When it comes to tracking Charlotte's path to becoming
one of the nation's busiest metropolises, we're reminded
that transportation and a city's ability to connect its people
to other communities has always been a driving force.
Charlotte's history has certainly underscored that.
Although the Queen City was the site of nation's first gold
rush, which brought an influx of transplants in search of
striking luck, the rise of Charlotte's first rail line in 1852
actually had a greater impact on the local economy. It
connected the city to Columbia, South Carolina, for the
primary purpose of transporting goods. Because its success
was instant, the North Carolina state legislature immediately
authorized construction of a second line to link Charlotte
with Raleigh, North Carolina. e result? e tiny Queen City
became a huge hot spot during the Civil War.
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BY TORIE ROBINETTE
16 JUNE 2017