Strategic Location

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IN ORDER FOR ANY BUSINESS to be successful, it must have quick and convenient access to major markets. Charlotte offers that access. Charlotte is the largest city within the nation’s sixth largest urban region. This region had a 2008 population of 13 million. Only the urban regions containing New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles had greater populations.

The area east of the Mississippi represents only 29 percent of the contiguous land of the U.S. Yet this area accounts for 56 percent of the population, 58 percent of all manufacturing establishments and 62 percent of all manufacturing employment. Of the nation’s new business starts, 47 percent occurred in this area. Also, 50 percent of all exports come from the eastern U.S.

Specifically, 34 of the nation’s 51 metropolitan markets with over one million in population are within these eastern states. Twenty-nine of these markets lie within a 650-mile radius of Charlotte which can easily be reached by 24 hour truck delivery or two hours flight time. In fact, Charlotte remains the only major distribution center midway between the Northeast, Midwest and Florida markets.

Of the major distribution centers in the Southeast, Charlotte and Atlanta each have more than 7 million people living within a 100 mile radius. This radius population well exceeds Miami’s 6 million and the 2.6 million around Memphis. Even when considering a 650-mile radius, Charlotte is the clear leader.

The future for Charlotte continues to shine bright. Recent studies confirm the on-going national trend of population movement to the Sunbelt. In 2005, North Carolina ranked fifth nationally in total net migration of population, and all of the adjacent states are placed among the top 10.

Center of the Southeast's Largest Major Trading Area
The Charlotte-Greensboro-Greenville-Raleigh Major Trading Area is one of forty-seven defined by Rand McNally. With 13 million people, this trading area leads the Southeast and ranks sixth nationally. From 1990 to 2000, Charlotte’s major trading area has increased by 2.4 million people or 19 percent. Since 2000, the Charlotte trading area has seen a population gain of 1.2 million or 10 percent.

Charlotte’s immediate market, called the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA, encompasses a six county area with a population of 1.7 million people.* The area’s prosperity is reflected by an effective buying income total of $36 billion with retail sales amounting to $26 billion annually. The core county has an average household effective buying income of $57,613.

For any additional demographic information, please visit the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce’s Web site: www.charlottechamber.com.

*The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA consists of Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg and Union Counties, N.C. as well as S.C.’s York County. This MSA ranks 35th largest nationally.