Charlotte (pronounced /ˈʃɑɹɫət/) is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. Charlotte's population was estimated by the US Census Bureau to be 709,441 in 2009 (the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce insists it is higher in mid-2010, at 756,912), making it the 18th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a population in 2009 of 1,745,524. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a wider thirteen-county labor market region or combined statistical area that has a 2009 estimated population of 2,389,763. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans".

Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte and the county containing it are 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. A second nickname derives from later in the 18th century. During the American Revolutionary War, British commander General Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out afterwards by hostile residents, prompting him to write that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," leading to another city nickname: The Hornet's Nest.

Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate. It is located halfway between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, and between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia. Charlotte is located along the Catawba River and near Lake Norman, the largest manmade lake in North Carolina along with two other lakes adjacent to the city known as Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake.

Forbes named Charlotte as the third most undervalued real estate markets in the U.S. in 2007. In 2008, Charlotte was chosen the "Best Place to Live in America" by relocate-America.com in its annual ranking, based on factors including employment opportunities, crime rates, and housing affordability. It was also named #8 of the 100 "Best Places to Live and Launch" by CNNMoney.com; cities were picked for their vibrant lifestyles and opportunities for new businesses. Lifestyle was also noted when in 2007 Prevention Magazine rated the city the fourth best "Walking City" in the nation, and the best in North Carolina, and Self Magazine named it one of "Five Cities with Big Outdoor Appeal" for features like its Public Art Walking Tour, accessible museums such as the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, and nearby outdoor excursions like the U.S. National Whitewater Center.