Charlotte, North Carolina, is a city on the move. Known as the "Queen City," Charlotte is the 26th largest city in the U.S. and the heart of the nation's fifth largest urban region. Fortune magazine has ranked Charlotte as having the nation's best pro-business attitude.

Charlotte is the U.S. headquarters for more than 650 global corporations and nine Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America and Wachovia Corporation.

Fortune magazine has ranked Charlotte as having "the nation's best pro-business attitude" for its entrepreneurial spirit and financial services. Important industries include: banking, insurance, distribution, health care, and high-tech.

Residents of the Charlotte region also enjoy a variety of arts and cultural resources, including the Mint Museums, the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Discovery Place. Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Arts & Science Council is the second-largest arts oversight group in the country.