Charlotte’s modern banking industry rose to prominence in the 1970s, thanks to visionary financier Hugh McColl, who transformed North Carolina National Bank into a national institution that eventually became a part of Bank of America. Additionally, First Union Bank in Charlotte eventually became Wachovia Bank, now one of the nation’s largest and significant competitors of Bank of America. Charlotte’s original town was divided into four wards, known today as Uptown. All four ward corners meet in the middle of Uptown’s town square.
Along Tryon Street, the heart of Uptown, a new skyline emerged. The City Council officially recognized Uptown in 1974 after longtime merchants insisted it had always been Uptown. A few years later, local leaders chose a history-savvy name for another area being remodeled.
Below are some stunning vintage photos that show What Charlotte looked like in the 1970s. Also check, Charlotte in the 1950s and 1960s.
