The Charlotte Area Transit System operates trolleys, express shuttles, bus service throughout the city and suburbs, and will upgrade its system with light rail and commuter rail by 2025.

Charlotte/Douglass International Airport is the 17th business in the U.S., and is a large hub for US Airways, American, Air Canada, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, AirTran, Jet Blue and Lufthansa. Nonstop flights to many U.S., Europe, Caribbean, Latin America and Canada destinations are available.

Charlotte is at the intersection of two major interstate highways, I-85 and I-77. Intercity rail through Amtrak connects Charlotte with New York, Philadelphia, Washinton, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

From football to basketball to motorsports, Charlotte has just about any form of spectator sport you could desire. Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League, who have played in three NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl (2004 when they were narrowly-defeated by the New England Patriots). Charlotte is also home to the NCAA's Meineke Car Care Bowl, played annually in December at the Bank of America Stadium, and Big South Conference headquarters.

Charlotte also has the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats, an expansion team, and is home to the Women's National Basketball Association team Charlotte Sting. The Major League Baseball Triple-A team, the Charlotte Knights, affiliates of the Chicago White Sox, play the national pasttime in nearby Fort Mill, SC.

MEDIA

The Charlotte Observer is the leading newspaper in the region. There is also the Charlotte Business Journal, and a number of on-line Internet publications, including Spanish-language news, local events and restaurant guides.

Charlotte is served by 12 television stations and 21 major radio stations.

Television

• WBTV CBS
• WSOC ABC
• WHKY Ind
• WUNE PBS/UNCTV
• WCCB FOX
• WNSC PBS/SECTV
• WCNC NBC
• WTVI PBS
• WJZY CW
• WMYT My Network TV
• WUNG PBS/UNCTV (Chapel Hill)
• WAXN Ind

• Population: 651,359 (2005); Metro: 2,120,745 (2005)
• Area: 280.5 sq. mi.
• Elevation: 850 ft.

Climate:

• Average Temperature: 60.1 degrees
• Average Rainfall: 43.1 inches

Racial Composition:

• White: 58.26%
• African-American: 32.72%
• Hispanic: 7.36%
• Asian: 3.41%
• Other: 5.61%

Number of Households: 230,434

• Median Household Income: $46,975
• Median Family Income: $56,517
• Per Capita Income: $26,823