Charlotte, NC is a unique city full of flavor. With our new branch office located right near the heart of the city, our architects, engineers, and interior designers are learning all sorts of fun things about Charlotte!One of these things is a well-known fact among most Charlotte natives – some people actually refer to the center of the city as ‘uptown’, not ‘downtown’! |
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Where did the name ‘uptown’ come from?There are many debates, but the earliest documented use of the term in reference to Charlotte was noted in 1888 (Charlotte Magazine, 2021). Today, locals vary between which term they prefer; some favor calling it downtown, and others like up. Let’s take a look at a few of the theories about the origin of the term, ‘uptown’! |
The city is literally ‘up’.The first theory is focused on the fact that the center of the city was originally the highest point of elevation in the area, with the rest of the city developing around it. People would travel up to town, which may have been shortened to ‘uptown’ (Resident Local, 2021). |
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Another possibility is that the name Uptown was given to the heart of the city in the 1970s to liven up the local businesses and shopping areas, making it seem more like the place to be.Local business owners may have thought that the term ‘downtown’ was too dreary (Resident Local, 2021). |
