762. Further apportionment was made in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War, with Cabarrus County formed from Mecklenburg. In 1842, Union County formed from Mecklenburg's southeastern portion and a western portion of Anson County. These areas were all part of one of the original six judicial/military districts of North Carolina known as the Salisbury District . The area that
7055-562: Was part of the Great Wagon Road ; the second path ran east–west along what is now Trade Street. Nicknamed the "Queen City", like its county a few years earlier, Charlotte was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , who had become the queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland in 1761, seven years before the town's incorporation. A second nickname derives from the American Revolutionary War , when British commander General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis occupied
7140-460: Was played at Fort Bragg . Early on, the Cougars were not especially successful on the court, posting a 42–42 record in the 1969–70 season, a 34–50 record in 1970–71, and a 35–49 record in 1971–72. The 1969–70 Cougars managed to make the ABA playoffs but lost in the Eastern Division semifinals (first round) to a much stronger Indiana Pacers team. In spite of this, the Cougars had a good fan following, particularly in Greensboro. The 1971–72 team
7225-461: Was shuttered since the new building effectively took over all the original Coliseum's duties, though it came quickly back into use as it was realized the new Coliseum, which could host over 24,000 for basketball, would be cavernous to host smaller and mid-sized concerts and events. Over the next five years, an extensive refurbishment was made to the structure. This included technology, infrastructure, and accessibility upgrades. Once reopened in 1993, it
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