Why is downtown Charlotte called ‘uptown’? Know this about its history

In most cities, the central area filled with businesses and shops is known as “downtown.” But in Charlotte, the heart of the city goes by a different name.

Ask any Charlotte native — or anyone who’s lived here long enough — and they’ll tell you that the city’s financial center is called “uptown.”

In fact, Charlotte is the only major city in the country where the central business district is officially known as “uptown,” according to Charlotte Center City Partners.

So where did the name “uptown” come from? Here’s what to know.

Why is downtown Charlotte called ‘uptown’?

Tom Hanchett, a Charlotte community historian, explained to The Charlotte Observer in 2015 that the name “uptown” partly stems from the area’s higher elevation.

“In the mid-1700s, the nation’s trading path from the southeast to the Atlantic ran along a ridge top,” Hanchett said. “One of those Indian trading paths in Charlotte came to be Tryon Street and it crossed another that became Trade Street. This was the highest elevation point and the city grew around it. When people came to this point, they were going ‘up.’”

Hanchett also noted that the name gained traction after a Charlotte City Council declaration aimed at encouraging people to visit and support the center city district.

“On September 23, 1974, a city council proclamation declared that the shopping and business district in the center city be officially named ‘Uptown Charlotte,’” said Hanchett. “The push for this came from local merchant and booster, Jack Wood. Wood argued that Uptown name was in use in the 50s and needed to be restored.”

History of Trade & Tryon

Uptown was built around the historic intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, according to Charlotte Center City Partners. Trade Street was named for the area’s early role as a trading path, while Tryon Street honors William Tryon, a former governor of North Carolina.

This crossroads was once the site of the home of Col. Thomas Polk, a North Carolina legislator instrumental in the push for independence from Britain in the late 18th century. Polk played a key role in the drafting of both the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the Mecklenburg Resolves.

Today, the intersection is known as Independence Square. At each corner, you’ll find a bronze statue representing one of the key industries that helped fuel Charlotte’s rise as a major economic hub, according to Center City Partners.

The statues include:

• Commerce: A prospector panning for gold represents the discovery of gold near Charlotte and the opening of the first branch of the U.S. Mint in 1837.

• Industry: A woman millworker and a child millworker represent Charlotte’s early textile factories.

• Transportation: A railroad builder is a symbol for the city’s status as a railroad hub, the number “1401” commemorates a steam locomotive named “Charlotte” and an eagle represents the area’s major airport.

• The Future: A mother holding up her child with the Dogwood, the state flower, and a hornet’s nest underneath represents the promise of the future. The three other statues all look toward this statue.

This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Why is downtown Charlotte called ‘uptown’? Know this about its history."

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.