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Monroe | Indian Trail | Fairview | Hemby Bridge | Lake Park | Marshville
Marvin | Mineral Springs | Stallings | Unionville | Waxhaw | Weddington
Wesley Chapel | Wingate
Union County shares a mix of country charm and proximity to urban convenience. Its historic buildings and old-fashioned main streets share the same page with new housing developments and bustling department stores. Union County's growth rate has already surpassed Mecklenburg County's, making Union County the 7th fastest growing county in the nation.Our population is expected to grow from 185,000 to approximately 250,000 by the year 2019.
While anticipating plans for ever-improving infrastructure and projects like the Monroe Bypass, Union County looks to preserve its heritage.
The birthplace of Andrew Jackson is also home of beautiful and natural areas like Cane Creek Park and Brooklandwood, home of the Charlotte Queen's Cup Steeplechase. The County has plenty to offer and welcomes newcomers to enjoy its unique quality of life.
Newcomers who want to share the future by putting down roots here find a myriad of options, from traditional two-story homes to historic mansions, from sprawling ranch-style abodes to cozy farm houses and country estates with barns and stables.
Whatever you select, you'll find reasonable housing prices here; in fact, you may discover your dollars go a bit further than they did in your old hometown. Or, if you prefer, you'll find plenty of new upscale construction, especially in western Union County near Weddington, Marvin, Waxhaw and Wesley Chapel.
The Carolina Multiple Listing Service (CMLS) lists Union County as Area 10. The Union County Board of Realtors has divided that into five sub areas, four in the county and the fifth in Monroe. Fore more information on what these areas offer, ask your Realtor.
After you read these brief profiles of Union County's towns, drive around and get to know the area. You're sure to discover the perfect home for you.
Monroe (pop. 37,000)
The city of Monroe is a vibrant and progressive city that serves as the hub of retail, government, culture and industry in Union County.
From the large Historic District complete with stately homes and a newly revitalized downtown, to its industrial core attracting businesses from across the globe, to the ever-growing retail marketplace, Monroe has something to offer to all.
The Downtown area is currently in the throws of a revitalization plan that has been led by city leaders. The plan is geared to increase traffic to downtown businesses as well as show off the charm of the tree-lined streets and make the downtown area a destination for families. Several activities like live music, family movies and an outdoor farmers market are just a few events held throughout the year. The downtown, at times, also finds itself as the center of attention as film crews use the backdrop of the Historic Union County Courthouse and charm of Main Street in major motion pictures.
Monroe continues to grow its industrial base in the Monroe Corporate Center strategically located adjacent to the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport and South Piedmont Community College. The Corporate Center plays home to several international and local companies and has room for continued development. The city also has a new industrial park called AeroPointe and this corporate complex will satisfy the needs of smaller businesses.
Monroe is known for its aerospace industry cluster. The recent growth of this business segment goes hand-in-hand with the growth at airport. The 6,000-square-foot terminal will soon be overlook a runway that will be expanded from 5,000 to 7,000 feet to attract businesses who will land and store their private jets in Monroe.
Other Retail development along U.S. 74 includes large national retailers as well as small family owned businesses. This development has occurred at a steady pace giving residents shopping options that will keep them close to home. The new retail outlets will South Piedmont Community College strengthens the city's economic and educational future. SPCC has a campus on Old Charlotte Highway and offers numerous degree programs along with continuing education, college transfer, basic skills and workforce training.
Monroe is also home to Carolinas Medical Center-Union and has several medical offices and specialists to provide the highest level of medical care available.
With regards to recreation, Monroe is home to the Monroe Aquatics and Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art facility complete with workout area, basketball courts, swimming pool and an outdoor water park. The city of Monroe also operates Monroe Country Club, a municipal golf course that is truly a gem to play.
Whatever your need or desire, Monroe is your destination.
Indian Trail (pop. 25,000)
Established on a trading route between Virginia and the Waxhaw's Indian settlement, Indian Trail has earned its reputation as a trading post.The area is growing fast, due partly to families moving into the new subdivisions that seem to sprout overnight.Since 1980, the town's population has grown by 513 percent; making it Union County fastest growing municipality.
Look for new homes in the $100,000-$500,000 price range, on suburban roads on either side of U.S. 74, along and off of Old Monroe Road, Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road, Wesley Chapel-Stouts Road and Unionville - Indian Trail Road.Shoppers from a wide area enjoy patronizing spacious 250,000-square-foot Union Town Centre, at U.S. 74 and Faith Church Road.A number of commercial centers are popping up on U.S. 74.Residents can find most of the goods and services they need right here at home.
Sports and recreation continue to grow in Indian Trail with Extreme Ice, an 87,000 square foot ice skating facility and Charlotte Checkers team home. The expected opening of Carolina Courts, a 40,000 square foot basketball facility adjacent to Extreme Ice is expected to open before the end of 2008.
Proximity to I-485 in Mecklenburg County makes clean industrial development the foundation of the community's growth.Several business and industrial parks are underway or planned.Distribution is big business today: Indian Trail is home to the 300,000-square-foot perishables warehouse of the Harris Teeter grocery chain.Despite its fast-paced growth, Indian Trail retains a distinct atmosphere of community and family.
Fairview (pop. 4,122)
When folks in the Fairview community needed a gymnasium for their school in the 1930s, they built it themselves.It's that sense of community that residents preserved when they incorporated in 2002.Leaders of the town, predominantly farmland and single-family homeowners, have established their top priority as preserving this character.Fairview's borders stretch from the county's northernmost border to Unionville on the south.The N.C. 218 and U.S. 601 intersection is the heart of the community.The nearby volunteer fire department serves is its focal point.
Hemby Bridge (pop. 1,594 )
Hemby Bridge residents who enjoy their country lifestyle can rest assured the town leaders share their views.The town has kept its tax rate at a low three cents per $100 valuation.New homes in a wide range of prices are available along Hemby Bridge's western side.
Lake Park (pop. 3,038)
As North Carolina's first planned urban community, Lake Park broke ground in 1990, and incorporated as the Village of Lake Park in 1994. A wide range of homes nestle around a pedestrian friendly town center; large homes to townhomes, condominiums, patio homes and Charlestonian row houses. Quiet streets are just walking minutes from Town Center Park where the landmark Venetian style clocktower chimes amid flowering planters, bubbling fountains and brick crosswalks.Lake Park is more than home, it's a hometown.
Future development in the town center presents additional opportunities for commercial enterprise and residential growth. Besides an impressive town square, restaurants, offices and services, churches, a K-12 Christian school, a skilled nursing facility, day care centers and a busy community center ~ all compose an ambient cluster.
Lake Park residents host an annual family Kite Festival in spring and a Fall Festival in October. The Village sponsors an annual 4th of July picnic and kid's parade. Union County's first National Night Out was held here in 2006 and has become an annual celebration.
In addition to a county park with lighted soccer and baseball fields, Lake Park features over 60 acres of common areas for families to enjoy: parks, ponds, paved walks and playgrounds, outdoor tennis, basketball and swimming pools.This oasis is just one mile from Highway 74, and convenient to I-485. Visit us soon. More information on economic development and community activities can be found at www.lakeparknc.gov
Marshville (pop. 2,895)
Claims to fame for Union County's easternmost town include its status as the boyhood home of country music star Randy Travis and setting for the movie The Color Purple.Known early on as Beaver Dam and incorporated in 1877 as Griffinsville, the town was renamed in 1895 for J. W. Marsh, who donated land for a new town hall, school and churches.The town began as the trading center for a surrounding farming community when the railroad built a cotton platform and warehouse there in the mid 1800s.
Marshville straddles U.S. 74, is bisected by the main tracks of CSX Rail Road and boasts a good mix of residential and non residential development with an ample supply of developable land.Town leaders are preparing for more commercial, industrial and residential growth plus increased traffic with completion of the US 74 Monroe Bypass/Connector.One of the few "full service" towns in "Sweet Union" Marshville maintains 27 miles of water system, 15 miles of sewer system, 12 miles of town streets and provides 24-hour police protection.Amid infrastructure and traffic improvements, town leaders have not forgotten to provide for fun.Marshville is proud of its well-appointed 13-acre park and downtown Community Center.Residents of Marshville and the surrounding area are enjoying the new Lois Morgan Edwards Memorial Library
Marvin (pop. 1,273)
Known for its beautiful rural atmosphere and horse farms, Union County's westernmost municipality is making provisions for Businesses that decide to locate here.Marvin's quiet pastoral scenes have attracted quick growth from nearby Charlotte.Firethorne, a large golf-oriented upscale housing development has established Marvin as a signature high-end residential community.According to the 2000 US Census Bureau, Marvin's median household income was 97,497.This is among the states highest.
Mineral Springs (pop. 2,493)
A self-described 'country town' with a long history and a penchant for horses, Mineral Springs has worked hard to preserve its farmland, forests, and its identity.Growing up between Monroe and Waxhaw, they favor selected retail development.Town leaders shun strip malls, instead envisioning a pedestrian-oriented downtown with quaint shops.
Many newcomers arrive here with horses in tow.Mineral Springs is proud to be home of Brooklandwood, the rolling, prestigious Charlotte Steeplechase track.Each April, the Queen's Cup attracts over 20,000 visitors.In addition to boarding and training facilities, Mineral Springs has privately maintained horse trails that residents enjoy sharing.
Mineral Springs is also home to the historic Pleasant Grove Campground with an open arbor small Methodist church and more than 60 rustic cabins.This sets the stage for old timey week-long "camp meetings" each August.
Stallings (pop. 11,000)
Location, location, location – three reasons why residents are drawn to Stallings.The quick commute along U.S. 74 into Charlotte and easy access to I-485 combined with a low tax rate makes Stallings the 'gateway to Union County.'
Stallings' charm is enhanced by the addition of sidewalks and a focused effort to build a town center near Monroe Road.Recent annexations have doubled the town's population over the 2000 census tally.More shopping and residential growth is on the way.
Stallings includes sprawling ranch-style homes and affordable housing on nice-sized lots.New medium to high-end neighborhoods are cropping up along Stevens Mill Road, Potter Road, Stallings Road and Monroe Road.
Unionville (pop. 6,053)
While retaining its rural atmosphere, this old community with a newly resurrected municipal charter plans to offer additional services while retaining its low tax rate.
Unionville added a new Town Hall in 2003.Unionville encompasses about 15,000 acres north of Monroe and south of Fairview along U.S. 601.Longtime traditions include a Fourth of July parade and an annual barbecue in November.This is one of the state's largest fundraising events for an elementary school.
Waxhaw (pop. 7,500)
Perhaps nowhere else in Union County is history as evident as in Waxhaw.The town that took its name from the Indian tribe dates back to the 1700s but is attracting a fair number of settlers today.Located along N.C. 75 southwest of Monroe and near the South Carolina border, the community was once dependent on cotton, but when the fiber lost its luster in the early 1960s, Waxhaw reshaped itself as an antiques haven.The town has more than a dozen antique and gift shops that draw customers from all over the nation.
The Andrew Jackson Memorial/Museum of the Waxhaws depicts the area's history from the 1600s to 1900. Events such as the Waxhaw Scottish Games, Civil War battle re-enactment at Cane Creek Park hosted by the Museumand old-timey Fourth of July parade draw large crowds to town.The Town of Waxhaw offers events during the year, a spring and fall festival, two parades that are scheduled for July 4th, 2008 and December.
Waxhaw dates back to the 1700s, but it wasn't until 1888 that the railroad, laying tracks to Atlanta, brought prosperity.Tracks still run through the center of town along the Green, the grassy strip dividing two rows of stores.
It seems like every month there is an event – Civil War re-enactment, Scottish games, antique shows, house tours, fire department fundraisers, an antique car show, and a historical drama.The Museum of the Waxhaws Andrew Jackson Memorial, on the grounds of the Waxhaw Amphitheatre, tells about the area's history from the 1600s to 1900.
The Waxhaw Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places, and Waxhaw has some wonderful old houses near the center of town.For new housing nearby, look along N.C. 16 toward Charlotte, along N.C. 75 east and west of Waxhaw, and along Rehobeth Road.
Near Waxhaw on Harkey Road is Cane Creek Park, a 1,050-acre county-owned park that draws visitors with its 350-acre trophy bass lake, a beach and swimming area, boats for rental, miniature golf, campsites and rental cabins.Eight miles of trails beckon mountain bikes.
Located south of town is JAARS – the technical service arm for Wycliffe Bible Translators and Summer Institute of Linguistics.The group translates the New Testament into several hundred languages and trains linguists in its use.The complex includes an airstrip, offices and two museums, the Museum of the Alphabet and the Mexico-Cardenas Museum.William Cameron Townsend, Wycliffe's founder, is buried on the grounds.
Weddington (pop. 7,982)
The Town of Weddington is located in Union County about 15 miles southeast of downtown Charlotte and 14 miles northwest of downtown Monroe.Weddington covers approximately 18 square miles and is comprised of mainly low-density single-family housing.The population is approximately 10,000.Weddington has the distinct atmosphere of a small town.The natural environment and community structure that characterize Weddington have been major factors in shaping the growth of the Town and making it a desirable place to live.
The Town consists almost entirely of single-family homes on lots of one acre or more.The Town's only commercial area is located in the vicinity of NC 16 and NC 84 and is referred to as the Town Center.The Town Center has a full-service strip shopping center and gas station/convenience store.The Town Hall is located in this area in an old historic house.
The Town tax rate is 3 cents per $100 valuation, which is in addition to Union County taxes.Taxes help to fund a contractual agreement with the Union County Sheriff's Office for police officers who are assigned to the Weddington area.
The form of government is Mayor and Council.Council meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month in the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.Town Hall hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday or by appointment.
Planning for the Town is provided via a Town Planner and a 7-member Planning Board.Planning Board meetings are the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall.
Current goals of the Town are to maintain low-density single-family residential zoning and to control existing and future commercial growth.This is accomplished through either conventional subdivisions (with minimum lot sizes of 40,000 square feet with 10% set aside of open space for new subdivisions) or conservation subdivisions (where open space preservation is mandated through a conditional use permit.)
Wesley Chapel (pop. 3,175)
Nestled between Monroe and Weddington, Wesley Chapel was incorporated in 1998 around a century-old community of the same name.The town's first commercial development, an upscale shopping center on N.C. 84 is close by to enhance the village center.Look for medium to upper end homes nestled amongst rolling green countryside.Wesley Chapel Elementary School is a long-standing magnet of community fabric and pride
Wingate (pop. 3,827)
Wingate started with the name Ames Turnout for a contractor named Ames who graded the bed for the railroad tracks that run through town.The name was changed to Wingate in the late 1890s.
The town is inextricably linked with Wingate University, a private, independent liberal arts institution that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.Growth is likely to come to both the town and the school within the next decade when the Monroe Bypass, connecting U.S. 74 at a point near Wingate, makes Charlotte less than a half-hour's drive away.
Wingate University offers not just bachelor's degrees, but also master's degrees in education and business and a doctorate in pharmacy.Most of its 1,400 students attend classes at the 390-acre campus just off U.S. 74; others attend the college's Matthews Center.The University is proud of its state of the art George A. Batts Fine Arts Center and its new school of pharmacy.
Wingate is home to the Jesse Helms Center on U.S. 74 near the Wingate campus.The center is a tribute to retired US Senator Jesse Helms, R-N.C., a Union County native and Wingate College graduate (class of 1939).It displays exhibits and memorabilia and will house the senator's papers.The Helms Center sponsors a lecture series that brings government and international leaders to campus for public speeches and sessions with students.Visitors to town in recent years include Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Margaret Thatcher, and The Dalai Lama.
The town of Wingate is proud of its new city hall, a historic Greek revival home released from the Jesse Helms Center and next door to the complex.
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