North Charlotte (N.C.)

Old North Charlotte is a neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. Old North Charlotte, contrary to its name, comprises a large section of the city's east side. Old North Charlotte is one of Charlotte's oldest neighborhoods and can trace its history back to the early 1880s when Mecklenburg's economy was still heavily reliant on the textile industry. As a result, many former mill buildings dot the landscape of the area which is home to Charlotte's arts district, North Davidson, or "NoDa". Following World War II Old North Charlotte was much like any of the other mill towns throughout the piedmont region. Workers lived in similar looking company-owned homes on what was then the northern edge of Charlotte (this is how the area gets its name). In 1975 Old North Charlotte was home to the city's last surviving textile mill, Johnston Mill, which would cease operations soon thereafter. After this the area was plunged into a home of widespread poverty and crime, most notably prostitution. The 1990s saw the success of an effort led by community figures such as church leaders to clean up the area; in doing so the area became more attractive to development due to its location close to Uptown Charlotte.