Steele Creek, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
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.
.
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.
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.
. CMS schools in Steele Creek include Olympic High Schools
(5), Kennedy Middle, Southwest Middle, Lake Wylie Elementary, Steele Creek Elementary, Winget Park Elementary, River Gate Elementary, and Berewick Elementary.
. The library is located on Steele Creek Road, next to Southwest Middle School.
(CATS) offers local bus service in the area and express bus service to Uptown Charlotte.
Current routes:
, which holds a monopoly. Natural gas is provided by Piedmont Natural Gas, which holds a monopoly. Data/Telephone/Television service is all offered by AT&T
, Time Warner Cable
, Windstream Communications
, and Comporium Communications
(Ayrsley area only).
or Carolinas Medical Center. Outpatient services is also available at two Urgent Care centers (Presbyterian Medical Plaza and Carolinas Urgent Care-Steele Creek).
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It is generally defined geographically by the original boundaries of Steele Creek Township. Most of Steele Creek is within the city limits of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
but the areas that have not yet been annexed are also recognized as a Township
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of North Carolina.
Population
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 CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
Early history
The Steele Creek community derives its name from the small creekStream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
bearing the same name. It is believed that name "Steele" was the family surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
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
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of Mecklenburg County.
Modern history
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
Buster Boyd Bridge
The Buster Boyd Bridge is a four-lane automobile bridge spanning Lake Wylie between Steele Creek in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and the town of Lake Wylie in York County, South Carolina....
, 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.
Schools and libraries
School system
The first school in Steele Creek was founded in the 1780s. Today Steele Creek is served by Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is a local education agency headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the public school system for Mecklenburg County. With over 133,600 students enrolled, it is the second-largest school district in North Carolina and the twentieth-largest in the nation...
. CMS schools in Steele Creek include Olympic High Schools
Olympic Community of Schools
Olympic Community of Schools is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is one of 19 high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. It joined the Coalition of Essential Schools in 2005 with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and has split into 5 small, theme-based...
(5), Kennedy Middle, Southwest Middle, Lake Wylie Elementary, Steele Creek Elementary, Winget Park Elementary, River Gate Elementary, and Berewick Elementary.
Libraries
Steele Creek is served by a branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg CountyPublic Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg in North Carolina- About :...
. The library is located on Steele Creek Road, next to Southwest Middle School.
Main thoroughfares
- Carowinds Boulevard
- General Paul R. Younts Expressway (I-77/US 21U.S. Route 21U.S. Route 21 is a north–south United States highway of , from Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina to Wytheville, Virginia.-South Carolina:...
) - Seddon Rusty Goode Freeway (I-485)
- Shopton Road West
- South Tryon StreetTryon StreetTryon Street is a major north-south street of Charlotte, North Carolina. It traverses through the center of Uptown Charlotte and is the address for some of the city's tallest buildings like the Bank of America Corporate Center and Hearst Tower. U.S...
/York Road (NC 49) - Steele Creek Road (NC 160)
- Westinghouse Boulevard
Mass transit
The Charlotte Area Transit SystemCharlotte Area Transit System
The Charlotte Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, is the public transit system in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It operates bus service around the Metrolina area and a historical trolley in Uptown Charlotte, and operates a light rail system, called LYNX which opened on November 24,...
(CATS) offers local bus service in the area and express bus service to Uptown Charlotte.
Current routes:
- 41X - Steele Creek Express: Connects between Rivergate Shopping Center and Uptown Charlotte.
- 42 - Carowinds: Connects between Southpoint Business Park and I-485/South Boulevard (LYNX station).
- 55 - Westinghouse: Connects between Westinghouse Business Park and Sharon Road West (LYNX station)Sharon Road West (LYNX station)The Sharon Road West station is a light rail station on the LYNX Blue Line in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.. The station officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected...
. - 56 - Arrowood: Connects between the Rivergate Shopping Center and Arrowood (LYNX station)Arrowood (LYNX station)The Arrowood station is a light rail station on the LYNX Blue Line in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.. The station officially opened for service on Saturday, November 24, 2007, and as part of its opening celebration fares were not collected. Regular service with fare collection commenced on...
.
Utilities
Water and Trash pick-up is mostly serviced by the city of Charlotte, though third-party companies do service some developments in the area. Electricity is provided by Duke EnergyDuke Energy
Duke Energy , headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an energy company with assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America.-Overview:...
, which holds a monopoly. Natural gas is provided by Piedmont Natural Gas, which holds a monopoly. Data/Telephone/Television service is all offered by AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
, Windstream Communications
Windstream Communications
Windstream Corporation is a local telephone provider. With headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., Windstream is an S&P 500 communications and technology company with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues...
, and Comporium Communications
Comporium Communications
Comporium Communications formerly The Rock Hill Telephone Company is a local telephone, internet, cable and home security provider that centrally operates in York and Lancaster counties in the north-central section of South Carolina...
(Ayrsley area only).
Health care
CMC-Steele Creek is the only hospital in Steele Creek that offers 24-hour emergency service. Patients that require long-term care are transferred to either CMC-PinevilleCarolinas Medical Center-Pineville
Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville is a 98 bed acute care facility located in Pineville, North Carolina. The Hospital was opened in 1987 by the Sisters of Mercy to serve the rapidly growing southern part of Mecklenburg County. in 1995, the Sisters of Mercy sold the hospital to Carolinas...
or Carolinas Medical Center. Outpatient services is also available at two Urgent Care centers (Presbyterian Medical Plaza and Carolinas Urgent Care-Steele Creek).
Notable residents
- Mel WattMel WattMelvin Luther Watt is the United States House of Representatives for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
- Member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing the .