A non-profit in Union County is bringing warm meals during this holiday season.
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Charlotte, North Carolina – A Diverse City

Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The population is roughly fifty-eight percent white, thirty-five percent black, and six percent Asian. The rest consists of mixed-race individuals and various people groups. The city is also the second most religious city in the United States, with the majority of residents belonging to Protestant Christian denominations. Charlotte also has the largest Jewish population in the Carolinas, with two major synagogues.

The area that is now Charlotte was first settled by European colonists around 1755. In 1756, Thomas Spratt established a settlement near what is now the Elizabeth neighborhood. Another notable European was Thomas Polk, who was the great-uncle of U.S. President James K. Polk. He settled in the area near the intersection of two Native American trading paths, one north-south along Great Wagon Road, and one east-west along Trade Street.

During the American Civil War, Charlotte was not only a center for the Southern Confederacy, but also a hub of wartime industry. The city was home to the Mecklenburg Iron Works, which cast Confederate cannons. Other factories produced gunpowder, chemicals, wool goods, and canteens.

Charlotte is also known for its mild climate. Typical January and February temperatures are thirty-eight to fifty-one degrees Fahrenheit, and the average July temperature is ninety-one degrees. Charlotte receives about two inches of snow a year, which is far below the US average of twenty-eight inches. The city also receives 43 inches of rain per year, making it a wetter city than the United States average.