Charlotte, NC
People living in Charlotte, NC can rely on The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store to help them find quality health insurance plans at affordable prices. Free rate quotes for residents of Charlotte, NC are just a phone call or click away. With all the recent changes to the Affordable Care Act, picking a health insurance plan can seem daunting. If you are living in Charlotte, NC or anywhere in North Carolina, The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store can help. Our friendly agents know all the ins and outs of enrolling in health insurance, and can help you find the coverage that is right for you and your family.
The city of Charlotte is located in Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. Charlotte, NC has an area of 297.7 square miles and lies at an elevation of 229 meters, or 751 feet above sea level. In 2013, the population of Charlotte stood at just over 792,000 people. Charlotte is the seat for Mecklenburg County and is North Carolina's largest city. It is a significant financial hub for the state, the home of several major sport teams, and home to cultural centers that have had influence across the United States.
Locals usually refer to Charlotte, NC by its nickname, ‘Queen City’. The city was named ‘Charlotte’ in honor of Great Britain's queen consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Charlotte also has another nickname that dates back to the American Revolutionary War, the “Hornet's Nest”, courtesy of General Cornwallis, a British commander who occupied the growing city during the war. When the British commander was met by hostility from local residents, he wrote that Charlotte was a rebellion's “hornet's nest”, a phrase that stuck.
History
Mecklenburg County, the county in which Charlotte, NC resides, was originally part of New Hanover Precinct's Bath County between 1696 and 1729. Mecklenburg did not become its own county until 1762. Charlotte was initially settled by individuals from various parts of Europe in 1755 and was incorporated into “Charlotte Town” in 1768. The crossroads perching at the top of the Piedmont landscape later transformed into Uptown Charlotte. For the sake of future development, the streets were marked by surveyors in a unique grid pattern in 1770.
One of the seeds of the American Revolution was sewn when the Mecklenburg Resolves were signed by local leaders, entitled the "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence” on May 20, 1775. “MecDec”, as the declaration is known today, is celebrated every May 20th with cannon and musket fire in Independence Square by re-enactors. The state seal and state flag of North Carolina both carry tribute to this important date.
Primary Health Concerns
A 2013 Mecklenburg County Community Health Assessment identified three priority health concerns throughout the county, which include: chronic diseases (such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer); mental health, and access to health care services. The Community Health Assessment also ascertained that more than 150,000 people across Mecklenburg County do not currently have health insurance plans, with 37 percent of these falling within the 16-64 age range and in full-time employment.
Low income has historically been cited as one of the major reasons for a lack of access to health care. However, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, residents of Charlotte, NC with lower incomes can now afford health insurance! The ACA allows the government to offer subsidy assistance (help paying for insurance premiums) to qualifying individuals and families with incomes below 400% of the poverty level.
Residents of Charlotte, NC who do did not have access to affordable private insurance, or health insurance through their employer, now have a whole new set of health insurance options. The Affordable Care Act offers Charlotte, North Carolina locals the opportunity to purchase health insurance plans that offer comprehensive coverage at affordable prices.
You can learn more about the Charlotte health insurance options available to you through ACA, as well as get a free health insurance quote, by clicking on the “Free Rate Quote” button on this webpage, or by talking to one of the knowledgeable agents at The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store. The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store offers free health insurance assistance to residents all across North Carolina.
If you previously received unaffordable, high health insurance quotes under pre-ACA health insurance plans you may now find insurance under the new healthcare law to be much more affordable, and coverage to be much more comprehensive! Simply contact one of the knowledgeable agents at The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store for assistance in selecting a health insurance plan and applying for health insurance subsidies.
Medical Emergencies
Medical emergencies in Charlotte, NC are responded to by the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC). In 2008 alone, MEDIC was able to respond to more than 93,000 calls for help, more than 71,000 patients being transported to the city's major hospitals. Apart from dispatching Emergency Medical Services (EMS), MEDIC also responds to fire call dispatches across city.
Geography and Climate
Charlotte, North Carolina, like most southeastern states in the Piedmont region, enjoys a mostly humid climate with all of the four main seasons. Winters in Charlotte, NC are usually cool and very short, with the temperature in January an average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The city usually experiences 59 nights annually when temperatures drop below freezing. With a precipitation of just over three inches, April is Charlotte's driest month while summers are humid and hot with average temperatures of 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Demographics
The average household in Charlotte, NC has a median income of $48,670 with the family median income standing at $59,452. Charlotte females enjoy median incomes of $29,218, with males in the city enjoying a higher median income of $38,767. The city's per capita income stands at $29,825. Approximately eight percent of all families, or 10.6 percent of the city's population, live at means below the poverty level.
Economy
Charlotte, NC is a major financial center of the United States and only second to New York in terms of banking. Bank of America, the second largest monetary institution in the country, has its home in Charlotte. Charlotte, North Carolina is also the regional headquarters of Wells Fargo for its east coast operations. In addition, eight Fortune 500 companies operate within Charlotte's metropolitan area, which include: Domtar, SPX Corporation, Family Dollar, Sonic Automotive, Duke Energy, Nucor, Lowe's and Bank of America. In 2013, Forbes named Charlotte among the Best Places for Careers and Business.
Education
Charlotte-Mecklenburg public schools make up the twentieth largest school system in the United States, and the second largest in North Carolina. More than 130,000 students are spread out over 160 separate institutions from the elementary level, to middle school, to high school. Charlotte, NC is also home to world class colleges and universities, such as: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith University, Central Piedmont Community College, Johnson & Wales University, and the Charlotte School of Law. Among colleges of liberal arts, Davidson College in Charlotte, North Carolina is ranked tenth across the United States.
The Charlotte area is served by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and contains over 1.5 million resources in DVDs, CDs, books and other educational materials spread out across 20 locations in the city. Branches of the library extend into surrounding towns such as Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Mint Hill and Mathews. Apart from free Wi-Fi and web-enabled computers, entry to these libraries is also free; a single library card from one location is acceptable in all 20 library locations. The public library roots in Charlotte go back to 1891 when the Charlotte Literary Association and Library Association were founded.
Religion
Charlotte, NC has historically been known for its protestant and southern Presbyterian religions. The city is best known among those in the religious community as the birthplace of Evangelist Billy Graham. However, the demographics of the city have been changing over the years, bringing in new faiths and denominations. In total, there are over 700 worship centers in Charlotte, NC.
According to a U.S. census, 51.91 percent of Charlotte residents were affiliated to some form of religion in 2013, making Charlotte, North Carolina only second to Winston-Salem in terms of the city with the highest religious population in the state.
Christianity is Charlotte's largest religion with 13.26 percent of Christians in the city being Baptists. Roman Catholics are second at 9.43 percent, Methodists at 8 percent and Presbyterians at 5.25 percent. Mormons are 0.84 percent, Episcopalians at 1.20 percent, Lutherans at 1.30 percent and Pentecostals at 2.5 percent with other Christians put at 8.87 percent. Islam stands at 0.32 percent, Eastern religions at 0.34 percent and Judaism at 0.57 percents.
Culture
As a city with a strong cultural background, there are a number of museums in Charlotte, NC such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Billy Graham Library and Carolinas Aviation Museum. The African American Arts and Culture's Harvey B. Gantt Center is also located in Charlotte. Performing arts centers include the Carolina Actors Studio Theater, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Shakespeare, Actor's Theatre of Charlotte, Amos' Southend Music Hall and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center among others.
Sports
The National Football League's Carolina Panthers and the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Hornets both call Charlotte, North Carolina home. The Panthers have remained in the city since 1995, while the Hornets have been around since the franchise was formed in 2004. Other athletic teams include the American Hockey League's Charlotte Hounds, the USL Pro's Charlotte Eagles, and the Women’s Soccer League's Charlotte Lady Eagles.
Transport
Mass transit in Charlotte, NC is offered through CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System), bus services, express shuttles, historical trolleys and light rail transit. In 2001, Walk Score ranked the city of Charlotte among the most walkable large cities across the nation. The city is also served by Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the United States' 6th busiest airport in terms of traffic. In addition, Charlotte has three routes of Amtrak serving it, including Greyhound and Megabus, a curbside carrier.
