Are you wondering what you should know about South Charlotte?
As of 2020, Charlotte, North Carolina, was home to over 850,000 people! Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, coming in at #24 for 2022-2023 on the US News list.
And with so many people relocating to the “South Charlotte” area, people are often looking to familiarize themselves with the following:
- Schools and Parks
- Neighborhoods
- Shopping centers
- Entertainment areas
- What to do
Today, in this guide for practical living and visiting South Charlotte, we share everything you need to know!
What to Know About South Charlotte!
Below you will find some easy-to-use information regarding the South Charlotte area; whether you are new to the site or simply looking for places to go and enjoy, we cover it all!
Known for top-notch amenities, endless shopping experiences, beautiful residential neighborhoods, and easy access to major transportation corridors – South Charlotte has it all!
Neighborhoods
1. Ballantyne
Ballantyne is a trendy neighborhood and community “Newer” than South Park. Ballantyne has beautiful homes, an office park, a resort hotel, and some of North Carolina’s best golf courses, including the famous Ballantyne Country Club.
Ballantyne is an excellent community for just about anything you need, including being a great place to eat, drink, live, and play! Oh, and the elegant homes you desire can be found here too!
2. SouthPark
Known for its charm, SouthPark was originally farmland owned by former North Carolina Governor Cameron Morrison in the 1920s. Now a bustling city landscape sitting just south of downtown Charlotte, the area boasts shopping, dining, and residential living. The SouthPark mall offers upscale retail shopping, and SouthPark is one of the most desirable neighborhoods for real estate in the entire country!
➡️ Considering this popular neighborhood? Be sure to look into how to find a great real estate agent that knows the community inside and out!
3. Pineville
Pineville offers a quaint, cute, and old-town feel when you visit. Hoovering around 10,000 residents or so, Pineville sits right on the edge of the South Carolina and North Carolina border, above the popular Fort Mill, SC, area.
Home to the Carolina Place Mall, the area is also the birthplace of the 11th president James K. Polk and is one of the more historic places on our list and is also home to many great farmer’s markets!
4. Matthews
Known as a great community and place to raise a family, Matthews, NC, is a small town with easy access to Charlotte and other surrounding hot spots. The community is revered for its suburban feel and fun things to do in the city, including heading to the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market on the weekends or visiting Matthews Heritage Museum!
Schools
One of the number one reasons new homeowners will purchase in an area or decide to live elsewhere is the schooling system. The South Charlotte community offers a plethora of reputable public and private schools.
Public schools are run by the Charlotte-Mecklenberg School system, one of the top school districts in the entire data. Many of the district’s highest-ranking public elementary, middle, and high schools happen to be located in South Charlotte, such as Providence Spring Elementary.
For a list of both public and private school options, see here:
- Public Schools
- Private Schools in Charlotte, Nc
Shopping Centers
You don’t have to look far to find shopping, dining, and retail options in South Charlotte!
Carolina Place Mall sits next to the 51 and 485 interchanges and is the go-to mall for retail finds! Including DICK’S Sporting Goods, REI, Barnes, and Noble, and more – you can get your shopping fix all in one place!
However, this isn’t your only option; below is a complete list of shopping centers that include:
- SouthPark Shopping Mall
- Quail Corners Shopping Center
- Stonecrest Shopping Center
- Phillips Place (upscale dining & shopping with the open-air concept!)
- Park Road Shopping Center
- Piedmont Row Town Center
- Ardsley Town Center
- Foxcroft Shopping Center
- Ballantyne Village
Not only do many of these shopping centers give you everything you need in a retail sense, but you can also visit the websites of many and find events they host throughout the year. Many hose pop-up markets, fall festivals, and music series throughout the year!
Speaking of entertainment, below is a list of great entertainment options in the South Charlotte area!
Entertainment
Do you like the nightlife? Or maybe you prefer a day on the golf course or spending time with the family at an amusement park?
South Charlotte sports it all when it comes to having options for entertainment, and below, we highlight a few of our top picks!
- Carowinds is a hit amusement park located right on the NC and SC border corner, where you can get a season pass for just $99 and experience endless fun! Their annual fall “Scarowinds” events are a blast too!
- Nightlife: There are plenty of breweries, live music events, bars, and nightlife options, with downtown Charlotte so close!
- Golf: Quail Hollow, Carmel Country Club, and Cedarwood Country Club are some of the finest golf courses to play at
- Lakes: While Lake Norman isn’t too far of a drive, just across the South Carolina border, you will find access to Lake Wylie
- Leisure: Shalom Park, McAlpine Creek Park, and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway for biking and running.
All these neighborhoods offer random entertainment such as live music, family-friendly events, and farmer’s markets throughout the year. There are plenty of dining options to choose from., some being more upscale than others.
Insider Entertainment Tips:
Personally, I (Robin) like the “hole-in-the-wall” joints!
SouthPark hosts the Charlotte Symphony in the summer and random festivals throughout the year, such as wine and beer tasting events.
If you love things like attending SkillPop classes for things like gardening – there are plenty of options. Often hosted at breweries, there are tons of breweries in CLT.
For example, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, one of the originals, is a hot spot. Now they are everywhere!
The Verdict –
Overall, Charlotte, NC, is one of the country’s top areas to live in regarding the economic opportunity, business opportunities, safety, schools, entertainment, and everything in between.
While you are not close to the beach, you are just a 4-5 hour drive from the North Carolina coast, and Charlotte is regarded as one of the safest communities in the state. If you are looking for fun, new homes, history, historic homes, shops, restaurants, night life, and more – South Charlotte offers it all.
To find out more, feel free to reach out here and get some information about the area!
Related Reads:
