Arriving From All Over
Why are people coming?
For most of its history, the South was America's poorest region. People left the South to seek opportunity.
But since the 1970s, that's changed. Air conditioning cooled the hot summers. The Civil Rights movement opened doors. Old industries in other parts of the U.S. ran into hard times. The fast-changing global economy put millions of the world's citizens into motion.
Charlotte is now a growth hot spot. A top U.S. banking center. The corporate headquarters of several Fortune 500 business giants. A magnet for people seeking opportunity, a comfortable climate, and a new place to live.
From all over the world.
People from around the globe arrive daily. These newcomers range from laborers to highly educated professionals.
Today 13 percent of Mecklenburg County residents are foreign-born. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools serves kids from 151 countries, speaking 120 native languages.
| Where in the world are we from? | |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 28,500 |
| India | 8,400 |
| Vietnam | 7,200 |
| El Salvador | 5,000 |
| Honduras | 4,000 |
| China | 3,000 |
| Ecuador | 2,600 |
| Canada | 2,400 |
| Guatemala | 1,800 |
| Cuba | 1,700 |
| Philippines | 1,600 |
| England | 1,600 |
U.S. Census, American Community Survey. Mecklenburg County data, top 12 countries of origin.
Rounded to nearest 100.
