Steele Creek, North Carolina
| Steele Creek | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood / Township | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 35°08′04″N 80°58′43″W / 35.1345°N 80.9785°WCoordinates: 35°08′04″N 80°58′43″W / 35.1345°N 80.9785°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 North Carolina
|
| County |
 Mecklenburg County
|
| Government | |
| • Type | No active independent government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 120 km2 (47 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 200 m (600 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 35,330 |
| • Density | 290/km2 (750/sq mi) |
| By borders of original Steele Creek Township, including areas annexed by the City of Charlotte | |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 28273, 28278 |
| Area code(s) | 704, 980 |
Steele Creek is primarily considered to be a community and neighborhood in the southwestern part of Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. It is generally defined geographically by the original boundaries of Steele Creek Township. Most of Steele Creek is within the city limits of Charlotte but the areas that have not yet been annexed are also recognized as a Township of North Carolina.
The population of the Steele Creek community was 35,330 as of 2008, roughly two-thirds of which is now located within the City of Charlotte.
The Steele Creek community derives its name from the small creek bearing the same name. It is believed that name "Steele" was the family surname of Scotch-Irish immigrants who settled in the area in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The region was eventually designated as Steele Creek Township, one of the original 15 Townships of Mecklenburg County.
In 1959, the North Carolina State Legislature revised laws that govern how cities may annex adjacent areas, allowing municipalities to annex unincorporated lands without permission of those residents. This change in North Carolina law led to adoption of an aggressive annexation policy by the City of Charlotte, which repeatedly expanded their borders by annexing land within Steele Creek Township, which had never been formally incorporated.
Despite nearly two-thirds of Steele Creek being annexed by Charlotte, the region remained primarily rural farmland until the 2000s when significant infrastructure improvements greatly accelerated the effects of suburban sprawl. The widening of NC 49, the replacement of the old Buster Boyd Bridge, and the opening of I-485 has spurred tremendous growth in both residential and commercial development. Today Steele Creek is the fastest growing region of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, with over a 70% population boom between 2000 and 2007.
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Wikipedia