Charlotte was settled in 1755 by Thomas Polk at the intersection of two Native American trading paths. The convenient location on rich fertile soil and near trade routes helped the city flourish early on. Not long after its founding, Charlotte was incorporated as a town in 1768.

Charlotte was named after German-born wife of King George III in an attempt to win favor with Britain in the city's pursuit of political advantages. As Britain imposed strict laws on the colonists, Charlotte sought independence from Britain. Lore has it that the city's townsmen signed a declaration of independence in 1775, but conclusive evidence of this document has never been found. Despite the speculation as to the authenticity of Charlotte's declaration of independence, Charlotte was a hot spot of rebellion during the Revolutionary War. In fact, the people of Charlotte had so many incidents with British troops that Lord General Charles Cornwallis called it a "Hornet's Nest."

After the Revolutionary War, Charlotte became the site of nation's first gold rush in 1802. In 1837, the Charlotte mint was developed to mint local gold. North Carolina led the state in gold production throughout the first half of the 19th century. Then, the Charlotte gold rush was dwarfed by the 1849 California gold rush. As mining diminished in the area, the city turned to cotton, becoming a major textile producer after the Civil War. The city's population increased dramatically after the Civil War as it became a cotton processing center and major distribution center.

Today, Charlotte has a strong economy secured in the banking industry. Charlotte's banking industry is the second largest in the United States after New York City.