Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. Charlotte's population was estimated to be 687,456 in 2008, making it the 18^th largest city in the United States. Charlotte is located on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and about 3 hours from the Atlantic Ocean.

Charlotte is named in honor of the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg, who had become queen consort of British King George III the year before the city's founding. This is where Charlotte's nickname "The Queen City" hailed from.

• In 2007 Forbes named Charlotte as the third most undervalues real estate market in the U.S.

• In 2008 Charlotte was chosen the "Best Place to Live in America" by relocate-america.com