Charlotte, North Carolina, known as "the Queen City", is the largest city in the state. It is also North Carolina's center for commerce, transportation, culture, and entertainment. The city is the namesake of the German-born wife of British king George III and was founded at the intersection of two trading paths before it was incorporated as the village of Charlotte town in the mid-1700s.

From this humble beginning Charlotte has grown into a bustling metropolis, home to 10 Fortune 500 companies, including Wachovia, Bank of America and Lowe's. Aside from its thriving business community the city is also known for its recreation, with its many restaurants, toy stores and a city budget allotted for recreation larger than those of other cities in the US, a fact which helped to make it the 29th Most Fun US city in 2003 in a poll done by Cranium Inc.

The city's culture is evident in its museums and theater productions, as well as its rich performing arts sector. The Charlotte Civic Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony and the Children's Theater of Charlotte are just some examples of Charlotte's cultural attractions frequented by the city's patrons for the performing arts. Charlotte is also home to multiple NASCAR offices and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.